Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-02-26
70 bring more particularly to the notice of The

sent myself in the unfashionabe. if NAT ;,,;S',
ai"s,er' Oh On economist, must be permitted 10
state, somewhat more in detail what are nv No
tons upon this subject. Thorsh the advoes,. 81
eo'o'.y' am not, Sir, the advocate of a niygard
y Paisiihony. would do away all sinecure places.
an supelnuineraFy offices, which serve no other
r,pose 'iian 10 DC snug rceeptacles for court ia
VoiItes, and channels of executive influence Yn,
m relation TO otfieers who are really necsssarv n,
tne puoiie service, would give them liberal com
~ oS'.a. hhow not at This moment, solita-
- ou.er' whose salary would reduce I would
'oueh me salary only through the Office, and bv
'e anu me same act, wherever found a sin,
s evuls' OF mere nominal employment. would
sweep Doth the salary and the Office In regard To
ihose great pubic establishments essential 10 tb
security OF the country, would maintain them an
In state OF sautary visor and efficiency: hut 40
=. ,ie pest means oil doing that wond endeavor
70 ifee mem from ncuinbrance, and to purge them
rom abuse In every branch of their administration
MS ar, Is my idea OF public economy
CIR, l. nave been very much surprised! that tbis
proposition pf retTenchment mas been SO p,prnn,ru
met as an attack upon the present administr1,fnn
Are they not friends of economy. The Pres;5ent
mas gwen US the amplest professions mon This
uuJee,leveh or . strict and viglant' econo-
my DO his friends distrust his sincerity. or dbes
Lher sensioiiity, OH the present occasion arise,
rom 'he proposed inquiry into the disbursements
Oh Inc government? Sir, this is made our dutv an
nuaHy, ny the standing rnles and orders &c ,hs
House. II is duty imposed uuon ma Inv s,;Il hi,,
er auihorlty-that OF the Constitution itself which
requires mat ga regular statement and acconntnf
The receipts and expenditures of all public money,
shall be published from time TO time, Now S;,
10 maze this published statement of the exurnr
lures vi public money what il was designed 10
Nc IL eHeeh on Extravaganza or abuse il must
al least, embrace particulars and detas
WHICH can he elected only by special INQUIRY
But an honorable gentleman from Massachu
sets Mr.. Everett0 seemed TO think that we Mad
no rigatini authority 10 inquire into the expenJ
I 81 one o, me funds embraced by the pSopos-
ed nqiry-the fund Tor the contingent expenses
oil ioreign intercourse. He seemed TO think that
Ems iuha was put into the hands of the President
as i!e Co'tsthsondI organ OF our intercourse with
toreign nations, and that as such he had rieht 70
dispose OF ii in any manner he pleased 1vsihout
disclosing the particulars of its expenditure 10 anv
one, ana that, by the proposed inquiry we sbonLi
invade a nigh prerogatiye of the Presidential Of
nee. Sir, viii first remark that this obieetfon
proceeds upon misrepresentation in point az f0ct
None Of the resolutions call for the particul6rs Of
tie expenditures out OF this fund They only
ash ioF me respective amounts Of what has been
eApenued out OF this fund.- and settled ak the trea
sufy' without any specification of the nature of
me eXpenditure,-spd OF what has been ex,mnd
cd anu settled, IN the usual way. upon speysif,,
vouchers The law authorizes the Pro- -, ..
cause the expenditures out of This fnnd e. 80 -
,ea al the treasury, " by specially accounfnr for
the same In all instanee wherein The exncndiTt,r
may III ms Judgment, be made public and in o.
tner instances BY merely "makng a cerf;fr,ar
OF me amount OF such expenditure IA he Yna,,
tfiinK u advisable not 10 speeify." Now sir ~
resolutions under consideration ask only for ihe
nj
anc do NOT seek a disclosure of the nar,fc,,fa,,,
lteihs OF either There is, therefore no fomr,is
tion' In point Of fact, for CONSIDERING fbasa -.
iuuons as invading any prerOgatve Of the .pr.si-
massachusetts, were correct A"''
OUT SIT, as consider that doctrine aifocs,ia
,''oueous' ara OF dangerous consequence 10 tha
,eSiunate functions OF this House, beg leave
mere 10 protest against it, 1t was ONCE cnnt.ns5
In England, that the House of Con,,nor ~, Gus
Iisnt 70 inquire into the expenditure of Tho r5r;J
rs revenue, because that was TO be REGARDED in
K;n OF private and personal grant to the
king, subject exclusively TO his own discroo 80
mere was plausible ground for that c,ai,a -;
f-rSiand lnaSInuch The civil list revenue ts 81
Ways settled upon the King, at his accession' Tar
} fye But even there il has been loo,, -, - -,
diated, and abandoned by 1nn;s,er, ,I,ts III
ana me civil list revenue as well ar ever, IL,
lahch Oh me public revenue, is held TO be- fr,ys,
~ me hands OF the sovereign subject At ali fines
10 examination and control by the renyesen,s,;,o,
! OF the people. Ii this be the Acknowledgement -
.fne IN England, in relation to a monarch, hoi3;rro
us power Independently of any express act 80
consent on the part OF the people, how much more
| applicable IS 1t 20 government like ours NH
| the Chiei Magistrate is the Immediate cres,,,rs
/ all his acts2 ~ 'S'S"''is'D4e 10Y
AL, ms idea OF the irresponsibilfy Of the pfesi
uent IN regard 10 the Disbursements ~ ,ylatt ;;
commonly called sc the secret servic., E,d :: -
founded upon total Instrumentation of The ~, 80
Congress to which have already referred That
S9't PiOptIIy considered, does nOf --es -
am right an The President II onlv ,,n,' s|
authority to the accounting officers of Tho r. -
sury, and empowers them 10 credit dsburserna,
O Pubilc money, in certain cases. without srteri
VoucheTs' winch, otherwise, thoy wond moi ha,,o
Deel authorized TO credit Hence the corcI,,i;,,
declaration OF the law, that in cases OF secret 60
iCc' ue mere " certificate Of the President Sb,lI
DC deemed a SUFFICIENT boucher for the s,,no -
s,"s 'ucFeIh expressed to have been exnentycdes
ne true purpose and effect of the law IL N ro
iecttae President from disclosing the NATURE of
ms expenditures out Of this fund 10 the oecr,,1t
ing Oihcers OF the Treasury and not from r,,,rrn
Hcahng thent 10 the representatives Of the peonle
~ tner high Official character the grand ino,,est
/ % Ine nation, II they deem it expedient 10 cali
TOT mem his power of Congress- 10 an, ;,,h -.
and fundamental right of the people snd c1', 'a
yer DO abandoned, in principle without be,ra,.
the Interests and privileges Of orr co,s,;,,ssy,-
doW lar II may be safe and prudent 10 crSrcis,
u, IS another question--ono Of mere dscrcrion
when must depend upon the particular eirrun,
stances OF each case, as il shall arise
DeHeVihg u to he the right and the duty Of this
ouSy, az All times, TO institute any inquiries IN
may deem necessary into the disbursements Of.
Puohc money, should vote for the present in
curry, upon general principles alone. But ron.
Iess' SIT, have farther for giving nv as
sent 10 The proposed investigation, in tho present
instance. find that much larger sums have bcep
furnished to the present Administrations on apcount
OF all the funds embraced in the scope IF tbis a.;
quiry, than were furnished 10 the alnin;stra.;n
winch preceded IT. and hence IL seems ~ 49,. =
be particularly proper, that we sbou1J ;to,so
what has created the necessity for These inrtes'oJ
supplies ana 10 what manner they hays been sis-
pO'cd OF FOR tho purpose Of eyhibiG,~ a., 5;es
iof'e more distinctly 20 fhe Ho,tse - 80.