Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-10-01

In these two Departments, therefore, a portion and
probably small proportion. of the frauds defocaons
FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY SEVEN THOUSAND
ONE HUNDRED FoRTY-THREE DOLLARS.
Yet there those who still contend that Mr. Adams
administration pure, faithful and rieiIaut! The
lost dollars tell different tale. IU S. Tel
THE INTELILGENCER AND THE NAVY
The lnteliigencer and its kindred prints have seized
on difference of opinion between the Secretary of the
Navy and the Navy Commissioners relative 10 The ron
structon OF law, which of those papers appear
TO understand, and deduce from it evidence of hostility
TO the Navy in this administration That difference of
opinion we do not intend discuss II is sufficient for
us to say that believe it lead no serious con-
sequences; and on that point well all others the
advocates of fraud are doomed to all their malignant
hopes of mischief sadly disappointed.
But to those who know the facts in this case IL is A.
musng TO with what ingenuity they are tortured in
TO thousand ugseemy shapes, and made to produce
thousand absurd consequences. II has been asserted
that the Secretary of the Navy had determined to sell
our public ships after another, and that even on
T0nSdes is about 10 he put under the hammer! MANY
are the tears that she'd and most lugubrous are the
wailinss which set up this once glorious but
now ifated ship So great is the apparent distress OF
these loud mourners that should pity them were
not their tears those OF the crocodile and their Iamen
tatons the cant of hypocrites.
What old Hichmy sell old Honsidfsi As soon
would he sell the glory he won at New Orleans. AS
would e demoish the monuments of our co,,ntrys
victories and burn the books which record The achieve
ments of heroes When such an act as this Is done
or medated we grant that this administration NAV be
hnn
may the gallant Hull and Bainbrdge and their brave
associates, bid adieu to all hope of honest fame in the
service OF their country and buy the old ship TO make
them collins with
This tale is too gross There are no gu,lgeons who
will swallow it. falsehood to produce any effect,
should be plausible But if there be any honest men
who have been induced 10 believe that the Old Const
ton is really to be sold, it will afford them some relief
to be informed that every word which has been writ
ten or spoken about it, from Alpha to Omega is uferIv
false. The Secretary of the Navy has never uttered
such word, or had such thought. II is a clnmsv
fabrication of the lnteigencer school of politicians
WIN me hope OF arraying the Navy and its friends
gainsi the administrations by fraudulenty appealing TO
| their affection for this old ship.
The Integencer has briefly noticed our articles IN
on II and the Navy Nothing specific is piyen except
that 1t says the honor of the Naval officers has been
impeached in the settlement Of their accounts for travel.
| ling expenses. When? BY whom? In what case, The
lnteigencer lately declared that il never makes
statement which it does not know to be true. We
challenge 1t to refer 70 the case i'm which the honor OF
an officer has been impugned in the settlement of his
travelling expenses.
What has the honor Of officer TO do with these oI
o"SnecT Inc accounts are not required to be certified
on thcIr honor The regulations are such that thew re-
quire no such evidence If they did require the cer
hcatc oil the officers on honor that they h1d actav an,
necessarily expended in travelling the amount cborcJ
Tor travelling expenses many thousands would he saw
i cd TO the Government. But knowing nat the Gxed al
owance IS icen cents per mile, they make ont fbei
accounts at that rate a matter of course o;,Ion, go
cate or other evidence TO prove the amount ,c,ual,
expended. In this surely there is notb;no ~
to hono for they do but obey the directions Of tbelr an
perior If they made cut at any other rate be,
would he altered TO fifteen cents per mile in the milf
oihces' according 10 the existing regulation 10 ca,
that they charge more than they expend therefore I
no mputahon upon their honor. The fault was in In
Executive Head OF the Department. who authorized am
/ required such an allowance, aud mad, such charg
necessary. ' -
! Formerly the allowance for travelling from Washing
ton to Norfolk was S35 %, and tho necessary actn,
expenses SO 90, since reduced 10 &c 90 NJ oTco,
called to certify honor what his ocfuaI nccoss
expenses were, would say that they were Ss5 25. We
he incurred no dishonor in charging that sum II va
me allowance liked by him 10 whom the payment 4
travelling expenses belonged F'