The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-08-18

| retary OF the Treasury fet II to be his du-
ty TO pay the principal; but his term oil
Office being about to close. he was unable
TO devote The time necessary to that exam
nation which alone could enable him 10
decide the question OF interest: and. al
though his impressions we're against its
allowance. he left the matter open for his
successor 10 decide. The principal was
paid, and Mr.. Crawford received his share.
Such was the position of the matter when
Mr.. Crawford entered the cabinet as Sec
retary of War under General Taylor.l
Desiring his relations TO be fairly UNDER
stood, he avaled himself Of an early mo-
ment TO advise the President of the facts.
He informed him that he was connected
with a claim then pending before one Of
the departments for decision, and solicited
his opinion upon the propriety OF that po-
sition for member Of the cabinet. The
President replied that lie did not know that
he had forfeited any of his rights by be-
coming a member of his administration.
This he felt to be sanction, and Mr..
Crawford at once employed counsel to
prosecute the claim. He, however, assist
ed in revising and in the preparation OF the
arguments, and on several occasions spoke
to the Secretary Of the Treasury, Urging
him TO make an early disposition Of the
case. lie spoke also to The Attorney Gen.
erale 20 the same purpose; but he declares
that he never apprised either OF these gen.
temen of his interest in the matter, nor
did he authorize any other person to give
them the information. The general pow
er of attorney in the case, executed by
Milledge Galphin, executor. TO Mr.. Craw-
ford. as well as similar power to receive
and receipt for the money, were among the
papers on the file, as well as several let
ters, showing Mr.. Crawford was acting in
the affair. All these papers were before
the Secretary of the Treasury, the Attor-
ney General and the First Comptroller;
but the two former deny that they had any
knowledge of Mr.. Crawford's interest -
The Secretary Of the Treasury admits
that, at some time, he heard that Mr.. Craw.
ford had been connected with claim, but
the remark left no impression on his mind;
and the Attorney General says that he ex-
amined no papers not necessary for him
TO understand its merits. The opinion OF
the Attorney General was given, and tho
Secretary of the Treasury ordered, that
inasmuch as the Attorney Generals opin.
ion decided the principle that. in point of
law, interest ought to be allowed, it should
be done. The matter was referred to the
First Auditor for statement of the &C.
count This passed to the Office Of the
First Comptroller. who appended his ap.
proval with the pithy remark that "the
signing of this certificate is an admins.
tralive act" The money was paid, and.
after abating the sum paid for expenses
incident to the prosecution of the case,
Mr.. Crawford received, in conformity with
his agreement with the heirs. the one-half
Of the amount as his own proper share.
The interest amounted to one hundred
and ninety-one thousand three hundred
and fiity.two dollars and eighty.nine cents;
from this, three thousand dollars were paid
as lees to counsel. His receipts were
twenty.one thousand four hundred and
one dollar and ninety-eight cents from the
principal. and ninety.four thousand one
hundred and seventy-six dollars and for.
ty-iour cents from the interest allowed: in
all. one hundred and fifteen thousand five
hundred and seventy eight dollars and
| forty-two cents.
| Such are the facts connected with Mr..
Crawford's conduct in relation to the af-
fair, and we submit them without comment,
to the judgement Of the House.
The matter involved was not debt due
from the United States. The payment of
the principal was matter of grace on the
part Of Congress and the extent to which
it carried its bounty was fixed by the act
OF l848. The duty of the Attorney Gen,
eral in such cases is limited to the con.
struction of the law. Whatever may have
been liberal or illlberal, was not within his
province to determine. He is not the al
moner Of the public bounty; nor has he a
right to superadd to his duty Of determin-
ing the obligations of the law, the kinder
office of dispensing the liberality of the
government. The administration is the
legal custodian Of the public treasury. As
the guardian Of it, the people have right
to look for its protection; but il the men,
bers OF the cabinet are to become feed
counsel against the Treasury, it requires
but little knowledge of human nature to
anticipate what must be the inevitable re-
suit The instructive notions of every
man, and the common judgement Of the
public, will condemn position Of the
kind; but it becomes doubly dangerous
when it is deliberately sanctioned by the
President of the United States. :
Testimony of a Wing.
Extract from the speech Of Hon. James
Brooks, whig membep from New York
city. from page 622, vol. 22, partl,
same Appendix to Congressional Globe.1
The powers of this government arc care
| fnllv diyided To Cnnnrass is tr,,stad The