The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-02-02
THE REP u BLIC.
SPEECH OF HON. N. BARRERE,

Government BY members Of Congress, &C.
Mr.. BARRERE said:
MIR. SPEAKER: | had not expected to address
the House this morning. would have preferred
submitting my remarks after hearing from the
other side, or at any rate after hearing from an
other member of the committee, who understand
intends to present his views on this subject, and
differing perhaps from those just presented by the
honorable gentleman from Connecticut, (Mr
CHAPMAN.) But this being convenient a
time as will probably occur to me, shall proceed
now.
Mr. Speaker, / feel it to be my duty-represent-
ing as do portion of the people represented for
a long time in Congress by Mr.. Corwin, with
great acceptability to them and distinguished Gre
dit to him-to participate in this discussion. do
not propose to enter upon the merits of the bill
now before the House. / have not found it neces
sary for my present purpose to look into it with
any degree of care. / shail examine it before /
am called on to vote upon it, and if upon examna
tlon think 1t necessary or useful, towards pre-
serving the purity of the Government or the puri-
ty of the action of the two Houses of Congress, /
shall support it by my vote.
| have for long time looked upon Mr.. Corwin
as one of cur most prominent men (; distinguished
alike for his high intellectual endowments and the
purity of his moral character. He has ever been a
favorite in Ohio-and when | use that word mean
favorits with the people Of the State generally
with Wings and Democrats. In that part of the
State in which am best acquainted, / may safely
say that the high estimate of his character is not
confined to any party, but that he holds an exalt
ed place in the affections of the people of all par
ties. In early life Mr.. Corwin was comparatively
poor, and bad to struggle with the disadvantages
incident 10 our then wilderness country but by
his talents and energy he has risen to his present
position. He has, unaided, and with but few ad-
vantages, risen from the humber walks of life to
what We consider one of the highest positions,
morally and intellectually, as we'll politically,
that any gentleman occupies in the country. do
not pretend to an extensive acquaintance with dis
tinguished men, and have not that high apprecia-
ton of what are called great men that some per-
sons have. / believe, among cultivated men of
clear heads and honest hearts, there is not that
vast difference that is sometimes supposed. Much
depends upon circumstances. Men of liked pur-
pose, sound common sense, and incorruptible In
tegrity, possess the elements of greatness, and
will, when placed in the proper positions, gene
rally prove themselves 10 be men of ability. This,
however, is but mere speculation; for there are
few, and bet few, who stand out in bold relief as
greatly distinguished, and who command the adj
miration and respect due to really great minds
The characters of such men invaluable to the
country and while il is the duty of this House to
expose unsparingly corruption in high places, it
ia equally the duty, and ought to be the pleasure
OF the House to shield and protect the regulations
of deserving men from wanton and unjust asper-
sons.
Since have been member of this House,
have made it my business to observe, with as much
scrutiny as could, the persons of distinction whom
have had the pleasure of seeing in this city; and
have endeavored to satisfy myself as to the rela;
tive claims of each and all of them to the consider
alton accorded 10 them by their respective friends.
Not long since | heard, with great pleasure, the
eloquent eulogies delivered in this House upon the
character of Mr.. Webster All seemed to agree
that he was the great intellectual giant of the age.
fully concurred in that opinion. With the ex-
ception Of MIR. Webster, have come in contact
with no man in the District OF Columbia who, in
my opision, is the intellectual superior of Thomas
Corwin He is priced at home, however, much
more for his high character for purity, honesty,
and integrity. than for his mental capacity. His
a,rht dofh k{o,,
abilities; but account of his noble, generous ma.
ture, and his incorruptbe integrity, as they be-
leve, they love him. No suspicion of diehones
ever rested upon him in the country where be has
lived most of his life. He is looked upon by the
people there their safest adviser in matters of
the highest individual interest; and in all the sit
uations of life in which desire counsel or ad-
vice, know of no man in the section of the State
where he resides that is consulted so much in
matters pertaining to private interests and the So
Cial condition of his neighborhood No man any
where ever enjoyed the entire confidence of his
neighbors more fully than Mr.. Corwin. They look
with deep interest upon this proceeding, as they
do upon every thing that involves his character and
standing.
| was highly pleased the other day with the
remark OF the honorable gentleman from Maine,
(Mr. SMART,) when speaking upon another sub
ject. He said that it was the duty of the Govern
ment to protect its humblest citizens; and he
thought that the Government of the United States
appeared in its highest and best character when
affording protection to the rights of the humblest
of her citizens. | thought with him. But do
not think the right of property or. liberty more
worthy of protection, even in the humbiest citi-
zen, than the character and good name that he
may possess. Why, Mr.. Speaker, we do throw
around the private citizen the broad agis of the
law, shield to protect, not only his person
and property, but his reputation and character.
The high and the low, the rich and the poor, are
equal in the eye of the law. They have equal
legal rights, and ought to have equal protection.
But reasons of State policy, founded in justice and
the very spirit of our institutions, have made ii
iInperiously necessary to withhold from men in
official positions that protection to character which
is afforded to private citizens The private cti-
zen may resort to the law when be is assailed in
his character. Butthe politician, the Office holder,
must depend upon the justice of public opinion.
Inquiry into the conduct of public men must be
free and untrammeled, as security against cor
ruption, and to protect liberty itself But as pub.
lie opinion is the only protection afforded to pub
lie man, ought to be as sedulous and earnest
in efforts to shield the honest and faithful pub
lie servant from unjust assaults, as are to ex-
pose the dishonest and corrupt Public opinion
ought, at least to afford as energetic and powerful
q means of defence for the good name and char
acter of our public men, the law affords for the
protection of the reputation and property of pri-
vate citizens If we have any security in this coun
try for good government, for liberty, and for all
that we prize highly, 1t is found in the honesty,
integrity, and uprightness of the people, and in
the due appreciation of the worth and value of
pure and honorable public men.
MT. speaker the special committee VINO report
ed the bill under consideration sat during the re-
cess and acted under the authority of the follow
ing resolution:
' whereas a strong suspicion rests upon the
public mind that fraudulent claims have been al.
lowed by the late Mexican Claims Commission.
with one OF which 1T is suspected that Thomas Cor.
win, Secretary of the Treasury, has been improp
erly connected Therefore II
"ResOlUed, That committee. consisting of five
members of this House, be appointed to investigate
all the facts touching the connection of the said
Thomas Corwin, the present Secretary of the Trea-
sury with the Gardiner claim; what fee if any, ;.
ne was receive for his services agent or coun-
sci for said Gardiner; what interest, if any, other
than his fee interest," he purchased and held either
directly or indirectly, in said claim, and the
amount paid stipulated to be paid therefor as
condition of said purchase; what time he ceased to
act as counsel or agent of said Gardiner; to whom
and for what consideration he disposed of his in
terest; to whom and for what consideration he
disposed of his one fourth interest in said claim"
The committee made their report in the recess.
Tney directed their inquiries to two points First.
Was the claim of George Gardiner, as allowed
by the Board of Commissioners under the treaty
OF Guadalupe Hidaigo, meritorious or fraudulent?
Second. w hat was the connex ion of the Hon.
Thomas Corwln, the present Secretary of the
Treasury, with said claim?
On the first branch of the investigation the COM
mittee IN their report say: