Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-07-11


scious integrity, and the justice of Congress ami
his fellow citizens. His great reward in every ex-
tremtN, the patriotic conviction, that, even II he
must Tor moment endure the effect OF such at
tempts, he cndures it for the sake of his country
and his country's service. Accordingly, it appears
that This fund has been employed, il is believed by
every President OF the U. States.
OF the proprety OF the expenditures fromthe con-
tngen fund FOR foreign intercourse; settled upon the
certificate of the President. including the whole
from the commencement OF the government the mi
noiity oil the Committee have never perceived the
least to doubt OF those OF more recent date
and especially during the last and present Admins
tralon there materials for forming iu,!g-
iaent of their probable necessity, which, being o
pen TO all, may be averted to- without injury. He
must be very superficial observer OF passing e.
vents. who has not remarked that, by the force of
circumstances, not depending upon ourselves, our
foreign relations, In the OF the last years.
have become more complicated with the general
concerns OF thcciviiizcd world, than at any former
period;and that the attention to our own eX-
tended trade, and 10 our own preservation, have
imposed upon us the necessity OF watchtulness al
points heretofore, perhaps, deemed to be OF little
consequence The danger to be guarded against
lies neither been tritiing nor remote. il has APP
pearcd 10 many to be imminent, and 10 he of the
greatea consequences and, while il has occ asioned
the most anxious solicitude, has seemed Of
turc 10 be likely 10 impose upon the Government
the duty oil peculiar vigilance, and the occasion of
! somewhat increased expenditure. They think,
too that ii must be very manifest TO every who
reflects upon the course of events that they were
oil nature to call peculiarly tor the employment
oil confidential agents and that the efficacy of such
| agencies nigh: depend upon their being secret.
The witnesses say as above intimated, that the
dc -iination OF Mr. Cook the island OF Cuba.
AMI can any think of the island OF Cuba with
out perceiviDg, by his scns,biliues as well by
his understanding, that it's fate and fortunes, in
VOWED In the uncertainty OF various apprehended
movements, external and internal, were of the
NecucSt interest Ia he nd atl tn
that portion Of which is peculiarly susceptible of
impression from some OF the shocks to which that
dependency OF Spain seemed TO be liable?
neither they direct their attention TO this par
ucuidr spot, or TO the state OF things in other
parts OF the world, the minority Of the Committee
would not have been surprised to find, that in the
course OF the last seven Years, there had been an
increased expenditure from the fund in question
III Is proper to make one further remark upon
this subject. The expenditure from the fund Tor
contingent intercourse settled upon the certificate
OF The President, appears upon the accounts under
The date oil the settlement of the Treasury. Ii is
evidence, therefore, OF nothing than the sim
gle TACT, that the settlement was then made; ,chen
Inc service was authorized, arhen il began, or
even 'eHeT 1t was completed, does not appear. In
general, II seems reasonable to conclude, that the
authority, the service, and all the responsibility
growing out OF them, must have belonged 10 an
anteccde!t period Ii does by no means follow
that The Administration under which this settle
mei!' Il made, and the charge appears, is the Ad
mlnstration which directed the services that caus-
cd the expenditure. The contrary would i'm many
cases be fairly and almost neyiably inferiible and
tins inference ought always to be applied in exam
!nlnS the account OF tie contingent fund thus set
ted
How far il may be proper or consistent with the
design, aud Tie efficient administration of this fund
to inquire into the expenditure, the minority of
the committee will not now undertake to decide.
II must be admitted TO be matter of great decacy
But tins they DO not hesitate to affirm, as their
"a.
To be instituted, il ought TO be done in the mode
best calculated 10 bring out all the facts material
20 the purpose OF inquiry, (whateyer that may be)
10 90 the least injury TO the public service, and TO
give the least offence to that branch oil the Gov
ernment which is entrusted with the expenditure.
Ii was on this account that they objected, at the
outset TO the examination OF Witnesses, TO prove
that the late Daniel p. Cook was supposed to have
oeec employed by the Government. The know
leCge oil TIC witnesses could only be imperfect and
unsatisfactory, and could not conduce TO any Just
conclusion Besides il appeared TO them 10 be due
10 Tie Courtesy which ought 10 be observed be-
tween coordinate branches of the Government
that the injury should be made of the Executive
and 10 be due to the nature of the case, and to A
proper regardfor this branch Of the public services
(Which II is important 70 pteseTve unimpaired0 that
the inquiry should be confidential
IL was on this account also that the minority of
the committee proposed after the inquiry had been
entered upoh that ii should be so extended rs TO
ASCERTAIN whether the expenditures from this fund
settled during the present Administrations and ap
pearing charged in the accounts, or any, and what
part, OF them had been incurred during that pc
Rod, or whether they were not In fuGiment of en-
Sagements made by former Administration. The
resolutions offered for these purposes appear among
the minutes. They were neg atiyed by majority
OF Inc Committee; was, also the offer OF the
Secretary OF State, 10 communicate in confidence
10 the committee, the amount paid to an individual
supposed TO have been employed coniidentally
"proac; WIN reStc TO whom the evidence Of wit
nesSes had been received
The evidence received and the evidence re-
Jccted, has thus had the precise effect of showing
mat the late Mr.. Daniel P Cook, distng uished
cltlIcn oil The United States, well known for his
integrity, talents, and long public service, was
supposed, alter the termination Of his services i'm
congress, TO. have been employed by the President
IN confidential agency, which he, in the exercise
OF his discretion, thought necessary; and II sho
nothing more. Ihat for his services, if he was
employed, Af. Cook was paid, il not Only probable
but may he taken for granted. There was no par
ticuldr reason known TO u.s. why he should not be
pdid' nat he was not paid than he was
justly entitled TO, is perfectly certain. The mi.
hOIlly OF lie committee have no doubt he was paid
as such agents usually arc, ar the rate of 81 500
year. Tor 'he'time he was actually employed, and
therefore, that he receiyedabout < 500 or 81 500
nose who doubt Of this, if any such there be
| may make the inquiry. The committee not hay
ing Thought III 10 make il, the minority, submitting
TO the decision, are bound to believe that then en-.
ieitdined no doubt, and indeed it seems TO Them
impossible That Just bring hirnseIfto any
O'her conclusion than the one which the minority
nave arrived at. If there be any such, his duty
IS p'h before hin, and he ought st once, fairly 10
assume Che responsibility Of performing IT, or else
10 refrain from injurious surmises.
ine evidence received, and the evidence re-
Jectcds also concur 20 leave the whole matter of