The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-04-09
MIR. VAN NESS.
To the EiiiOr of The Gi0ie.

To the Eiii0r Of The GiOie.
A friend having called my attention to an article
in the National In,eIiigcrcer Of Yesterday, in reIu
ton 10 myself, signed by the lion. h. Halves,
member of Congress, will thank Won to pubi.hin
Your next paper the following brief REMARKS upon
that article
Notwithstanding Mr. HAYES declaration lha, he
has obtained hi, facts from the archives of the De-
parlment of State, and that they may be relied on
as accurate, he is mistaken in several particulars
In the first place, it is not correct that was re-
cacd;' at least in the sense in which the term, rs
used b, him, would be naturally understood.
In the second place, no such balance as that sta
ted by Mr. Halves, stands against me at the Treas
ury. The nominal balance that was in the first
place reported TO the amount stated By him, was,
In second rrpuit, in 1899 reduced near r',uUVi
aud other credits, dmiuuutms 10 mure than : 600,
have since been ordered thus making difference
Of more than 5000, and nearly one third of the
balance first reported and referred TO by him
In the third place, it Is not correct that the con-
ngencies charged By me, or any of them, are en-
iraordiRory,' either ~ to character or amount
I hey are precisely such as have been charged by,
and allowed to, other Minister'S aud | claim the
allowance of such aS have no, vet been passed to
NV credit upon such vouchers, and not wnhout,as
have either been usually, if not uniformly deemed
to he sufficient until my case, or as come clcary
within The terms of NY Instructions
Nhat The real and only questions in the case are,
and who is " the best possible witness in regard
70 hem,' will, at this time, reiiam rom discussing.
But Mr. Halves well knows that in the Con niee
on Foreign Relations, Of which he was member,
and where his inter was lately under examination
there were opinions upon every point very different
iicm that expressed b, himself
hos. "a 10 l,,,in ,,I,
stood that ! do not now refrain fOm entering into
moe ful! and particular discussion of my case be-
fore the public. because | have any doubt of my
ability to furnish satisfactory explanations, or
wholly 10 Justify myself, but because il would be-
nrypedert fnot in proper,i in The present situation
Of the business. AT the same time wi say, that
if any one supposes have been treated with laycr
y the late Administration, as it regards my NC
counts he is grossly mistaken since, 10 say the
least the very reverse is The fact.
nm aware Of the facility with which political
prrjudiccs NAV he brought to bear upon case Of
this sort, and especially ut moment like the pres
emit hut trust that the attempts olthe kind. ifany
there should be, will be disregarded by those who
are to act and to determine. The presen, head of
The Department Of State not being Unidentified. nor
having had any connection, with the proceedings
Of the Government out ofwhich these differences
have arsen j. in situation 10 act impartially and
Justify in the matter; and from my opinion Of his
character, have good reasons 10 believe that he
viii do so. desire nothing but Justice. ard if
shall finally be found that am at all indebted 10
the Government the balance, whatever it may be,
shall be promptly settled.
Yours respectfully,
c. P. VAN NESS.
Washington, March II, lS4l.