Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-02-15

WHY not receive and communicate this conf
dentialy to the House? Every statesman must
perceive at once the indecorum of giving it to
the house in any other manner than confidential.
What! place on our ordinary journal, publish in
our papers, and send to Europe that the friend
ship of General Wives, the Intendant General Of
Cuba had induced him confdentially to commu-
| nicate to the Agent of our Government, concern
ing the disposition of Spain to sell, and of Eng
land to buy the colonial sovereignty of that ISL
and: A confidential communication would not
do. A plain, honest. and full statement of facts
was not wanted The magnanimous gentleman
from New York wished to strike blow at the
President and Secretary; he chose to do it BY
mining; and if, In his subterranean course, he
should dig into the grave of Daniel P. Cook, how
could he doubt that the exigencies of the public
service would justify this violation of the sanctu-
airy of the tomb? He chose TO follow the trail ofan
informer, who had so little confidence in this in
auistion, that he would not "commit" even his
own foul name to the gentleman's safe keeping.
Mr.. Cook, it was known, was in very delicate
health, and was about to visit Cuba for the bene-
fit of the climate. In the examination OF the wit
nesses, the whole labor of the gentleman was di-
rected to prove that the state Of his health would
not permit his doing any public service. and that
received it for nothing. The gentleman was dis
comfited by the result; for it came out i'll evidence
that feeble as was his health, he had performed
all that was required of him. His compensation
was not ascertaned; but it is probable, say the
committee, that he received more than $1,000;
and this is set down by the magnanimIty of the
gentleman as an act Of s'Executve favoritsm, or
fragrant abuse"
Compare this service and expenditure with the
Mission and Minister, and appropriation, now
under debate. Mr. Cook was in delicate health;
but that served to place him above suspicion Of
any sinister purpose IN visiting Cuba. His &C
uuaptance with General ' ives while in this coun-
try, the known integrity, and obvious simplicity
of his character, the amenity Of his manners, and
even his delicate health, all combined, must have
placed him at once, in relations of entire conf
dence and frank intercourse with the Intendant
and enabled him to obtain speedily from that Gov
ernor all which it was proper for him to commu
nicate, or for our Executive to know. Let the
gentleman taunt us for want Of magnanimity.-
Let the nation judge between US.
The next case in this record to which ] ask
your attention, is that of John H. Pleasants.-
The House will have full knowledge of this case
from two letters, the first from MIR. Peasants to
Mr. CLAY, the second from MIR. Clay to the Com
mittee Of Retrenchment.
Mr.. Peasants to Mr.. Clay.
LIVERPOOL, 9TH July. 1925.
My Dear Sir: If you are surprised at the
date of my letter, | am scarcely less surprised at
the circumstance myself. To be in England at
all is what never expected. To be here when
expected to have been in Buenos Ayres, seems
rather the effect of enchantment, than of 0rdi-
nary causaton. 1t remains, sir, for me to account
for this apparent dereliction Of duty; and cam
not but hope that plain statement of the cir
cumstances which changed my destination, will
exculpate me from any blame in your eyes, soil
procured for me the charge conferred by the de-
partment of State.
After many Intellectual attempts to secure an
earlier passage, in which was baf1ed by the d.
minished intercourse between the U. States and
the provinces of South America which lie beyond