Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-08-09
REroRT or THE MINoRITY OF THE CoMMiT-
TEE On RETRENCHMENT

TEE on RETRENCHMENT.
Continued.
The minority of the Committee would
ROW submit some observations, surrestcd
by some OF the examinations which were ia
ken before the Committee, and connecting
themselves with the supposed employment
of the late y. =. Cook. in the confidential
service OF the country, lii the island of Cuba,
durE the past summer.
In the management Of the foreign con-
Germs of the United States, it was well
known not only from the nature Of the thing
but also from experience in the short period
OF our history as IL nation, that occasions
would arise where the public interest would
lmperlousiy require that confidential ageI-
Cles should be employed abroad, and that
the whole value of such employment might
depend upcnlts entire secrecy. This lesson
had been sufficiently learned during the
struggle tol independence. Among the ear
lest acts oil the Government. provision was
made for this branch of the public service:
and It has been continued, BY successive acts
Of Congress. to the present time, as an au-
tl:ority Indispensable necessary. The duty
oil deciding upon the cases IN which it shall
DC exercised, the extent Of its exercise, and.
III general, all the discretion which belongs
70 1t, have been en- Joined upon the President
CT the tnlted States by those acts Of Con
gress which have provided that the accounts
OF ''such expenditures as he may think it ad-
visabie not to specify shall be settled upon
his certificate" From the pa.sao Of the
act of the first Of July, 1890, there never has
been moment when this duty has not been
cajoincd by law; and it is believed no one
who has reflected upon such subjects, or OBJ
served the course Of public events in the
world, would consent that our Government
should be deprived Of the benefits of thi: cy-
crcise of authority.
Upon every view oftiis branch of the pub
lie service, 1t is manifest that among the sol
clnn obligations incurredby citizen exalted
to the high office Of Chief Executive Magis-
trate of this Republic, it is one that he will OK
ccute this law He is not at liberty to avoid
the responsibility. Whenever, in the exercise
Of that discretion with which he is CHARGED,
il seems to him that the exigcncv OF crcu1n-
stances is such as to require from him the
execution of the authority, his course is too
plainly prescribed to him, to allow of any
doubt or hesitation. He can no more alb
stain from the performance Of this, thanfrom
my of the other high functions with which
he is charged Such Is his Just RESPONSE
bilny.
It cannot be denied, however, that the
'~s'L f'ii'' hl"itIt ~ lNiS uulN, inlpeilOuS and
indispensable asst is, is, from its nature, easi-
~ made obnoxious 10 suspicion. We all re-
member the ClJmor that was raised some
years ago, on account Of the supposed use
cfa large portion Of tjis fund, by former
President of the United States, in :; c;rc;s q,
great public Importance. Tie vcfy terms
employed in common pariance to cypress
fhc use CT the money, have been perverted
80 a bad sense, and are often applied re-
J9oachtuily. SECRET service money x 2
f'sirare which IS made 20 carry with if cor.
Gun degree OF odjnd, aiIaply hec1uscit *
10rGotteu that the "srryirc'' Is IN o,rr co.,r.i
Ing, and ih secrecy is in relation 70 for-
cgn counhies, 0nd both arc for orr own be-
nCflt. ii Congress have thought fiji 10 cnioiu
or Pernii! secrecy at home, IT Is only because
that is necessary to prevent injurious publ
cty abroad, which would defeat the very p,ir
pose Of the provision. Foreign nations have
their agents here, who would OF once trans
INT intelligence that was common among us.
and thus dlsappoiat cur objects.
Ii, IN tive performance Of tho DIV thus u.s.
signed to the President and which he is not
at liberty to decline, his conduct MAY be
questioned, only because it docs not carry
v th il its own full explanation. it i, obvious
riat nc IS placed by the aw IN a condition TO
suffer Injustice; for the absence Of cyplana-
t.on IS itself part If rs dj,fy lie is bound
by most solemn obligation, to keep sacye:
what he believes It viii he incompatible with
ne interests Of TIC nation ~ Juglc public