Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-02-18

naTnanilnlty OF the gentleman act OF ''EXeCu-
tive Favoritism, or fragrant abuse"
Compare the service and expenditure with the
mission, and Minister, and appropriation, now under
debate. Mr.. Cook in delicate health; but that
served to place him above suspicion of any sinister
purpose i'll visiting Cuba. His acquaintance with
General Wives while in this country the known in
tcgr'ty and obvious simplicity OF his character, the
aenty OF his manners, and his delicate health
all combined, must have placed him at once in rela
tons of entire confidence and frank intercourse with
the Intendant, and enabled him 10 obtain speedily
from that Governor all which it was proper for hun
10 communicate, or for our Executive to know. Let
the gentleman taunt us for want of mugnaninlty
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. Peasants TO Mr.. Clay the
second from AIr. Clay to the Committee of Re
trenchmcnt.
W. T'ieasrnis 10 Mr. Cyay.
LIVERPOOL, eth July, 1925.
Ny Dear Sir:-If you are surprised at the date
of my letter, am scarcely less surprised at the cir
cumstance myself To be in England at all is what
never expected. To be here when expected to
have been liz Buenos Ayrcs rather the effect
of enchantment, than of ordinary causaon. Il re-
mains sir, for me to account for this apparent deere
hction OF duty; and cannot but hope that plum
statement of the circumstances which changed Iny
destination, will eXculpate me from any blame in
your eyes, socitouS as | 1m to preserve that good
opinion which procured for the charge conferred
After many Intellectual attempts to secure all car
ier passage, in which was bafliad by the diminish
ed intercourse between the United States and the
provinces of South America, which lie beyond the
Spanish Main, succeeded in procuring a plssa re
iii the brig William Tell, which sailed from New
York OH the s8th May for the River Pa.c. This
vessel was not such as should have select ed ,
had had my choice. Being simp ly merchan. ship,
1t was destitute OF comfortable accommodation; ne
vertheiess, becoming impatient for action and fore
seeing that, If neglected that oppor; unity might
meet with no her, avdlled myself OF H. and sailed
as stated on the 23th May. speedily had cause to
regret my precipitation Ill choosing such ship.
The cabin not Is feet square, destined to accom-
modate, i'll voyage which would occupy from
sixty to ninety days, twenty five passengers =:
When the horrors of seu-sicklcss were supered-
ded TO the other painful circumstances attending my
situation, my sutterings became greater than | ca..
describe Deprived OF every comfort, with net ten
feet square for exercise pestilcnal air, and most
offensive smell pervaJiEg every part of the ship I'd
even without the most common medicines, assure
you, sir, that death would have been unwelcolne
visitor. | was seized with high fever and in ten
days reduced, my opinion, and in that of those
around me, to the brink Of the crave At this
time we spoke an American ship from N. York
bound to AntWerp the Captain who was likewise
i'll, was bearing for Fayal, in the Azores, and, by
great persuasion, was induced TO take me on board
III miserable condition. Two d.ys after this reno
val, my new Captain recovered his indisposton and
resumed his course for. An-werp-IIavnn no incii-
nation to visit Holland, Il determined TO avail myseIf
OF the next ship that &c might speak, and return to
the United States. or to go TO England From the
time that boarded the vessel in which then was
had begun slowly to recover, from the superior COM
forts OF its accommodations. On he Goth of June
we spoke The brig Olive, from New York to this
port, and the Captain consenting to receive me,
arrived i'll Liverpool on the st instant having been
ut sea 50 days. The dcspa tches which were en-
trusted TO my care, | forwarded to Mr. Forbes in
charge OF Captain uimman, Of the William Tell, TO
whom he was consigned; Stating the reasons of nv
not bearing them IN person, and requesting HIM to
forward those for Mr.. Racquet, at Rio. IF the Will
nam ell goes safely, the dispatches will safely reach
their dcstina' ion.
These, sir, the circumstances which have
brought me To England and 1 hope that they are
sucn as 10 excuse my abandonment of my chartre
AS am here, | have determined to devote few
weeks 10 the purpose OF seeing the country, after
which | shall have the pleasure of giving Won. in
person, more detailed account of my voyape.
With high respect, your obedlcnt servant,
JNO. II PLEASANTS.
Extract Of letter from Mr Clay Mr. Hamilton Chairman
OF the Committee Of Retrenchmenl
cit was not believed that the visitation of Prov,
fence with which he afflicted, ght to deprive
nun OF all allowances for expenses, and all compen
'aton Tor services; but it not thought right that
me per diem should be continued durInr the whole
period OF his absence from home nd until his return
20 New York, on the 22d October, 1925 Il was
herefore limited to the 22d August 1926 that benD
ne ''Ine when IT was estimated be might have r..
;oyagc to South America he had souoht an o5p,r
UNITY OF coming bone, instead Of proceeding to- Eu
oPe. IL was within the discretion Of the Depart
hehI 10 nave compensated hun the bearer of de-
;Patche5 from Mr. King; but it was not deemed pro
ger 10 make him any allowance for that service"
were these explanations satisfactory What did
nc committee say then? These are their words:
'AHluSt The numerous appointments of pesseT- (
serS MADE oy the present administrations they will
elect the account OF j. II. Plcasonts editor Of the
uchmond wing, because that case, in their cstima l.
ION, presents the most 1agrant example of abuse
EITHER his dispatches were or were not of inpor
lDce; 1t they were of Importance like Il soldier on
oSt no consideration should have induced him 10
ave deserted them; if they were Of no higher i'm
ortancc than to have rendered it safe that they
ioud be confided to the captain of an ordinary n1rr
rant vessel then they should have gone through
us channel ana MI Peasants ought not to have
zen appointed"
Sir, Daniel p Cook was pursued by the gentle
an because he was dead; John II Peasants was in
&c manner pursued. because he was alive
Jh0 g1g0 Of Mr. Rrooha "a 1t.