The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-18

the Post once department. dAnOutQ nN 6upYHt ttScN /
II rs a great business establishment, the same ~ any
great responsible express company; and Why should
T. : 20 psy v rs oT F. srpe 4 CO. - w Ms1 s ~ sIS ISs, so ., nua%s
be required 70 carry my letters a . loss more than 70
carry my corn 70 the mill or my cotton 10 the market
Why should il p& be conducted upon the same principle
as q private enterprses so long as II is not, and % long
as Congress has TO make appropriations 70 compensatef Tor
the deficiency OF this department, Will there be lobby
schemes and manufactured claims 70 an enormous extent.
In connection with this the readers Of the HERALD may
be reminded Of q case, upon which was published IN your
Black-the case OF C0rmick aud Ramsey against the Trea.
sury of the United States-for something like . million and
and there being such a large amount OK money involved,
and such q powerful force Of lawyers and agents, includ-
ing members OF Congress. and other 'leading men. int
rested, Il becomes of importance 70 understand the
nature Of il, and to watch the Developments. II appears
that Mr. rlimore's Postmaster General, Hubbard, signed,
on the last day of his term Of Office, March 8, 1853, a con
ditional contract for carrying the California mail by the
route of Vera Cruz and Acapulco. The compensation was
to be over four hundred thousand dollars a year, forget
the exact amount-but I think four hundred and sixty
thousand dollars q year. The contract was to be void II
CongI ess did not appropriate the money. Congress never
OF Nj. Hubbard, disapproved or the conditional contract
made and never an appropriation, and Con-
Of the contract was never complied with or accepted and
the contract became void; or, in other words, thore never
was q contract. But, by some curious coincidence p s o Win,
Appropriation act, passed the 18th OF August, 1885, was
amended as follows
sec.e nd be it further enacted, Thatthe FRS, Comptroller
o. Sss sse d tssa % EaW va 7 Il : cs or%sk l and Albert G. Ramsey %s o. oa
scn,rsc,,o carry the ., mail on q, the ssv Vera c r. acapulco . and San
hundred and aGS ssy t asssa 70 sae aa ssssa'n and I s aas1a q t s,so.e &c.
cording to the principles Of Law. equity and Justice. the
S%SSy' r re rHGed to pay the same 10 tie said cormicS and
Ramsey, out Of any money in the Treasury not otherwise Ap-
At the last hours of the session, and tackled to a general
appropriation bill. this claim was so far recognized by
Congress. Attorney General Black, to whom the case was
referred, decided g that no contract having been consum-
mated, il could not consequently be %abrogated; and, there
cation 20 Of Contract All this seems clear enough: but the
claimants maintain that Congress, by its act authorizing in
Identification, has recognized the contract. and the dam
ages consequently following from an abr0gaton OF 1t.
Congress may grant money to build a railway to the moon,
if practicable and constitutional, but can it authorize the
payment o. money on account OF something which did
There are difficulties in this case, and as it s one of such
magnitude l may refer to it again. The outside pressure
upon the officers Of government for this million and q half
Of dollars is tremendous. Governor Medill, the First
Comptroller of the Treasury, has recommended that the
cai nants go to Congress, aud that the matter be referred
back again to that body but they evidently prefer to rest
where they are at present.
Wood Stephen p. Russell, Mr.. McMasters Of the Eceemdn's
Journal, the "brd in the bush, )" Augustus Schell, who is
STAYING with Horace !. Clark. and other prominent men,
may be seen constantly at the departments. I am salts
fed that New York has got nearly all she will get The
President believes, ard hesitates not TO tell these gentle
men so-that she has her share.
The East Room never presented a more effective and
brilliant appearance than on the occasion OF the first pub
lie reception Of the season, which took place on Tuesday
evening last. Not only was everybody there who pre-
tends tel, ,M TO BEAR, ANYBODY, with w.vss, asu s 3 sn %o SGeslR hx
the towering chiefs and braves of the red men, who are in
the city on q visit TO their grandfather, "a these native
Americans will insist upon calling our bachelor President
His Excellency certainly evinced q parental Kindness In
the warm and cordial welcome he extended to them, and
which must have ted upon their demi savage hearts. The
striking contrast between the civilized and savage state,
here offer, in juxtapoeition, a theme for the philosopher
The rich toileues Of the ladies commanded the granting
admiration Of these painted sons Of the forest, and seemed
TO give them indispensable delight
Take il for all ins all, never was there q
gayer or more beautiful scene. 1t would seem
a little like righteousness TO particularize this or that man
OF woman when there was so much to admire IN the
crowd Of both sexes. So | will dismiss the subject by
merely advising all whe wish to see such another sight,
and can afford Il, to make a flying trip hither, now while
the weather Is perfect spring. II will not only be good for
the health, but help TO circulate money and encourage
railroads, hotels and hack drivers.
