A Refutation, by His Friends, of the Calumnies Against David Henshaw: In Relation to the Failure of the Commonwealth Bank, and the Transfer of South Boston Lands to the United States (Classic Reprint) - Tapa blanda

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Excerpt from A Refutation, by His Friends, of the Calumnies Against David Henshaw: In Relation to the Failure of the Commonwealth Bank, and the Transfer of South Boston Lands to the United States

The recent rejection, by the Senate of the United States, of the nomination of David Henshaw, as Secretary of the Navy, has been followed by reiterated newspaper assertions, that among the reasons for this action of the Senate was "his participation in the alleged fraud in the Commonwealth Bank transaction, by which the government was cheated out of a large sum of money, in taking South Boston lands in payment of a debt."

In the exercise of an independent discretion, in confirming or rejecting any nomination submitted to them, the Senate of the United States may rightfully stand above all question in every matter affecting the political relations and personal qualifications of the party, aside from individual character and integrity. But if they assume to reject a nominee upon these last grounds, they virtually assume as high a responsibility as if acting under their judicial power of impeachment, and their decision, in such case, should be warranted, not by charges or suspicion merely, but by substantial proofs. And in the exercise of this high duty imposed by the constitution, the judgment and conviction of each Senator, and not the direction of an organization separate from the official action required of him, ought, it is conceived, to determine that action, when applied to the rejection of any nominee, upon grounds affecting his personal integrity or moral character. The fact that in this case, the Senate instituted no investigation, preferred no charges, and heard no evidence, is sufficient proof that the alleged reasons of rejection are not the true ones; though the bold and reiterated assertions of newspapers hostile to Mr. Henshaw, and which have been suffered to pass without reply, may not have been without their influence, in producing false impressions.

Knowing that the Senators, who voted against Mr. Henshaw, did not enter officially into any investigation of the calumnies affecting his personal integrity, and that therefore they must be ignorant of the conclusive answer which facts and documents can give to every one of them in detail, and to all in the aggregate; we have too much respect for them as honorable and high-minded men, to believe that they passed upon the character of any man, without giving him a hearing; and therefore Ave do not believe that Mr. Henshaw was rejected upon any other than political and party considerations.

With these we have no concern, and have nothing to say in censure on the one hand or extenuation on the other.

We take issue only with the assumed fact that the reason, or any part of the reason for the rejection of Mr. Henshaw was rightfully founded, if at all, upon alleged fraudulent, dishonest or dishonorable transactions on his part, in his former relations to the United States as a public officer, or in his private acts as a man.

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