Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-06-29

from this Office with their accounts, and We trust
they will be prepared to give him the kind Of reeeP-
ton be desires.
We trust our friends in those counties viii also |
aid our agent in extending our circulation.
Andrew J. DOneIsOn in the witness-stana.
Tue Patriot of yesterday quotes Senators TOouBs
and HAMMoED for the purpose Of showing that there
was no fraud in the GALPHIE claim which was paid
during Gen. TAYLORs administration. We do not
propose to reopen the discussion of this obsolete
question, but will simply refer 10 the fact that
g majority Of the Committee appointed by
Congress to investigate the claim reported against
its Justice Mr. CRAwFORD, Secretary Of War in
TAYLoR's cabinet was the agent for the prosecution
Of the claim. But on this subject We viii merely
quote the language Of AEDBEw J. DoEELsON, an
authority which we presume the Patriot will not
question In the Washington Union Of June 20
1851, Maj DOEEIsOS says:
"Cau a cabinet minister employ an agent to prose
cute claim before one of his co Secretaries, and
receive large sums of money for Aas own benefit IN
der the decision Of that COST etary Can the
Secretary Of War Mr. CRAwFoRD) receive payments
awarded to him by the Secretary Of the Treasury
CMr. MeREDrrH.) whilst both are members Of the
opeu or secret prosecutor Of claims before any
member Of a cabinet of which he is part :
We are sure he goDsrHmeHt DH soon become
mere SINK e5rrupiOa each and all Of The Secretaries
av prosecute claims before each other, and rsceV' he
sums as0ard,d 10 them If such practice can be
sustained il is obvious that the several Secretaries
will become the only prosecutors Of claims before
the severa! departments snd that the administration
Of this government will become more corrupt ths1
that OF Great Britain where it has long since been
proclaimed in regard to British officials, that every
man has his price
1.-THE act of CsAwFoRD was the act Of the Cabinet;
for it was proved before the proper committee that
President TAYLOR sanotiOuedit."
With regard to the cOrruptiOns aud frauds in Mr.
FILLMoRE's administration, Maj DONELsoN is still
more explicit, and We lay his testimony before our
readers that they may refresh their recollection OF
these disgraceful transactions which we're PerPetra
ted through the agency Of the very same leaders who
are now attempting to reinstate themselves in power
BY uniting against the Democracy under the name
of the Peoples Party. It will be remembered that
Mr.. CRIrrENDEE was member Of FmLMoRE's
cabinet.
Moi DoxELsOS, in the Washington Union Of July
%, 1851, uses the following language:
"MALFEAsAEOE In OFFIOE.--It is an unpleasant
task to tear of mask and paint the features be
meath it But our position forces such tasks upon
us IS duties which We dare not negle,t. It may be
weak ia US out truth forces to say that We have
not the courage-we have not the nerve-tO enable
US to stand omplscenlly, with folded arms, while
corruption is becoming rampant, and corrupt Prae
tees are On every side Of us, Within the last two
years a system has grown up and is now almost or
CANNED Il is organized sufficiently for most for
midsble and energetic action. 1t prevents the
allowance Of houest claims and carries through
dishonest claims against the government. The last
TAYLOR and the present [FmLMOREl cabinet will
fully aud premedtatedly or from weak ignorance,
have given aid aud comfort to the scheme, and as
sisted its growth and strength"
"But the worst feature in Washington corruption
is that men high authority and in positions Which ENABLE
them to control in sIsu-s t5s decision Of claims en-
trusted 10 them havs 5sc9ms mere claim agents. The
public cannot have forgotten the Developments rela
tive to the Virginia lard warrants, aud the public
cannot have forgotten the GALPHrN case. Such &C.
currences will be repeated to the end Of time, if the
people remain silent"
Again in the Washington Union of July p, Maj
DONELsOE said:
ssThs late proceedings relative to the Gardiner
claim will ultimately bring to light many things
which the people have never dreamed Of but Of which
any attentive observer in Washington for the lasl
two years must have seen abundant indications.
"Mr CoRwls, it is well known, was a member Of
the Senate Wnen the Office of Secretary Of the Treas
ury was rendered to him BY Mr. FILLMORE. At that
time as subs, quent developments show, he wa
largely interested in claims before the commissioners
appointed adudicste the claims of American eiti'
zens against The republic of Mexico, which gov
eminent had, by the treaty of Guadalupe HidalgO,
assumed TO the amount Of three and quarter mil
lions Of dollars. This fact leaked out after Mr.
CoRwIS went into the Treasury"
',The true point at issue is this: a Senator Of
the United States servant Of the people and paid
for his services by The Peope-reoeives contingen
fee valued one hundred thousand dollars. pending
before board Of Commissioners appointed by the
chief Of his own party, and composed Of course Of
his party friends.
"There are lawyers in this city Of equal learning
with Mr. CoRwN. We meet one almost daily of zen
times the research, ability and legal fame Of Mr.
CoRwIN Yet any one Of these men would, we have
no doubt have given advice TO the suthcienoy Of
the evidence Of any claim pending before the MeXi
csu board for a thousand dollars in each, demanding
higher sum as q contingent fee the increase being
commensurate with the uncertainty Of the case
Why then, lie, u *, we're these men passed over
Aud Why we're political Wing lawyers employed a
sob enormous outlay? Twas not for SUPERIOR sbil
iy-fOr superior ability did not exist. Il was no
for forensic taeut-for there was no forum in which
i coull be heard. Why then aud for what purpO.
we're Wing Senators employed aud paid fortune in
fees? There is but one answer to these questions
Political influence orsr polea! ri,nd .ls n ~
bought and sod 4 Wing eOHmissi5H ras the court Of
laEs resort end Hkig politicians paid high prrss
A blind man can see and a deaf man can hear tha
secret purposes of the conspirstOrs Political pei
tion snd political influence were the things paid Tor
-poIiiosl position and political influence we're ii
things sold Disguise is useess-evssiOn is without
svail.
"Ths manner in which Mr.. CoRwIN has been
brought forward in this behalf has inclined US to
speak OF him alone But, i there be any truth IN
TsOr' gaoa, he Is not The Osly member Of The Co5iHs
O gas at first if to the end interested in claims
before the Mexican commission"
If the Patriot refuses to accept Ma. DoEEIsoN's
testimony We can furnish other proof Our Know