Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-08-06

sclf) inasmuch as the portion of the indcm-
nifty paid TO those for whose benefit the no.
tee was published, being received and ex-
pended in this country, viii add so much TO
the aggregate Of the public wealth.
An objection has been taken TO the allow
ancc OF $500, as fee TO the Attorney Gen
,eral for his professional services in Il suit mt
Baltimore. The minority Of the Committee
understand the objection to this allowance
to be, that 1t was made from the CONTINGENT
fund tor foreign intercourse. They arc, how
ever, not acquainted with any specific fund
provided by Congress toy services of this
Nnd.-Ihc traffic in slaves on the coast Of \
iflca must be considered as f;.lln.,, general
", within the province OF the foreign affairs
OF the country, and has been matter OF nego-
tlation with foreign powers. The defence of;
the interests Of the United States, in the suit
iii question, is, OF course, Il service Of con
hngent nature. The minority Of the Com
mlttee understand that thc duty lcvolvcd on
the Attorney General, by his employment IN
thus case, requiring his attendance for near q
fortnight, was not unreasonable compensa-
ted by fee Of this amount; nor have they
heard any fund suggested, out Of which
1t could With greater prooriety have been
paid.
The purchase OF one hundyc, copies of
Wliiot's Diplomatic Code, is objected to as
beng made out Of this fund. Il occurs,
however, 20 the minority Of the Committee,
that the very valuable work III question is
purely and essentially connected with the
lioEciGn service o; tho country. and the copies
"t 1t purchased by the Department of State
were designed chiefly for distribution to the
foreign ministers and other persons engaged
III the public service abroad. 4 considcra-
Die number Of copies of the same work were
purchased this winter BY the House Of Rep
rcScntatlves, and paid for ont of the contin
gent fund Of the House; and the same rea-
sons, IN the opinion Of the minority of the
Committee, justify its purchase by the De-
paFtmcnt OF State. out OF the fund expressly
devoted to the contingencies of that branch
oftho service TO which the work IN question
refers itself.
Some objection has been made 70 tie
number OF newspapers which are tuIen in
the Department OF State, and which are said
10 have increased within the last three years
On this head. the minority of the Committee
ass TO nc INDUCED II d remark. The pub
nc press Is vehicle Of communication in
tins country, which is growing in importance,
with tho augmentation of the population end
resources Of the Union. IN an Executive
department OF the Government, whose
duties are OF nature so miscellaneous
las those Of the Department Of State, it
- absolutely necessary to faithful dis
charge ofthem, to be possessed of the con-
tents of considerable number of LEADING
Journals IN every part of the country It has
also been the usage of the Government. in
every period, to furnish the foreign minis
ters With some Of the principal newspapers,
and these are procured and transmitted
through the Department Of State. These
conscientious Wll show that some little in
crease Of this expenditure will take place
with the extension Of our diplomatic relations
abroad, and the growth of the country al
home
In the course OF the last Summer, an OH
ginal portrait Of Washington, by distin-
guished American artist was offered for sale
to the Department Of State. The portrait
had the merit Of being a good painting, ard
OF presenting i likeness OF somewhat difIC-
rent character from that OF the usual por
traits OF Washington, ard consequently af
iordlng the means, BY comparison, Of attain
lnG and transmitting 10 postcrity uiorc cx-
act conception Of the countcnaRce of the
Father Of lis country. The Secretary ac.
corthngly made a purchase of it, at reason
able price, as a part Of the furniture ofthc
department OF State, Which he had already |
found ornamcnted with the licensees Of all !
the Presidents OF tho United States, except
the sccond.-Fhis purchase has been ohec !
ted to, but tile minority Of the Committee !
ind nothing 10 ccnsure i'll it. tits certainly
sanctioned by the example of Congress, in !
the large appropriations they have made to |
2dorn the Capitol With historic paiutinry.--
I !" o years ago, resolution passed TIC .
House OF Representatives, without diyisios. |
to purchase, at an expense Of $500. a por- :
trait Of Washington, for the Hall Of the .
House, to be paid out Of its contingent fund {
The minority would not intimate that Head
oi Department possesses Il like discrciiona-
ry authority with branch OF the Legislature;
but, Ill the present case, they think the Sec
rcta7y CT State 10 have been STRONGLY coun-
tcuanccd by the prcccdcnts alluded to, in
purchasing a portrait Of Washington. as "a
portion OF the furniture of the Office cf the
Department.
A view somewhat similar is taken by the