Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-06-03
Sl2.O5o l2

1NccSS, SlZ,O59 IL
They think that the discretion which the Secre.
tary OF State, in fact, employs, both in appointing
and compcnsating bearers Of dispatches, is liable
10 strong objection. In practice, fear it i.
prone to degenerate into a species of tavoritism al
together adverse 10 the public interest: for your
committee have reason to apprehend that it is lii
Tie short OF convenient mode of sending favorites
abroad, 10 travel for their pleasure, health or in
struction, out of the public Golfers.
Amidst the numerous appointments Of messen-
gers made by the present Administration, they
will select the account Of John III. Pleasants, edi-
Tor OF the Ri chmond Wing, because that case in
their estimation, presents the most fragrant exam
pie Of abuse.
1t appears that the 10Th of April, little more
than month after the inauguration of the Presi-
dent, this gentleman received the appointment OF
Bearer of Dispatches 10 Rio Janciro and Bucnos
Ayies. The circumstances OF his journey from,
Richmond to boston, in seeking passage; his ul-
innate cnbarkaiion at New York on the 2Sth
accidents which occurred on board that vessel; OF
leaving his important dispatches in Charge OF
the captain of the William Tell, and going on board
another vessel, bound TO Antwerp, his again de-
barking from this vessel, and cmbarking at sea OH
board ip bound TO Liverpool; his spending the
summer in England, 50 in seeing the country, -
and his ultimate return to New York in October,
are detailed i'll his letters, narrative and pentcnial.
10 Mr.. Clay, i'll the appendix marked No. O. whilst
the subjoined account shows at whose expense
these extraordinary voyages were made, viz:
Department Of State, 10 John H. Peasants, Dr.
10 this sum Tor voyages out and home, S 900
loactual expenditures in travelling ex-
penses and board, from the time Of
leaving Richmond. on the 18th April,
1873, tn 18th May, Of the same year,
IN which interval was seeking, from
Baltimore 10 Boston, the means OF
getting TO Buenos Ayres, PIT
10 expenses on my return from New
York TO Richmond, 81
To pc' diem allowance, at So, from the
18th April TO the 22iAugust, is I26
days inclusive, 756
$3.50
Approved: II. CLAY.-7h December, 1926
This account was approved by the Secretary
without Vouchers
In the first place, your Committee are of OPT
Mon that MIR. peasants was entitled TO no allow
ance for voyages not one OF which he performed
i'll the public service; at all events if he paid lis
passage TO Buenos Ayrcs, in the William Tell, be-
lore cmbarkng, this the extent of the allow
ance which should have been made him.
Either his dispatches were were not of i'm
porancc: il they were OF importance, like a SOL
dicr on post, no consideration should have induced
him to have deserted them: il they were of no
higher importance than to have rendered it safe
that they should he coniidcd to the captain OF m
ordinary merchant vessel, then they should have
gone through this channel, and Mr. Pleasants ought
not 10 have been appointed. The item of 5000
Tor voyages, Is exorbitant, your committee believe
beyond the comparative rates Of passage money, to
parts of the habtablc globe the most remote. By
looking at of the accounts of other Bearers OF
Dispatches, employed and paid during the present
Administration, the committee find no correspond
ing rates. For example: Mr.. George Watkins.
who was sent out to London with dispatches eight
days after the inauguration Of the President at n
cost Of 3f7 6S for about IL days service charg-
cd and received but $466 for passage money as per
the su5oined account
United States to George Tt'dthins, Bearer of
Dispatches TO England, in 1925, Dr.
Compensation from The 18th March,
TO 1st July, liz days, at SO per
day, sG72 -
Allowance iof the voyage out and
home, 166 -
Travelling expenses from Washing
ton 10 New York, 80 -
Post Chase and Pair from Liver
pool Ito London, at 2 Shiliings sfe--
Ting per mite, Of CO
Expenses the road, 10
Mil Coach from London 70 Liver
pool, rs -
Expenses the road, = -
Travelling expenses from New York
% Washington, SO -
-
S1,3f7 6s