The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-10

hardly less eminent in Of the southern States One
stood among the highest in the ranks Of literature An
other Led great party in Ohio and Virginia gentleman
graeed the portfolio OF the Navy Department This was
the metal that had been selected by Mr. Fillmore With
what care il was chosen How wisely balanced-how
well proportoned--how express and admrableP Even
those who had witnessed the formation Of cabinets by for
mer administrations those who differed from Mr.
Flmore-eoud refrain appauding the judgment and
the skill displayed in the choice OF his immediate official
family.
But the canker was there The fatal plague-spot
at work from the start The shining qualities OF social
Intellectual and political elcyaonthe record Of cred
table pasthe reckoning hopes Of the future-eoud not
remove it and the example BY those rho preceded than
could resisted and have how compacenty it
yielded TO-
In the article this subject printed on the 1th we re-
erred TO the cases of Gardiner Of Collier Of Wilson and
Of the Indian commission of ls5oa of which transpred
under the administration of these statesmen The
history Of the Gardiner has not yet been wren but
when it is it win be work standard value. In that
volume number of rsclass wings viii be portrayed to
the country romance could be constructed out Of that
curious yet ovcrtrue story The tact and talent with
which lawsuits are fabricated and false claims perfected
orby described by the British writer's will be thrown into
the shade by the exploits of the Gardiner managers as
well in the origin in the payment Of their claims But
must wait patiently for this.
We close this article with the following extract from the
report of the special committee Of the United States SEN
ate made the 10th Of August 1852 Mr. Borland chair
1t speaks for ITSELF
To the foregoing abstract the testimony in this case
ad nv afotI viii
exhibits with sufficient cearnes every point to the
formation opinion the character Of the transactions
involves the committee viii only add the following sum
mary of their conclusions:
That the Secretary of the Treasury (Hon. Thomas
Corwn) gave clerk his department private contract
expectation and that said clerk should dis
pose of the and thereby make
large pecuniary profit.
2d That the partner which this clerk associated with him
self this contract and before it awarded to him,
personal friend ofhe Secretary then unknown the clerk
and taken partner at the suggestion and request of
the Secretary and that this partner subsequently, but still
before the contract awarded procured the association Of
another partner in the proposed conrahe third partner
being Robert g. Corwn of Ohio relative of the Sec
rotary.
esd That this agreed upon about the 18th
18th of December, 1851 and signed BY the clerk
tractor the 2Sth month but security not
exacted of him. and the contract in that condition. left
until time in April 1852; during which time the
WAS with the knowledge and of the Sccrea
offering this contract for sale in the markets. and recev
ing offers of purchase for it.
"4th That in the month of April 1882 this contract
through agency the partner who had been recommend
ed by the Secretary to the clerk actually sold to sub
profit of 000 and that these subcon
accepted by the Secretary in place Of the org
contractor and their and security SUCH subs
uted for the original contract, which cancelled.
9Th That the of $4,000, the price Of this
tract paid to the original contractor by order the
United States treasury drawn by the part
.at adv
which its entitled them the original
(who had been cerk receiving his third being 00 and
the remaining twothrd being $4,000 received by
person whom the Secretary had introduced into the
ncrshp by whom the negotiations for the sale of the
had been conducted and who to Robert
g. Corwn his dstribuve share being ooo of this price
of the contract.
9Th That this clerk whom this private contract for
the construction Of lighthouses the Pacific coast
given well informed and experienced in the operations
Treasury Department having been many in Of
hceat time filling that Of chief clerk from which he
transferred reduced salary, the desk qua.i
bureau, in special charge OF these gbtho and thus
from his official position having advantages and facilities OF
the basis Of such contract especially when
made privately which unattanablc by any other per-
son.
7th That after the subconractors had purchased this
the rginal by paving him SIS 900
for privilege Of taking his place in it, they obtained
through the agency of the friend Of the Secretary
whom he had introduced into the partnership with the clerk
and by whom the purchase had been negotiated modca
ton Of the contract in their favor to the of 81 800
and for this agency they paid fee OF 5000
9Th That although the Secretary OF the Treasury his
annual report Congress- dated December &c. 1851 states
of these lighthouses had been contract
ed for and probably could be yet contract the
subject this report had terms been agreed upon ten
days beoresay December i0th lsth-and actually
signed two days afterwards, December 18th
9Th And although the Secretary in the same report
says that the insufficient appropriation had delayed and
would probably prevent any contract for the vet this
contract which he had already made, for sl36 00o wa for
eight Of the light houses be erected leaving excess of
appropriation that Of s22 lao applicable the other
othe whole amount Of the ,ubsng appropriation being
sl5s,lio.
10th. That although the Secretary his
the Senate dated April a. 1852 answer to resolution
of the 5th Of that month states that tho original contract for
the eight ghtbouse had been cancelled and that no new
had been made and probably could be without add
fona appropriations which, the amount of $50 900 e
Of Congress yet that time he had agreed that the
should take the place the original contia
IN Of December 2sh, only cir aoy az
terorsthat Ia, April 90th-actuay contaminated the con
tract with them He thus had contracted for eight of the
light houses for $l3G000 which left balance before
shown Of S22 lao Of the sobng appropriation applicable
the other two structures OF this however he made no
communication 10 Congress- tins keeping up hs recommen
dalton FOR the additional Of $3.50 900 which together
with the balance OF s22 lao hand made for the
structures not then contracted for being sia 900 more
for those o than for the eight others which had been actin
ally contracted for His estimate may be perfectly correct,
and owing to the distance from supplies and peculiar dcu
ties shrger might be required for remaining two
than for the other eight yet does extraordinary
to speak mildly Of it, that when the Senate had asked for
The -.