Leaving the White House, the gay and brilliant assem-
blage wended their way 10 the elegant mansion where the
spacious drawing rooms OF the present able and distn-
guished Attorney General OF the United States were
thrown open, and where the first OF q series OF elegant re.
ceptions are to take place during the coming winter The
beautiful and charming lady, Mrs. Black, assisted by her
lovely, amiable and accomplished daughter-rece,ved
their guests with a warmth, senaity aud ease pc.
old Keystone State. Feasting, music and dancing
reigned supreme, and was kept up until the wee snAl'
hours" The only disagrcesble feature oe has to cncoun-
ter at these receptions Is the immense throng. Could they
be divided up In some manner 80 that about bali the number
were present, nothing could be more delightful than these
reunions once a week. So mote II be.
WASHINGTON, Jan. Is, 1858.
7he Frauds Before tAe Huse-FaSd and Corruption De
bates IN Conqr,ss-Committes Appcn,sd 10 irs1ioae
Four Goes of Cor71ptiu-7h. ALLEGED CaOm Frauds
-Dut-isrs,n2 Books 70 M,ml~rs-7Ae Laurence, Son< d
Co. Cos Of Br5~yy 10 ne amount Of ss7,ooo-7ae Sale
Of Fort Snel,eo-OB karescr's Expulsion Proposed
a Fsu History Of an these I~mporan; Cases, dc. DC.
Nc small portion OF the duties Of The present Congress
will be the investigation into charges OF corruption and
fraud affecting the reputation either Of members OF is
own body, is officials, or officers Of the general govern.
ment. Already, a. you are aware, four subjects OF this
nature have claimed the attention Of the House, namely
The charge Of fraud against Mr.. Culom, OF Tennessee,
Clerk TO the last House Of Representatives the sale Of the
| Fort Smelling property the ssT 900 case Of Lawrence,
Stone & Co., OF Boston: and the case OF Mr.. o. B. Matte
son, Of New York, who ws expelled from the last Con
| eress. In each Of these cases committees have been called
for TO investigate AMI decide A. TO the truth or talsehood
Of the allegations. n Is quite proper tina, charges Of the
grave nature involved in the two first cases should he
thoroughly siied in order 10 clear the character OF the
officials Of Congress. and MAINTAIN the dignity OF that
angus, body, which should be, like Crssr's wife, not only
pure but above suspicion. I greatly fear, however, that
before the pending investigations are concluded, the last
Congress will be found devoid OF any title to the reputa'
As many Of your readers may no, he acquainted with
the facts upon which these several charges are based I
| propose 10 give q brief sketch Of the circumstances out Of
which they arose. The Cullom case especially Is one in
volved In 50 much mystery and technicsli,ies, and fenced
in with so much subterfuge, spccous argument and Gun
ming diplomacy, that IL has probably gone quite beyond
the clear comprehension OF every one but politicians, and
those particularly Interested.
BY q resolution passed In the House, on July 7, 1855,
the Clerk, Mr.. Culiom, was authorized TO furnish such
members of the Thirty fourth Congress as had not yet
been supplied, certain books which bad been furnished to
the members Of the previous Congress Al the conclusion
OF the last session Of the Thirty fourth Congress-that Is 10
say on the ID Of March, lss7-Mr. cullom applied 70
the Committee Of Ways and Means for an Appropriation OF
$50, 900. as indemnity for that amount, alleged 10 have been
expended by him for books purchased by him for members
in accordance with the shove named resolution OF July
1856. A resolution granting that appropriation was passed
by the committee, Of which the present Secretary Of the
cation, "or A. much Of that amount n he has expended In
said purchases"
Cullom presented a requistiou for the whole amount
1850, oVo) 10 the Comptroller, Mr.. whittlcscy. The Comp.
troller refused 70 ratify the requistion for q warrant for
that amount from the Secretary Of the Treasury, Mr., Cobb,