Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-04-06


sufrrare Those who have been accustomed to
do 60 NAV now erect this elevated seat into pill
lory. and. if they like, amuse themselves with
d;scharo;no their loathsome missiles at 1t. Let
the gentleman take notice, that whenever 1t may
emit the interest and convenience Of the American
peonle TO inspect the administration OF thelr
government. then NAV he be assured that high de-
Ference 10 official station will secure correspon-
dino ;mmunities to the Chief Magistrate; but let
the Achitophel, whoever he may he, standing at
the executive elbow, then ''Sa has house IN or
der.' =.
Appropriations were formerly made in this
House under all the scrutiny of ardent and pro-
tracted debate. Money noe passes out of the
treasury as the dew falls from the atmosphere,
without noise and if the system of the gentleman
from Tennessee (Mr. Polk should obtain, 1t
might as well be without notice. For what OBJ
lection. like those made by him, can be made to
the question raised by this amendment? 1t does
not propose to look into the Winnebago treaty,
or the general expenditure in that negotiation
and though mineral tract may have been &C
ouired in Huron. and half million expended IN
the acquisition. and that, too, without any aP-
preparation BY law; yet this amendment, with
very confding reliance on the wisdom and lnteS-
rity of ministers who advised this measure does
now pass silently over all these welghty matters,
and offers only to exempt the treasury from
paving to one of the commissioners who formed
this treaty double salary for his services
General M.Neill, receiving by prevent the pay,
forage and rations of a General of Brigade. was
EMPLOYED in negotiating this treaty. While in
that service. he could render no other and it
has been well remarked by the gentleman from
New York, (Mr. IIoffman.) being uader
contract to serve the United States the whole
time, what title can he have to tsco salaries,
when it could not be in his power to rem
der another service without being released from
his contract for continuous service in the army!
He might have his option, and receive either his
pey as an officer, or his salary and contingencies
as diplomatic agent: but being unable to render
more than one tour of duty at one time, he could
not earn both cOmpensations. The gentleman
from PENNSYLVANIA Mr.. Buchanan sustains this
new and unusual charge on the Treasury by sup
posing it probable that General M'Neill, when
sent on this embassy, must have beliered himself
entitled to double pay. and did accordingly IN
crease the amount of his expenditure while in
that service. How, pray, could this be done!
All his expenditures for his travelling, and for his
fate or for his presents. to prOpitiate the warike
Winnebagoes, were proc,ded by the government,
are part of the contingencies covered by this or
some other appropriation, and are not touched
by this amendment. To what other expense was
General M'Neill exposed by this mission to the
forests of Huron, and which may not be placed
within the omnirorous capacity of contingencies?
They must have been personal, such as more
| splendid arms. a richer gorgeousness of dress,
and loftier plumage. Although this might be ve-
nv appropriate and necessary on mission to Nos
co,o or ST. Petersburgh. yet could it not have
been practised in any intercourse with the VIM
nebago warriors. This reason for double sala-
nv, given by the gentleman from Pennsylvania,
does therefore not seem to exist.
| Was there any implied contract IAN express
one is not alledged) topay this gentleman dou-
BILE compensation? What practice has been es-
tablished in this particular? 1t is admitted by
the gentleman from Ohio, (Nlr Vance, that one
other example has occurred. In one other instance,
military officer was employed to negotiate a
treaty with the Indians, and receive pay both as
General and diplomatic minister. The admis-
sion is by the gentleman ftom Tennessee, (Mr.
Polk, denounced as .gratuitous;" and he threat
ems. by way of retaliation, to tell about certain
other :" MtsfriouS individuals" who, as he says,
demanded. after settlement of accounts, certain
:" half outfits" | am perfectly Indifferent. and
| the mover of the amendment has told him that he
has no anxiety concerning any of his menaced
disclosures. If the present chief magistrate when
in military service, did, as diplomatic minister
demand in addition to his pay as a general. a
salary for negotiating treaty with the Creek
nation, who will question his right to make that
demand or his belief that he was justly entitled
TO that compensation. If he receive both pan
and salary al The same time, who will say the
Executive. which called for the appropriation.
and the congress which made it, did no: believe
him entitled to receiue them boths The gentle
tleman from Tennessee need not be alarmed.-
No member of this House advocating this amend
ment does, believe, intend to push his enquiries
back to what appears to him a fearful era He
"disquiets himself in vain." The mysteries
of which he seems to have constituted himself the
Pontifr Mar1mus," are not approached by the
profane vulgar. The mournful anxiety of the
gentleman would better become the wailing devo-
tee of some decayed superstition. If | do not
worship. will not blaspheme though the priest
might more appropriately serve at the ceremonial
of some Egyptia, temple, than offer himself to lead
the war if he is determined to haze one, either
| here or into s.Africa.''