Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1831-02-21

/
fupi tho rspnse OF Tho tomb. Permit me 10 speak
a word concerning DanielP Cook-hessuse ey-
cry man Who hears me did not know him,a ma
ny of Us din WIN sat IN this House with hun.
| tie was man whom the gent pman iToa New
York would probably not call genius but his
mind was Of that cast and capacity M the
transaction OF human adnrsto which every man
would wish To cnninit the management of his
nwu. lis sense was that 81 tho every day
intercourse OF men aud would pass. The the
most precious mr. must useful metals, wnero-
Yer such commodity could be ~ request. "A
man. Ia whatever may be required 81 man
bood-a child IN all that nglencss Of heart aud
purity of purpose, which renders childhood 50
amahle With those who knew him we'll. lac
had so fixed himself IN their hearts. that
thou h they might wish to forget the pain
of their loss, they can never cease 10 remembrr
h'suseiu public lubors, and many endeaiIng
social qualities.
Our relations with Cuba have long been IN.
teresnng aud important. Genllemen will cal
10 mInd that we have frequently heard irom
Europe, that Cuba might be- transferred FROM
| SPAN to some othor sovereignty. Such re-
port was rife IA TN, country IN tho winter OF
| 1876. Il was believed by friends of The late
administration, thata confidential Agent was
| by Mr- Adams seat To Cuba, to ascertain, u
possible. the truth of this reporl--and that
Daniel =. Cook was thaf Agent. lie had, u
was believed, becn paid out OF thai fund which
Congress has ever since the foundation oil tho
Government, annually or othfTrsise apptopria
| ted. aud placed III the hands OF the President,
! ior the COM easat on of confidential S,rsices.
| All tbs may he known 10 the gentleman from
Ne" York notr--and had there been fraud Ia
the tIan'"cl,on, We should have heard IT on this
occasion, called u, hls mouth, by ts hnIsheT
tnRl sh name.
The gentleman might have known the whole
an ,r at that lnnc. lhIs appears from thn fol
owing letter from Nh Clay, then Secretary OF
STAG:
DFPAurMLrr OF STArE,
Washington, May /, 1928.
To James Hamilton jr. Esq. NC.
Sn: | nave received your letter under date
this day. stating that IL having been hscer-
tn,nod that the late Daniel +. Cook, late a Rep.
re,entauvs III Congress. from tho state oil III.
nois, received sum ol money from the Gov
ernmrut. during the Spring OF Summer Of tue
last year, for certain services supposed 10 have
been either ioreign or diplomatic, am
instructed, by he Committee oil ketrench-
ncnt 10 request you to inform Ine where
they are 10 lo1k for the auditing OF the Gun,
saId 10 have been received by Nh. Cook aud II
, not audited ia the uiual course, what was lis "a
mount
} Without admitting or denying the correct
, ness OF the Information which the committee
, are stated 10 have received | have tho honor
10 observe that am not aware ofthe disburse-
mrnt Of my money through the agency OF this
Department. the account OF which has not been,
o. IN regular course of settlement 10 not 10
he, audited IN the usual way At the Treasury,
o. passe3 upon certificate OF the President, in
, c0uf Unity with the pToYislons Of the section
of the net OF tho LIST May. 1910, entitled An
I act fxng the compensation Of pubIig Ministers,
/ and onsuls residing on the coast OF Darbury,
aud Tor ot er purpo Ser ichnnot presume that
Il was the miention Of the Commute 10 in
quire into any disbursement which mht have
been made agrccably 10 that seciion--And all
others nfe accessible 20 them, in like manner
with olher expenditures. have, however. the
authority OF the PIcsldent for wing that | will
make 10 the Go nnltteo a confidential COMMIT
/ nics'ipa III relation 10 The expenditure TO which
they are supposed to "liude, # they will sig.
y Hliy tnelr desire for such communication. In
9 that case, should be glad to learn their pleas
ure az soon AS CONVENIENT, as purpose leaving
the city On the fourth instant, lew days on &c.
! count of The state OF my health.
have the honor u be, with grea, respect,
your obodient servant,
Why oot receive aud communicate this con
| fdenlally 20 the House Every statesman
must perceive al oac" the iadecoTun fgIylnk IL
to the House III any other manner than conf.
. ldsntlal What place on ordinary Journal
. publish IN our papers, IL send to Europe what
the friendship OF General Wives, the inIendanI
c. II al Oi tul ~, Ind induced him conGdentially
. 10 communicate TO the agent oil our Govern.
ment, concernlng the disposition OF Spain u
sell, snd OF England 10 buy, the colonial soy
} crelgniy oil tie l-lind A confidential com.
1 muuicalIon would not do. A plain, honest u nd
full statement Of facts was noi wnnrcd. The
{ mdgHaHibtOn gentleman from New York
} WISHED 10 strike i blow al the PrC5,denl aud
q SecretarY->ae chose II do u by mining aud IT,
10 rs sa6te,ranenn nrse, he should dig into the
gave OF Daniel I. Cook, bow could he doubt
that tho eIgencies Of the public service would
= lusity tbs violation OF the sanctuary OF the
! tomb lie cnose 10 follow the trail of an in.
iOrntT. who had 50 little confidence IN this in
qUisilion. that he would not" commit evan his
own foul name 10 ihe genllenans safe keeping.
Mr.. Cook. IL was known, WAS III very delicate
healih, and WAS about To yisit Cuba for the ben
eht oil the climate. Ia tie examination OF the
witnesses, the whole labor OF the gentleman was
directed TO prove thai the state OF his hsalt,
would mol permit his doing any public s6ryIce,
aud that II he received any compensation, he
must have received IT for no,hiug.-rhe genue-
mnn was discounted by the result--fOr il came
Out IN evidence, that, feeble aS was hIs health,
, he had performed all that was required Of him.
His compensation was not asCertalned-but II
is probable, say the Commit e. that he rsceis-
ed more than y 900 and this Issel down by the
magnanimIy OF the gentleman, as an net Of
" Executive fayorlIism, o. hagfanl abuse
Compare this service aud expenditure with
tho Mission. aud Minister, aud appropriation
now under debate. hlr. Cook was Ia delicate
health , bun that served 10 place him above
Suspicion oil any sinister purpose IN visiting
Cuba. HIS acquaintance with General Yves
while ia ibls country, the known integrity aud
obvious simplicity Of his character. the
amrnty OF his manners, aud even hi delicate
health, all Combined must have placed nun al
once in relations OF entire confidence aud
frank intercourse with the intendant, aud ena-
Gled MIN TO obtain speedily from that Govern
or all which II was proper for hun to com