Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-07-11
Guis9rc 9lo1gdt.
kEfDRT OF TIE MINORITY or THE ComAIIx-
TEE ON RETRENCUMENr.
NEpARTMENT 0F STATE.

The minority of the Committee would now sub
init some observations, suggested BY some of the
examinations which were taken before the Com
mtee, and connecting themselves with the sup
posed employment of the late Daniel p Cook, in
The co tiden,ia service Of the country, in the l.
sland OF Cuba, during tie past summer
In the management OF the foreign concerns Of
.hc United States, it was well known, not only
from the nature of the thing, but also from eXpc-
yience in the short period OF our history nation
that occasions would arise where the public ue-
rest would mperiously require tina; confidential a.
gcncies should be employed abroad, and that the
whole value of such employment might depend
upon sen.ire secrecy. This lesson had been suf-
licienty learned during the struggle for indepcn-
dence. Among the earliest acts OF the Govern
ment provision was made for this branch Of the
public service; arL il las been continued BY sue
cessive acts OF Congress 10 the present time,
authority iudispeHsably necessary. The duty: of
deciding upon the cases in which il shall be cXcr
csed ue extent Of ITS exercise, aud, in general, all
the discretion which belongs 10 IL have beenen-
Joined upon the Preside IT Ul the United States by
those acis OF Congress which have provided that
The accounts OF such expenditures as lie may
think it advisable not TO specify shall kc settled
upon his certificate" From the passage of the
oct oi the lst July, 1890. there ncrer has been a
moment when this duty has not been emioned by
law: and il is believed that no one who has re-
elected upon such objects, or observed the course
Of public events in the world, would consent that
our GoverpInent should be deprived Of the bcne-
Gts Of This exercise OF authority.
Upon every view of this branch Of The public
service, therefore, it j. manifest That among tie
Tenn obligations incurred ~ citizen cXalred To
the high Office of Chief Execut4e. Magistrate of
this Republic: ii IS one that lac wl execute this
law lie is not liberty avoid tie pesT0nsibiIi-
~. Whenever, in the cXfrcse oil that discretion
with which he is charged, it seems 10 him HAT the
exgency of circriiTrstaHces Is such a. to require
from him the execution OF the authority, his cOutsc
IS too plainly prescribed To him 10 allow Of any
doubt or hesitation. Hc can no more abstain from
the performance Of this, thar from any OF the o.
theT high functions with which lac Is charged.
Such is his just re possibility.
II cannot be denied, however. ihat the best per
forinance of this duty mperious AMI Indispensable
as it is is from its nature easily made obnoxious To-
suspicion. W 4 ali remember the clamor that was
raised some years ago. on account OF tie supposed
Use Of large portion OF ts fund, 10y former Pre-
sicu Of the United States, III crisis Of great pub
lie prIIoIinancc. The very terms employed in
common parlducc, 10 eNpacss the use OF The money
have been perverted 90 bad sense 9hd often
applied fcprOlchiuliy. Secret service money
T. phrase which ,s made to carry with it Ger
tain degree Of o1un, simply because il is forgotten
that the " service" b. 10 our own country, and de
'secTecy is il dion - nrajgn countries and boil,
IRE for or cvyn benrot u Congress have thought
1T 20 cnJoin o. % pc'f secrecy at home, 1t Is on
~ because that H. necessary 10 urcycnt injurious
publicity abroad, which would defeat the very
purpose Of the PROV ision. Foreign nations have
their agents here, IS 30 would al once transmit in
diligence fbst VS. comucn among us, and thus
lisappoint our objects
", in the Performance g ilie dq'y thus assigned
- tie President, add which hss rot at liberty 10
decline, his conduct may be questioned, orly be-
IT does not carry with IL as o1n iuil pana.
ton, IL IS obvious that he is placed by The !, " in a
condition 20 suffer injustice lor The absence e cy-
pianation is itself part Of his duty. IIo is bound
ny The most solemn obligation, 10 keep secret who
he believes il viii Be incompatible with the inter
ests q the nation 10 make public. lfeuch be rot
The Just Interpretation Of the law i ought isnme-
diately 70 be repealed.
When The duty iu question was cnoincd II
could not but be ioFesecn by those who famed
lire law, that is performance night,an in fines Of
party excitement probably would, afford plausible
grounds Cor attempting q awaken distr,ist But
ney deemed it necessary for 'he good ol the nation:
srh every citizen, who is worthy - be President