Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-03-14

Alas that the brave must die
Pet Point. HARP OF THE ISLE
From the Kentucky Central JJ'atch To,cer.
TO the Editor:
wAsH1NGroN, CRY, Jan, 25th, 1928.
SIR: In pursuance of your request, L have taken
pains to inform myself far as it can be done
from public documents, of the accuracy of the state
ments contained in the newspapers last summer
relative TO MIR. Adams's accounts. To satisfy YOU
and that portion OF my constituents who are rea-
ders OF your paper, the subject, shall give Ii
teTal extracts from the document now before me-
accompanied with such explanatory remarks as
the subject may seem TO require You will recol-
Iect, that when Mr.. Adams was appointed 10 aid
IN negotiating the treaty of peace ne was Minis
terot the United States, at the Court of St Peters
burg, where he had been ever since 1909 1t
appears by the public documents that his duties as
minister to negotiate the peace commenced 29tl,
April, 1913, and ended the 9th February, 1915;
having continued one year and ten months
In the contingent account of Mr.. Adams, laid
before the House, February 2Ist, 1925 and print
ed in document 79, page IO3,2 I'd volume public doc
ufnents, 1925, the following items:
1Sl4, June 8Oth, Expenses of journey from
st. Petersburg to Client, s 1856 Sc
Sept. Expenses at Client, 1887 So
Dec 81, do. 1891 80
1915, January, do. 61O 90
Here We have 1902 Oh for Mr. Adams's ex-
penses at Client, for only three months. What
was the nature OF the expenses, has never been
NtsCtoSeu' AL effort VIII De made at this session
OF Congress, to obtain explanation of this most
extraordinary expenditure But let US return to
the document.
q This sum allowed for his expenses, back to Pc
-tersburg equal TO the sum allowed on his journey
from St Petersburg 10 Client, Is $50 S6' This
Journey back to 81. Petersburg, Mr.. Adams 1evey
travelled He went from Client to Paris, and
thence to London, where he remained about two
years as minister, and then returned TO the Uni
ted States. This statement in the document Ia
L he of fha
wholly deceptiye-not TO the payment of the
money, for MIR. Adams took care TO secure that
but as TO the services for which it was paid So
iIr as l can learn, the true history of this item
IS is follows: When Mr. Adams went to Client
he lei his family in Russia and after the close OF
that negotiation, they joined him at Client, and
travelled to Paris The travelling expenses of
MS family, from st Petersburg to Paris he charg-
ed TO the United States but the accounting officers
ot the Treasury could hnd no law which would
Justify or pailiate the payment of this itcn-
Whether the idea first occurred to them or Mr.
Adams, know not; but so it was that inasmuch
as Mi Adams might have gone back to ST. Pc
tersburg, although in fact he did not it was con-
sdered that the travelling expenses of his family
from St Petersburg 10 Paris, might be paid under
cover OF this pretended journey back and neither
Congress nor the people would be the wiser for it!
80 Mr.. Adams received the money, under this
false pretence. The accounting officers make a
false corresponding entry upon the public books
and the consideration for which the money was
paid, IS wholly concealed in the report made TO
Congress; and the people, well as their repre-
sentatiyes, are deceived in relation to the real OBJ
lccts for which their money is paid But let us
again return 10 the document. The next item is
as follows:
"This sum paid him for his travelling expenses
" from st. Petersburg to Amsterdam; from thence
q TO Client Paris, and Hayre seeking a passage
(" TO the United States; it being impossible to en-
" bark from any port in the Baltic, in consequence
OF ne war; 81 900"
Here is another journey paid for by the good
people, which requires explanation. 1t has been
said, and probably with truth, that such Journey
was performed by the Secretary of Legation.
VIM. ). Smith Mr. Adamss nephew, there is no
law authorising the allowance OF travelling expen
sGs to Secretaries Of Legation; but Mr.. Adams
being Secretary Of State, procured this extraordi-
nary allowance, which is also disguised upon the
books in the manner have stated.
The next item reads thus: ''This sum allowed
him for his expenses al Paris, waiting the an
swer OF the British Government to a proposition
TO treat commerce. and the instructions of his
Gown Government, on this subject $3.50 49,"
These expenses were incurred at Paris al he
very time when Mr.. Adams is supposed, in pre-
yious and subsequent item of the account, 20 be
travelling back to ST. Petersburg; but the dates of
these items carefully omitted in the ieport TO
Congress. Had they been given, it would have
appeared on the face Of the document, that Mr. /
Adams was travelling back to ST. Petersburg & !
residing in Paris ut the same time, and charging |
me Government with both the expenses of his |
journey, and the expenses Of his residence in Pa
Tis! IL would seem that the dates could have been
omitted only 10 conceal tho falsehood Of the pre-
Glnces under which some Of the items were al |
lowed! 1t should be here remarked that Mr.. A. |
dams was allowed an outfit Of $4,000 on his an.
ponttnent TO England, and that his salary for that
mission, commenced on the 25th February, 1916,
whereby he was receiving not only expense for
travelling back TO st. Petersburg aud expense for
detention in Paris, but his salary as Minister 70
London all at the same Gmel The next item reads
thus:
" This sum being the amount heretofore sus-
pended from two contingent accounts, but which,
on further explanation and consideration, is adj
fitted, 500 35D
OF this know nothing. But now comes a We
~ extraordinary item:
" This sum, allowed him as equivalent 10 his
expenses from Client 10 St Petersburg after the
conclusion Of the treaty Of peace with Great Bri-
tain, he being accredited and considered Minister
&c tn Russian Cout until the receipt Of his an.
pointment to that Of Great Britain, 81 SOS o."
" Deduct this sum, allowed him for this object
for report NO S52, under an impression that the
sane sums charged BY bin for the journey from
- Ta'ersbdrg 70 Gi,9rt, wouH ~ eaual q the