Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-11-27

deemed it his duty to communicate the fact OF
the existence OF the intended fraud to the Sc
nate in secret session, and the whole coalition I'M
mediately seized upon it for the purpose of cri-
minating the Administration. They exonerate
the Secretary Of War (who negotiated the trea-
Ivy of all knowledge of the meditated fraud,
although the fact was first disclosed in his De-
partment to one Of his subordnates-but al
lege that the Administration knew and conceal
ed the fact from the Senate. 1t will, however,
occur to every one, that, if any body can be
supposed (without direct proof of the fac) to
be conusant o. the private arrangements among
the chiefs, it must be the Secretary of War, or
his assistant negotiator, Col. Benton, the volun-
teer agent "without diplomatic character or
privilege" who left his seat in the Senate 20 in
lermeddle with the negotiation; "not in the
questionable and clumsy shape Of formal"
commissioner, "but in the active, subtle, and
pervading form of an official agent, establish
ing himself on the basis Of social intercourse"
with the members Of the depu!aion.t The
President and Secretary OF State were, indeed,
at Washington during the negotiation, and so
were the Senators who accuse them; neither,
however, had any thing to do with the treaty
until it was concluded; all of them, except COL
Benton, were probably too much occupied in
the duties OF their respective stations, 10 be in
termeddling with other matters, and had no
other means OF information, in relation to the
arrangements Of the deputaton, than were COM
mon to every body in Washington There is,
therefore, the same evidence upon which TO con-
vct the Senators, or any body else, of comfy
ance, as there is to impeach the Administration.
If it was criminal not to detect and expose the
intended fraud, what shall be said Of the Sena-
LII.
who knew at least as much Of the arrangements
among the chiefs as any body else, & conceal
ed his knowledge until the treaty was ratified?
Yet the Administration is condemned, and the
Senator and War Minister applauded.
Col Benton says that che recommended the
giving private gratuites to the chiefs, (dibery,)
as the only way of treating with barbarians.-
He considered the practice as sanctioned by
the usage Of the United States; he believed it
to be common among all barbarous nations, &
in many that were civilized, and referred to the
article Of the. constitution against receiving
"pyesents," as a proof that the convention
thought such a restriction necessary even among
ourselves!! !" From which ii is to be Inferred
that our ministers might honestly take 6ribe,
if it were not specially prohibited, and that it
is perfectly honest and consistent with the dig
nifty and honor of this nation, 10 bride the di-
pomatic representatives Of other nations. If
such practice has been sanctioned by the "
sage of the United States, ii certainly has been
prudenlly concealed from the people 1t is
true that Mr.. Talleyrand, in October, 1877, did
intimate to our ENJOYS near the government OF
France, that a sum of money, amounting to fl
Nv thousand pounds sterling, would be required
to be at the disposal Of Talleyrand for the pock
els of The directory and ministers, and that loan
to the French Government would also be insist
ed on-which terms being complied with, Mr..
Talleyrand had no doubt Of effectng an accom-
mediation between the two countries. This
proposed loan TO the government and douceur
(gratuities) to the directory, were frequently
pressed upon our ENJOYS, and, if they adverted
to other points, they were told, gentlemen, you
do not speak TO the point, it is money; it is ex-
pected that you will offer money" to which
they uniformly replied, "no, no-not SIX
pence" Notwithstanding the anxiety Of this
nation to avoid conflict with France, it was
not, in those days, thought 10 be consistent
with its dignity and honor to promote the sue
cess Of the negotiation by bribery--nor do be-
resorted to filling the pockets of ministers with
private gratuities, by way "of producing con-
vic,ion on their minds" Ii is said, however,
that the unofficial negoliator who recommends
it, is TO be Secretary of State when Gen. Jack
son is President; it is, therefore, possible,
though not very probable, that, at some future
period, our negotiations will be conducted after
the manner IF Talleyrand, in all things except
talent-and annual appropriations become ne
cessary for "private gratuities' to ministers Of
foreign nations.
The party who thus continually assaiI the
Administration, and lay in wait for an opportu-
nifty Of Selling on the government, per Jas aM
nefos, by fair or foul means, is chiefly compo-
sed of men in all respects emnently qualified
for the enterprise, by the possession of much
courage and considerable talents, without pat
riotism or political principle. Their confeder
acy is accurately described in General Foy's
definition Of an arstocracy Of the nineteenth
century: "a league or coalition Of those who
wish to consume without producing, occupy
all public places without being competent to
fill them, and seizing upon all honors with
out meriting them Tyrants when in pow
er demagogues when out, the real people will
find it wise to resist them on the advanc-
ed ground, before they obtain a Judgment
in some outwork Of the constitution, whence
tbev NAV direct q (fanperOus and DerhaDs