The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-04-01

"""o' vi actlnS ~ tiis iioube. WhcneV.
or duty may cali Us to raise that question,
it will, trust, be conducted in such man.
ner es the representatives of the American
people may question the Executive Depart.
lnent Of their government. Although no
man was more deeply, or sincerely opposed
TO the election of Gen. Jac kson, vet, lie be.
ing chosen, will not disparage that choice,
or the elevated character Of that Office or
those honors conferred by it. The Presi.
dent is high dignity ofthis nation; the
representatives of the people cannot, with
out descending from their own station, ap.
proach this distinguished officer with words
OF contumely and reproach. Cabinet min
istsrs are not entitled TO any OF these i'm
muntles; and stand chargeable, in the ut.
most latitude Of construction, under any
seyerltyof censure, for any executive pro-
cedure conducted, and all are so conduct.
cd, under their advancement.
shall not follow the foul footsteps of
those VINO, IN past years, have traversed
this Hall ln the full cry of calumny and re.
Wiling. The throne shall secure him who
sltsupo it. Let the Presidential Chair be
the sanctuary, and consecrate the man who
has received the JUNCTION of national suf
frage. Those who have been accustomed
TO do so, may now erect this elevated seat
INTO plllory, and, ifthey like, amuse them
selves with discharging their loathsome
missiles at it. Let the gentleman take no
tice, that whenever it may suit the inter-
est and convenience ofthe American peo
pie, 10 inspect the administration of their
government, then may he be assured that
high Difference to official station will Sc.
cure corresponding immunities to the Chief
Magistrate; but let the Achtophel, whoev-
er he may be, standing at the Executive
elbow, then "set has house IN ORDER"
Appropriations were formerly made in
this House under all the scrutiny of ardent
and protracted debate. Money no,o passes
out OF the Treasury as the dew falls from
the atmosphere, without noise; and ii tho
system of the gentleman from Tennessee
(Mr. Polk) should obtain, it might as well
be without notice. For what objection,
like those made by him, can be made to
the question raised by this amendment?
u does notpropose to look into the Whine.
bogo treaty, or the general expenditure in
that negotiation; and though a mineral
tract may have been acquired in Huron
and half million expended in the acqu-
s!tIon, and that, too, without any appropria-
ton by law; yet this amendment, with a
very confidlng reliance on the wisdom and
integrity of ministers who advised this
measure, does now pass silently over all
these welghty matters, and offers only to
one OF the Commissioners who formed this
treaty double salary for his services.
General M'Neil, receiving by brevet the
pay, forage and ratiOns Of General of
Brigade, was employed in negotiating this
! treaty. While in that service, no could
render no other; and as il has been well
remarked by the gentleman from New.
York, (Mr. Hoffman, being under contract
to serve the United States the whole time.
what title can he have 20 !ico salaries. when
1t could not be in his power to render a.
mother service without being released from
his contract for continuous service in the
army sdis@might have his option and re
ce!ve either his pay as an officer, or his
salary and contingencies as diplomatic a.
gent; 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) sus-
talns this now and unusual charge on the
Treasury by supposng it probable that
| General M'Nell, when sent on this embas.
sy, must have btlicred himself entitled t.
double pay, and did accordingly increase
the amount ofhis expenditure while in that
! service. How, pray. coad this be done:
All his expenditures for his travelling, and
for his iabie or for presents, TO propitiate the
warlIke WInnebago, were prOUidei by the
| -
cIes covered by this or some other appro-
prIaton, and are not touched by this amend
mont. To what other expense was Gen.
M'NeiI exposed by this mission to the for.
csts of Huron, and which may not be plac-
ed within the omniroro,S capacii of"con.
tingeacttS:" They must have been per.
sonal, such as more splendid arms, q richer
| gorgeonsness OF dress, aud loiticr plum.
age. Although this might be very Gppro-
Pr'dte and necessary on mission TO Nos.
co'e or ST. PetcrSbugh. yet c could it not have
been practlsed in any intercourse with the
Winnebago warriors. This reason for
double salary, given by the gentleman from
Pennsylvania, does therefore not seem to
exist.
Was there any implied contract (an OK.
press one is not alleged to pay this gentle.
man double compensation What prac.
tice has been established in this particular:
1t is admitted by the gentleman from Ohio,
lmr. Vance that one other example has
occurred. In one other instance, military
officer was employed to negotiate q treaty
with the Indians, and received pay both as
a General and diplomatic minister. This
r.lmisSlon, is by the gentleman from Ten
nessec, (mt Polk denounced as "gratuit
ous,' and he threatens, by way of reialia.
ton, to tell about certain other "illusirious
indigidHGis" who, as he says, demanded.
after settlement of accounts, certain "haf
outfits" am perfectly Indifferent, and
the mover Of the amendment has told him