The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-01-24

| WltOo8De0 VINO
thisrale incidentally, having knowledge of it in
the progress OF the negotiation. Now, sir, in or
aer 70 sustain the charges against Mr.. Corwins il
becomes necessary to trampae upon the testimony
jury. although they are men of high reputation
and OF unimpsachable integrity. Issthis proposed
to be accomplished by proof There is none, not
particle of evidence, from the beginning to the
mony to which have adverted. Is the testimony
to be overcome in any other way than by CONTRA
vening evidence? Why. sir, to denounce an indi-
yidual is easy, exceedingly easy, az gentlemen
here have all very often had occasion to know.
But, sir, something besides the mere breath of an
| accuser, who has no personal knowledge himself,
and pretends to none in regard to the facts, will
be required to overthrow the uncontradicted proof
| which has been brought before the committee in
regard to this sale.
It is true. Mr.. Speaker, that the written trans-
fer of this interest was not made until the month
OF November, 1850; bat it was made before the
Mexican Board reconvened; and not only that, but
the money, according to the testimony, was in fact
paid in dollars before the Board reconv ened in No
vember Hence, sir, it is incontrovertbiy proved
that the Secretary of the Treasury, before he took
office under this Administration, Invested himself
in good faith Of all the interest which he had in
| any of these claims, whether purchaser
counsel In regard to the legal right Of Mr.. Cor
win, while member Ut the Senate, to act ) coun
sci for claims, to be interested in claims before
| a board OF commissioners, there be no diver
sity of opinion among the members of this House.
|
ries of years. Such is the prevailing practice
now. might, then. sir, well inquire, Why this
hue and cry at the heels of Mr.. Corwin? If,
while member of the Senate, he has acted as
counsel for claimants against the Government, 80
have all his fellows. If he has appeared before
the Supreme Court to prosecute claims against the
Government in legal inquiry before that tribu-
nal, have his fellows. If he has appeared before
| a board ofcommssioners to prosecute claims such
has been the practice of those who have acted in
\ the Senate with him. Then why this hue and cry
| about him The gentleman from Ohio MIR. OLDs)
complains of 'shired letter-writers'' and .spaid
| graphers'' who have undertaken to give d.
rection TO public sentiment upon this subject in
favor of the Secretary of the Treasury. lift is
matter of complaint that, after the attacks of the
| gentleman from Ohio upon the Secretary, tele-
| graphers and letter-writers have informed the
| world how the investigation terminated, what
should be said of the pack that has been unken-
| neled upon the Secretary, and given tongue upon
his trail fer series OF years? Their business has
been to assall him sin season and out Of season."
and now that the facts ascertaned, the country
can judge Of their motives and their success
understood the gentleman from Ohio say at
| one time that there had been no sale by Mr. Cor
wln-that the whole thing was farce; and at an
other time understood him to say that Governor
Young was the real purchaser, and that George
Law was man of straw; or, to use bis own lam
guage was made to act the dummy on that occa.
sion. Well, Mr. Law swears that he purchased
the claim, and he swears that he paid for it with
his own money. Does the gentleman mean that
man who makes his own purchase, and pays his
own money, according to his agreement, ia
dummy If he is, he certainly sets good ex-
ample. But suppose Governor Young was really
to have the benefit of this purchase, of which there
is no pretence of proof, what then, and who would
have right to complain? The time has gone by
when 1t will answer any good purpose to abuse
Governor Young. While he was living he might
have been affected like other men, by such attacks;
but believe he is now beyond the reach of any
mans venom. He lived honored and died lament
Whether rorp r do
not know, nor is it important to inquire. The sole
inquiry for is was Mr.. Corwin interested, while
ne was Secretary of the Treasury, in these claims?
Ii he was not Why then there is ar end of the in
curry, and there ought to be an end of the abuse
Mr. Law swears distinctly and unsquivocally that
he was the purchaser of the claim and that he paid
the money.
Mr. Speaker, feel bound to say, in regard to
this claim, as 1t was presented before the Mexican
Board, that think it sustained in all its parts
in the best possible way by proof, 80 far as the
Board could see, and 80 far as anybody else could
see who had any connection with it as counsel
The testimony was taken according to Law; it was
detailed, it was minute, it circumstantial and
there was much oft Indeed. sir, one of the wit
nesses, who was clerk to the Board, testified that
it excited suspicion in his mind, because it was so
we'll and circunlstantialy supported. It was of a
character which ovefcame the previous preiudices
and preconceived opinions of Mr.. Johnson as he
swears, who was, for a time, clerk of that Board.
Much Of it was procured after MIR. Corwin's con-
nexi0n with the matter ceased. Now sir there ia
no reasonable pretence, that it the testimony was
false, or the papers forged, Mr. Corwin had any
knowledge of that fact The committee found
(and majority of them were not the political
friends of Mr.. Corwin, be it remembered) that
no testimony had been adduced before them prov
ing, or tending to Prove, any knowledge on the
part of the Secretary of the Treasury that the
claim was not entirely just. And now, Mr. Speak
er, what does the gentleman from Ohio mean when
he speaks OF ga spurious acquittai? Does he mean
to say that the committee did not arrive at cor
rect result, in view of the evidence that BY reason
OF want of intelligence or want Of integrity,
they did not come to right conclusion? spur-
Gus acquittal! We unanimously found, and with
out q dissenting voice upon the committee, that |
there was evidence before us proving or tend. |
ing to prove, any knowledge the part of Mr..
Corwln OF any want Of merit in this claim, or of
any foul practice in regard to it.
Now, MIR. Speaker, it is due to the committee. |
as well as to the Secretary of the Treasury to say
that all the witnesses who speak at all upon the |
subject, testify. that Mr.. Corwin, even after he
made tina. sale IN Jpiy up to the time when this
uniformly, on all occasions, refused to consult with
the parties or the counsel in regard to these claims
IN any way or manner He refused to give the |
least ADVICE as to the mode of proceeding, or to
have any more to do with them than an utter |
stranger.
Again: 1t is due to Mr.. Corwin to advert to a |
TACT as testified to by the attorney of this District
that In endeavoring to detect and expose the sup
posed fraud connected with this claim after there
came to be clamor about it, no man vas more |
olHsent, no man was more active, no man was |
more energetic than the Secretary of the Treasury,
doing his Whole duty, and doing 1t with all his |
strength, and with all his heart. in good faith as
an honest man and conscientious officer of the
Government. He sought by all the means in his |
power to restrain these moneys, and to hold on to
them wherever they could be found, until this |
whole subject could be investigated.
Sir, think that something is due to the Score
tary OF the Treasury-some action upon the part |
OF this House evidential of its confidence in his pu
rity, and in his fidelity in endeavoring to detect
this fraud and bring the offender to punishment
But what have we in the House of Representative
or what has committee of this House to do with |
the conduct of Senator, or what has the Senate
to do with member of this body If the propri. |
ETY. OF the conduct of member of either body
were to be disc used by the other from day to day.
there would not be business enough for both
branches; but the warfare would be fruitless
and Improbable one, in which no laurels would
be won |
II has been customary to take some liberties
with the Executive in these discussions and thai !
has been often done without any great regard to !
delcacy; but presume the friends of the7Secre |
tary OF the Treasury would interpose no objection
to full examination into his conduct while he bas
occupied his present elevated official position So
FAR then, as MIR. Corwin is concerned as Secretary
OF the Treasury if there is any faith to be put in
the testimony of highly respectable witnesses. |
whose testimony is wholly uncontradicted, be |
went into that Department wholly Invested of |