Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-02-23

communication. In that case, should be glad TO
learn their pleasure as soon as convenient as pnr-
pose leaving the city, on the Ath instant, u few
days, on account Of the state Of my health.
| have the honor TO be, &C. ii. CLAY.
WHY not receive and communicate this
confdenially to the House ? Every
statesman must perceive at once the IN
decorum 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
friendship of Gen. Wives, the lntcndant
General of Cuba, had induced him con-
lidentially to communicate to the Agent
Of our Government, concerning the dis
position of Spain to sell, and of England
to buy the colonial sovereignty OF that
Island A confidential communication
would not do. A plain, honest, and full
statement offacts was not wanted The
magnanimous gentleman from New Y ork
wished to strike blow at the President
and Secretary; he chose to do it by min
ing; and if, in his subterrancan course,
he should dig into the grave of Daniel
p. Cook, how could he doubt that the cx-
igcncics of the public service would JUS
tfy this violation of the sanctuary Of the
tomb? He chose to follow the trail of
an inlormer, who had so little confidence
in this inquisition, that he would not
"commt" even his own foul name to the
gcntleman's safe keeping. Mr.. Cook,t
was known, was in a very delicate health,
and was about to visit Cuba for the ben,
eft of the climate. In the examination
Of the witnesses, the whole labor of the
gentleman was directed to prove that the
state of his health would not permit his
doing any public service, and that if he
received any compensation, he must have
received it for nothing. The gentleman,
was discomlittcd by the result; for it
came out in evidence, that feeble as
was his health, he had performed all that
was required of him. His compensation
was not asccrtained; but it is probable,
say the committee, that he received more
than 81 900; and this is set down by the
magnanimity of the gentleman as an act
of "Exccutive favoritism, or fragrant a
buse."
Compare this service and expenditure
with the Mission, and Minister, and ap-
preparation, 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 acquain-
tance with General Wives while in this
country, 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 In
tcndant, ,and enabled him to obtain speed
lily from that Governor all which it was
proper for him to communicate, 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 ii.
Peasants The House will have full
knowledge of this case from two letters,
the first from Mr.. Pleasants to Mr., Clay,
the second from Mr.. Clay to the Com
mittee of Retrenchmcnt.
Here follows Mr.. Peasants letter to
Mr.. Clay, explaining that in consequence
of sickness and other difficulties, he had
been obliged to leave the vessel he was
in and abandon his mission to Buenos
Ayrcs-also Mr.. Clay's letter to Mr..
Hamilton, showing that Mr.. Peasants
had been allowed pay no longer than he
was engaged in the services of his mis-
sion. MIR. Burgess asks
Were these explanations satisfactory;
What did the committee say then? These
arc their words:
"Amidst the numerous appointments Of messen-
gers made by the present administration, they will
select the account of J. H. Peasants, editor of the
Richmond Wing, because that case, in their cs-
nation, presents the most flagrant example Of a.
buse.'
"Eithor his dispatches were or were not ofim-
porance: if they were Of importance, like a SOL
der on post, no consideration should have induc-
ed him to have deserted them: if they were of no
higher Importance than to haye rendered it safe
that they should be confided to the captain of an
ordinary merchant vessel, then they should have
gone through this channel, and Mr.. Pleasants
ought not to have been appointed
Sir, Daniel p. Cook was pursued by
the gentleman, because he was dead;
John ii. Peasants was in like manner
pursued because he was alive.
The case of Mr.. Brooks is another on
this record. He was n Clerk in the Of
flee ofthc Treasury. Grown old and be-
coming cnfocblcd, his fellow clerks, with
a generosity ofpurposc peculiar to them
selves, performed his duties in the hours
of recess, or by extra labor, and permit
ted this aged and destitute man to re-
ceivc one halfthc salary. This instance
ofrcdoublcd diligence and charitable pro-
vision for , eunerannuotcd fellow laborcr