Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-08-06

John "A. htnS, as Charge ID Affairs az Lon
don, which has been said to have been made
III violation oflaw, and out of fund appro-
priated Tor other objects. subject hay
ing been brought before the House of Rep
reScnta'Ncs at the last session OF Congress,
ana having, IN obedience 10 a call o. the
Houre, been reported upon by tie Secretary
OF State, the minority Of the Committee will
only observe, that from the Sccretary's re-
port, at that time, it appears that MIR. Kings
appointment WAS madc comformab!v to the
construction which has been given to the
Iawsot 9Th Nav 1910. hy every succeeding
Administration: ans! that the allowance
ninae 10 INN was a medium between the
highest and lowest rate OF allowance made
in similar cases. THAT il was made out of
the contingent fund for foreign intercourse.
was, IN the opinion Of the majority OF the
Committee, both necessary and proper.
The expense occurred on thc contingency
OF the SICKNESS of the minister at london
The service 1cg1n and terminated il the re-
cess OF Gongrors: il was, consequently one
Tor Which 10 previous appropriation could
be made; and the minority OF the committee
are not aware that Congress have ever con
sidered 1t Il branch OF legislative duty, to de-
eide WHAT part, or whether any pant, Of an
outfit, should be allowed TO Il Charge d'.N-
fairs, after his return from his post. In the
numerous instances V hich the records of thu.
Government exhibit, Of the settlement @! Tie
accounts Of ianctionarics OF this class. il is
the bcct OF the minority Of the Committee,
that when the same have lot previously
been appropriated for, (Which in Inc major
lty OF cases they have not bcen.) the Execu-
tive has decided the rate Of allowance, and
ordered IFS payment, out Of the contingent.
fund tor foreign intercourse. The minority
of the Committee arc aware that ''pTcce-
dents mndeln violation Of law" arc not en-
thicd to respect. But, When thew consider
that the intercourse OF the Government with
foreign nations IS contided by the Const;tu-
ton, to a considerable cytent. TO the presi
dent, and that, down t. the present dav
there is no sncciiic act oi Congress creating
any foreign mission, they cannot but think
that 1t would HOW be hazardous to preclude
the Executive from the application of the
contingent fund ia the cxigencics Of the for
ciSn service, which arise during the recess Of
Congress, and which, the min Of the
Committee rcgurd IS a part 81! the objects
peculiarly intended II be provided for by
that tund. The minority also think ii an
undue measure OF severity toward any Nd
minlstratlon, to charge 1t With the violation
OF positive law, III cases where lis acts have
been IN conformity to an uavarying usan7e in
the construction of that law from the time Of
ITS enactment, and under the most approved
administrations Of the Government It NAV
also not be IMPROPER t0 recall 10 the House,
that neither the outfit, nor any ether ALLOW
ance made to our foreign agents, is mratui-
tots pecunlary emolument. In most instan-
CTS, It falls bc!oU. and never, 1t is believed.
rises above, the necessary expenses Of their
station, Most OF our citizens III the foreign
service leave II with circumstances not men
dco, by having discharged important duties
to the country: and the minority Of the Com
nlittee iavc no reason tobeleve that allow
ances Ike those made to Mr.. King arc even
an lndernnitv Tor the sacrifices which every
individual must make IN his domestic cstab-
lishmcnt, ny entering the public service ui-
der the like circumstances.
On the subject OF the employment of !.
III. iieasanfs, as d special messenger, for
bearing dispatches, commissions, ard ID
structicns to our Charges d'AFairs at Hio de
Jancrlo and Buenos Avrcs, the minority Of
the COMMITTEES deem It unnecessary 10 say
any thlng, IN addition to what is stated i'll the
letter of the Secretary. which is here sub
Joined
III. cIay's letter to ,Tr. Hamilton has
been published
among the items Of expenditure which
have been objected to, is the sum paid for
the publication of the notice Of the proyis-
ion made by the Governments of France and
Hayti, for indemnity for the sufferers by the
revolution in st. Domingo will probably
be III the recollection Of The House, that the
notice in question was OF Considerable
length, directing, III detail, tJc course to be
adopted by the unfortunate persons in Ques-
ton, to obtain their portion Of this long de-
iaycd indemnity. No other principle, it
must DC allowed, called upon Tie United
States to aid them, by giving extensive pub
icity to this notice, than that OF comfy to
the friendly foreign power communicating
The documents to this Government. and lib
crafty toward the unfortunate cxilcs. who
tor thirty years efpeacciui submission to or
laws, have many of them discharged all the
duties Of good citizenship to the country.
The sums paid for printing, were in every
instance, those which u private individual
L u