The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1862-04-12
Trouble Ia the Department OF the
Interior.

We are panied to learn on authority W.
can hardly discredit, that grave and prooa
bly, val d charges are urged against the
Secre AIRY Of the Interior for improper spec
ulations and other mslfeasance IN office; am
that there is a strong likelihood that a gen
eral change in the chief officers OF the lnte
rior De partment will be necessary, lnciu-
jding. the heads OF the Pa.ent and Pension
Offices. Such developments are peculiarly
uopIopitious at the present time. but II the
guilt actually exists, it will be impossible
to overlook il. 1t never was SO necessary
as in this time fuial. that the people should
have absolute confidence in the int gritty OF
every member of the Aumiuistrauon.-1h The
| Would.
The Tribune is not in possession of facts
that warrant any such accusations as the
above, AMI until otherwise advised. we are
inclined to di.creiit them utterly. We hap
pen to know "the head Of the Patent OF
| fice," Mr. David =. Holloway Gate NJ. C.
from Indiana and should lie prove rogue
our faith in human nature must suffer con
sidcrablv. And if Joseph Ii. Barrett. Com
missioner of Pensions, is the gentleman oil
like name TO US as citizen Of OHIO, 1t will
require something more tina rnnors to des-
/ IrCy our iditu III MS iuteSElty.
| If The World is in possession of facts
justifying the terrible imputa,ions above,
they ought to place those facts at once be
fore the public. Ifthey have no such facts
at command, their b astine imputations seem
to us cuIpably unjus,ifable. Those jour
mails have recently made themselves conspic-
uous in urging that no person whom the
President sees fit to keep iu office should
J. Il
cism. We dissent from this doctrine. bat
we insist tina, such criticism should be
based on and justified by iadispute! facts
" Y. Tribune.
What the rumors affecting Mr.. Snit..'s
integrity may be we do not know, bit We
shall have to see sonsthin, m're than
sensation dispatch of a Washington corres-
ponient, one OF tribe of rumor IN rngars.
confirming them, before we give them either
c:eIence or currency. Mr.. Smith has been
As "clesr in his high otfi;.' as any man who
ever held it, ani we have no fear tina. the
World's i'll natured and unfouuded suspic-
ioas will affect hi n. w, asres with the
Tribune that if it has any "a is warming
SO serious an imputation it ought 10 produce
them. Ii it has none, il is sting the par. OF
a cabling SANDER to give currency to such
re ogts.
Since the above was written we have
received the Tribune of Friday. in which We
fn the following: Lqdianz Journal.
THE LIBEL on SEC ErARY SMITH.
Secretary Caleb Smith, promptly upon
the appearance Of the libel on him in tie
World, demanded of its New York mana
gers the name Of his defamer, and a speci-
fcation Of his convert charges. The parti-
ian source ofthis scandalous attack is well
known here. 1t will wholly fail to shake
the public confidence in the honorable men
who are its objects Mr.. Smiths friends urge
him to make signal example of The licen-
tious press that has ventured to try to make
vacancy in the Cabinet with libel. Ex-
tended inquiries in every quarter have failed
to elicit sin lie specified allegation against
Secretary Smith.
s1- A corresponiel 1t OF tho hiiaAa
Jo.rnal, wiring from Washington City.
under da,e of April 1. says:
"A grounlless and infamous calurAny in
tie Nec York Torlj has just started new
themes in the vicious and mischi:vous cir
cles Of gossip about Washington, and with
the Characteristic celebrity of hes flight it
has travelled over the country, with its blast
ing force upon mans lair fame. aliule
to the charge of ''iinproper speculations and
malieasance in Office 90 the part of Score.
tary Smith. A vler caumny, more ma
licious SANDER and libel upon an officer of
the Government, was never uttered nor
printed. At no moment since the inaugu-
ration OF President Lincoln and the choice
of his Cabinet has even a whisper of dis
honesty been heard before, among the Wis
itors or residents Of this city, concerning this
Department. Ga the contrary, Ia every
circle. with all classes when every other Cab
met officer but two. Mr.. Seward AMI the
Attorney General. have been charged With
frauds upon the Government. tina, of tie
Inferior has been mentioned as shining
exemption from anyt thing like peculstion or
dishonesty, There has. at no time, among
those most familiar with the operations of
TIE various Departments. been the slightest
suspicion against that of Mr.. Smith Whilst
he has been msuifestly scrupulous and
guarded in all his own affairs and duties
he has held \ vigilsns eye over the opera
tons of his su5ordiuates from the Commits
sioners down to his Messengers. suffering
no act to be done. not strictly Just and hon.
orsble between individuals and the Gov
eminent. In all the laborious administra-
ton OF his duties the Secretary might end
will challenge the severes, scrutiny. There
is. perhaps, no Department Of the Govern
raeut so pressed with claim agents as this.
yet, the uniform testimony of these men has
been that the Secretary was uselessly
watchful over these matters, and gave them
a bur,hensoms amount Of labor 70 perform
IN rigid exac6ous of proofs. and otherwise.
that was unprecedented in the history OF the
Government. Couscious of his integrity as
an officer and close surveillance over all the
operations of those associated with him in
the administration OF his department. be has
taken stems to clear himself Of this nalic