Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1802-09-25
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AIRY O. the treasury, undcr date OF The I'd
81 Aarca. From -,ia stSt.mentit ap 4ears,
.hsl Mr Pickering drew fro.u the treasu-
~ pi5ct stc appropriations made :" for de-
iraytn5 tAe e%eeas-s modest 10 the inter ,
Course |.th ,oseign Nations for nupoci- /
aing treaties with the lIArh&vy powers,
cnd ior the contingent expenses Of govern
iae0t,''-the saU OF 55,}19 dollars and 81 |
cents Rcrc than he applied 10 Cos. seye- |
i1. ooJectS, which together witn toe sum
o. l4,5s5 dollars and 81 cents gained by
him on the purchase 81 bills Of exchange
Tor the use OF She government form an
aEgrsgate o. 1858 dollars and | cents.
The same statement {C) VII. shev that
the whole SUN was expended by him on
ob)ects Of q public nature Gas far rs she
committee can ASCERTAIN the faet) but this
expenditure having bsen made from APP
preparations designed Cor other objects 6y
law, tine ,nisappiioati0n OF the money has
pHevented toe comptroller Of the treasury
from settling his accouuta.'
This four navy yards had been purchas-
50 fgi'hoot authority, and the money mis-
applied that was paid for them.
That $4,000 dollars had been expend-
ed IN the ereGtion of Laboratory, near
4hiladelphia, without legal authority.
That secret service money had DGsnil-
legally xpcndedunderthe warde aartnent,
without an accountability to the Offices of
the treasury.
That an appointment had been illegal-
ly conferred on Mr.. Tracy, senator OF the
United States, whereby he had been at the
same time paid as u legislator and an exc
cutive agent.
That MIR. At'Ffenry former Secretary Of
War,had been illegally allowed sum paid
by him for housc-rent.
The report concludes in the following
manner:
"Upon the whole the committee are of
opinion thai considerable sums of the pub
JIG mensy have been greatly misapp!ied,
and that much expense has been incurred
without any legal authority; but for the
reasons before unsigned, IL has been i'm.
possible for them 70 make complete in
ves.igation. Nor do they believe that an
investigation entirely satisfactory can be
made, unless the House should think pro-
per 10 appoint committee for tlis pur-
pose to sit during tae recess, with dirc6ti-
oas 70 make : report 10 the next session of
CONGRESS.
The committee deem IT thcirdnty toob-
serve, appropriations for the contingent
cies Of the war and navy departments are,
at all times liable 10 abuses, totoniy from
the very large sums usually appropriated
therefor, bit also, from the impraGticabili-
~ ofspecfying by law, the precise objects
TO which such sums are applicable: and
the committee are Of opinion, that giving
publicity to The accounts of the e.Spendi-
lures Of monies appropriated for contin-
gencies, would have the most direGe ten
dency, 20 correel the latitude or the con-
struS}on formerly Exercised in that respect
by the heads Ofthose deDartnents, to pro-
mote economy in, and attach proper de-
gree OF confidence to the future proceed
ings Of those departments. Andthe com.
mittee can discern 30 possible inconveui-
cnce in Q disclosure of that nature, since
they Believe that there Is no necessity nor
propricty Tor applying The principle OF Sc
cret service money 10 eithev OF those de-
partmcn,s; and a, least it ought to he so
considered, until It should be otherwise de-
terfDincd by law.
+" The committee, are, therefore, OF OPT
VlONf tU2t CidhSe ~ THIS SNcSNs ought 70
BE- inserted in the bill already reported by
them, respecting the accountability Of of
Gcers.
On the first Of May, Mr. GriswoId nov
ed to reconnlit this report, on the ground
that i. was incomplete, ind that it was CAL
culateh. by the erroneous differences drawn
from facts, TO deceive the public. His ar
gnmepts were enforced BY those Of Mr..
BayarJ, BY whom, as well is NJ. Griswold,
each item Of the report was ahimadverted
upon with Great warmth, and the tendcn.
cy Of the whole represented as falacious
and unworthy Of the House.
To thescverai charges urged against the
report, Messrs. Nicholson, r. Williams,
and Randolph replied WITH appropriate spi-
rit. They clearly shewed the OBLIGATIONS
10 he gronndlcss, and indicated the truth
and correctness OF the report in its general
nuHine rs we'll as is individual features
when tho question was taken bg yeas and
nays on the recoamitnent and lost--Yeas
22--Nays IS.
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GENERAL MORGAN.