Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-11-14

W.
The court, however, has very recently, in dis
posing Of the case Of Mr.. VIM. W. Cox, who
claims So, 339 for extra services as messenger
to the Sixth Auditor of the Treasury, laid
down legal principles In connection with them
which, it strikes US, will operate seriously
against their future allowance by Congress
Those principles or rulings are as follows: q
1. That under laws organizing the Treasury
Department and its several bureaus, the Sec
rotary alone could authorize the performance
of any extra service in any branch of the
Treasury Department
2 That a voluntary courtesy is no ground
for suit, either at law or in equity, Il Sanders
Rep, 372) and that this doctrine applies to
the Government as we'll as to individuals
The Telegraph-is again busy with the Mex
lean drafts question, making sad plumbers as
usual. One account to a New York paper
puts words in the mouth of Secretaries Marcy
and Guthrie, on this subject very similar to
the way in which the Hsrald's special CORES
pondents assume to publish debates in cabinet
council, that never occurred.
We stated, some time since, that the question
involved could not be decided until the report
of the conclusion of the boundary survey had
been duly filed here. 1t has not yet been 90
filed. The subject, we have every reason to
believe, has not yet been discussed in any way
in Cabinet council; though it il, doubtless,
ready to be disposed of there, as soon as the
certificate Of the conclusion of the survey may
be fled.
We also stated some time ago that the Gov,
eminent are supposed to be most anxious to Sc
cure to the owners of the drafts, what all admit
to be simply their just right; which is alleged
to be interfered with by the letter of the law
We thought not long since that that letter
would probably preclude favorable response
to the petition of our fellow citizens who hold
the securities or pay orders in question
But it is now said that the Mexican Minister
here, himself officially and formally notified
this Government that each succeeding draft
had been drawn and disposed of by the Gov
eminent of Mexico, in payment Of bona .fde
obligations each such notification being made
as the draft it covered was drawn; and the
last, as late as February last, actually in pay
ment of portion of Me1ico's share of the
cost of the boundary survey, as it is said to
state on its face.
Thus, Mexico having herself formally mott
fed the United States of her assignment of
the money in question-having disclaimed all
right to it that she would otherwise have had
the fact that that act was done before il was
actually due under the terms Of the treaty, We
aprrehend, rs we trust, will prove sufficient
to save our fellow citizens who have trusted
to her good faith, from los, in this transaction
All right-minded persons will surely agree
with us in at least hoping that this Govern
ment may find it in its power to save the gen
tlemen who have advanced money to Mexico
in a legitimate way and for legitimate pur-
poses, frola the wrong that the new Government
(of Mexico as it turns out, seeks to put upon
them.
Aver ali C. Flagg Of those in
all quarters of tn country familiar with the
| history Of the financial affairs of New York
State and city, for the last decade, will rejoice
| over the reelection Of this gentleman to be
| tie municipal comptroller Of New York 1t
is universally admitted, that while he rigidly
| refuses to recognize political party in the ad,
ministration Of public trusts committed to hi.
charge, he has saved millions to the tax pay
ers of New York by the frmness with which
he has resisted the thousand and one appli.
ances Of the spectators who have banded to-
gether to prey on his trust-the corporation
treasury. The prosecutions against the cor
rup. and unfaithful servants Of the city, COM
menced through the fundamentally of Mayor
Wood, doubtless very generally owe their ORR
gin to Mr.. Flagg, whose knowledge of the de-
tail 8 of the corporations financial affairs ha.
enabled him to inform the Mayor precisely
who of his subordinates in Office are honest
and who corrupt.
Gen. Cullom 1t is becoming very plain,
indeed, that this gentleman is looked on as IN
interloper, by the host of patriots swarming In
Washington, Wig gre ambitious of clutching
the post of Clerk Of the House of Representa-.
tives. They and those among US looking for
Office under the clerk, the name Of the latter
being Legion, have, with great unanimity,
resolved him to be far better suited to the
Office of printer, provided he will pay so.se,
thing b andsome to those who having aspirsd
to that Office ars ready to sacrifice their pros
poets in his favor. The General is q bug bear
just now-decidedly the ugliest customer the
the diainteTestod patriots havo-dscidedly
The fact that he is sure OF the vots, fer Clerk,
of every opposition member Of the last Congress
sticks wonderfully indeed, in the throats of his
host Of I'D good natured friends" 10 whom
We refer above. V,re ls CHltom
Maryland fact has been ascsrtained
that the whole anti Know Nothing legislature
ticket hes been elected in Allegheny county,
Md. This enables the opposition to Know No
thingism in the Senate to stave Oh the ehoies
If q successor to the Hon. Thomas G.. Pratt