The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-02-11
The ChOrpennipp Affair,

to make three days sensation for the daily
newspaper, and several of them found it a
rare chance to run a muck ut the Post
Master General The affair was god
send for the Cecil Democrat, and its insatia-
BILE lust for scandal and blackening reput;-
ton, fairly ran riot. The New York San
was quoted at length as Radical evidence
to convict the Post Master General of Off
cial corruptian. BY newspaper men the
Nee York Sun is classed as the veriest
bush -whacker in the country, ever, ready
to prey alike upon friend or foo. Any
thing that will supply a sensation article is
eagerly seized by the Sun regardless of
truth or reputation, public OF private,
whose ruin it seeks to fatten on.
On Friday, Sd inst however, the leading
journals throughout the country published
the facts in the case which we will wager
the Democrat will never allow the public to
see through its columns, in denial of the
false statements it, with so much gusto
paraded in the last issue. The eager
alacrity manifested by that paper to ruin
the regulations of its own townsmen and
neighbors, indicates the very smallest class
of souls. The following is the whole sub
,iect in a nutshell.
TIE CHORPENNING CLAIM.
POSTMASTER GENERAL cREswELL's ACTION
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2d.-Many false and
wholly uufounded statement Rave been
published in the daily press relative to the
action of the Postmaster General in investi-
eating and adjusting the claims of George
Chorpenning, and the amount awarded
him under the joint resolution Of Congress,
approved July 10th, 1870
These claims were presented to Post
master General Creswell on September 22d,
1869, and, after hearing counsel in support
of them, Mr. Cresswell filed his decision in
writing, concurring in the opinions pre-
viously rendered by his predecessors, Post
master General Holt, Blair and Randall,
who had all decided against them, upon
the ground that the case was res ddjudicdtd;
aud thereupon Chorpenning petitioned
Congress claiming that the act for his
relief, approved March Sd, 1857, had been
improperly construed, and praying for the
passage of such a joint resolution or act rs
would require the Postmaster General or
other accounting officer to adjust and settle
his claim upon the basis and terms specified
in said act of 1858, and upon the affidavits
and proof on file in the House of Repre-
sentatives, as also to adjust and settle on
the same basis and terms his claims grow
ing out of the curtailment and annulment
of his contract on route No. 12,S01. Con-
gress granted Chorpenning's petition by
passing the joint resolution of July 18th,
1870 which directed the Postmaster Gen
eral to investigate and adjust these claims
of Chorpenning i'll the very mode and upon
the proofs asked by the petitioner.
Mr.. Creswell, finding thathe was directed
by law to adjust and settle these claims in
u particular way, and upon the affidavits
and proofs on file in the House of Repre-
sentatives proceeded to execute the will of
Congress as expressed in the joint resoln-
tions of July 18th, 1870, to the best of his
ability, and was constrained by the terms
of the law to allow the sum of SAB, Ole. 60
rs due Chorpenning under said resolution
rs an executive officer, his simple duty in
the premises was to execute the law accord
ing to its terms, no discretionary power
having been given him either in respect to
the basis and remuneration or the proofs
necessary to substantiate the claim. He
was bound to recognize the law as correct
to the particular claims which had been
pending for many years before the Post
Office Department and Court of Claims.
He gave the subject patient and careful
investigation, and rendered his award in
writing, with a full statement of the
grounds of his action and of making the
allowance under the provisions of each con-
tract, and filed copy thereof in the
department on December 23d, 1870, where
it remained for more than two weeks sub
,ject to inspection before it was transmitted
to the auditor. Having made and fled his
award, as above stated, Mr.. Creswell's
connection with the case ceased. He
never signed any warrant or draft for the
money, or any part of it, or directed any
other officer to draw any such warrant or
draft. In fact no warrant or draft was
ever drawn therefore.
We subioin the following editorial from
Wednesdays Chronicle, and the letter of
the Postmaster General to the committee
Of the Senate, who reported on the case:
THE CHoRPENNING CLAIM.-The Senate
Post Office Committee in reporting unani-
mously for the repeal of the act of July,
1870, for the relief of Chorpenning, also
unanimously exonerate the Postmaster
General from all fault or blame. But the
strongest possible argument in the case is
the plain statement by the Postmaster
General, in letter to the committee, which
we print elsewhere. OF itself it forms a
complete vindication.
The statement shows distinctly that the
Postmaster General vas opposed to the
payment of the claim, but deemed himself
bound by the definite act of Congress,
which directed him to adjust the claim in
certain specific manner.
In obedience to that order he might
easily have passed upon the claim and
enabled Chorpenning to collect the full
amount within two months after the adj
responsibility for any wrong upon Congress.
Had he been in any way corruptly con-
nected with Chorpenning, or been willing
that others should fraudulently enrich
themselves thereby, he would have done so.
But he proceeded with manifest reluctance
and with the utmost caution. The delay,
the rigid scrutiny, the repeated admoni-
lions to all subordinates, carried the matter
over the recess, past the meeting of Con-
gress, and rendered it possible for that
body to retrace the hasty steps of tho clos
ing hours of the late session.
The Democrats insist that the Postmaster
General ought to have reported to Congress
again. Had he done so, these same men
would have denounced him for impertinent
interference, and in presuming to revise
the legislation of Congress. This objection
is simply the unfair cavil of party warfare.
OF the same order is the contemplate
charge of completely with this exorbitant
claim because Mr.. Earle, six years ago
partner of Mr.. Creswell, but not since, is
an attorney in the case. Mr. Creswcl
could no more prevent Mr.. Earle from
practicing in the Department than he could
prevent Hon. IIoratio King, formerly Post
master General, or Mr.. Zevely, former
Assistant.
And when the whole case is summed up
we find that not dollar has been paid out
of the Treasury, and that when Congress
has revised its action not a dollar will be-
The immense hubbub over the matter is
absurd. The lesson to be learned is that
of greater care in Congress towards the
close of the session. The harsh aspersons
upon the Postmaster General are unjust
malicious, and despicable.
1t will be seen by the following Report.
which included the letter of Postmaster
General Creswell, that the Committee ap-
pointed by the Senate to investigate the
CbroDpnninp fair entirelv acuuit tho PoSt