The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1841-04-06
rur WAY THE MONEY WENT-c.P, VAN
49,


man not unknown to the people OF Vermont "
Joo,,y indicated. Our limits win not permit us
~ comment. as the occasion demands, upon inc
J;so,osod IN the following leaer from the
,o,.p IIaves. a Distinguished member OF the
los, Congress- from kentucky. Suffice II to say,
ov that the following propositions are pretty con
elusiyey established:
LIST, That Mr. Van Ness, IN the opinion OF 'ne
late Secretary of State, drew S26, ils Of the Puo'e
money wrongiully, and was, therefore o"hs,'e'''
H., ,l,t h,uh officer TO be somewhat in tho ch"'ao
ter Of a deiauler. aod
OF Chot The lnte Administration has suHe'e"
M Van Mass To retain the money, thus WFo"g'""y
49,, co, five long years. ncglectinS to biInS IN"
matter to All issue by judicial investigation
ri That Mr. Van Ness was ust az dtS'ntereste"
in I,s late extra rdnary efforts to sustain tne van
Buren administration in Vermont, as he could DC,
with $26,4lS spciee-ous reasons against turning ouI
mon who had so long suffered him 10 retain ms
spoils; and just HONEST an any other man conn
be, who supports men whom no knows 10 DC neg
Iectful Of their duty.
we trust that this discovery late rs it is, will not
be without advantage to those who honestly sup
ported the late administration Let them here
catch glimpse ofthe true character Of the late dy
nasty, and its chief supporters in Vermont VI
JHatchman.
TO the Editors of the National intcligencer.
~ House Of Representatives., March J, lS4l
Messrs. GALES d SEAToN:-i had intended,
while the Civil and Diplomatic Bill was undet con
alteration 10 have called the attention of Congress
10 the extraordinary expenses of the mission to
Spain from 1929 10 1886, but was prevented by a
resolution Of the House arrosting all debate before
that part of the bill was reached to which the sub
iect properly appearance With regard to the au-
thenticity OF the facts stated will observe that
they were obtained from the archieves Of tho State
Department, and may be relied OF as accurate.
Cornelius p. Van Ness, was appointed minister
10 Spain on the 23d Of Sept, 1e29 and his mission
was terminated on the LIST Oct. 1885, being ser
vice of five years and seven days. Mr. Mr.. Van
Ness continued at Madrid, twithstandng his re-
caIi claiming to be Minister till the 2lst of Dec
1896, being period of service for which he claims
the emolumenls OF office of six years and three
months. Mr.. Forsyth [late Secretary of State
says that Mr.. Van Ness was recalled on the list Of
October, 1886, and refuses TO allow HIM any com
pensaon for his grautous residence after his res
. call. Mr. Van Ness says that, in consequence OF
the death of Mr. Barry, who was appointed his sue
cessor, and who died at Liverpool on the Both OF
August, 1885, he felt at liberty to remain at the
mission.
Tho controversy between Mr. Forsyth and Mr..
Van Ness as to the question whether Mr.. Van Ness
was Minister after the lst Oct. 1886 is most Singh
lar; and state it fully would greatly extend the
communication and involve Mr. Van Ness In mat
ter which will no doubt become subject of judi.
cial inv CATION,
NV main purpose is to call the attention of Con
gress to the enormous expenditure which has been
charged on account o fthis mission, with the hope
that this and all other diplomatic accounts will be
closely and thoroughly Investigated
Mr. Van Ness was in Office las MrFursy,h asserts,
land he is the best possible svitness) for the period
of6ve years and days, de authorised TO
draw the Banker of u. 8. at London for his sal
airy, outfit &c. and has gotten into his hands tho
would be thus, $4,000 outfit, $45,l75 salary, and
.$2,250 return allowance, making altogether $780,
425. How is the balance of this sum accounted
for2 MIR Van Ness claims yet balance of aborr
,$2,100, while the Secretary of State makes bal.
ance against him of S2U, 4lS 81
In Mr. Forsyth be right, this balance Of $780, AIS
81 should have been paid into the treasury in the
fall of 1885, rather should not have been extrac
ted from it.-Mr Van Ness, however. married a
Spanish lady in Madrid, in the Month of Decom.
Der 1885, and continued his residence there until
about the fall or winter of iS3940, thus holding
and using this large sum for than five years.
He has yet been brought to a settlement, and, !
having possession of the money, will be in no Irr
ny to come to n settlement.
Some of Mr. Van Ness's charges for contingent |
cies somewhat extraordinary. i will state
some of them:
Postage and frant,ng 1903 SO
Transitions 5000 co
Stationary 1874 9i
in Its changes of residence 4,457 10
Office rent 1,722 90
Nominations and dressing house 235 30
Presents $50 90
IN the month OF March, 1000, ME- parry was APP
pointed Minister to succeed MIR Van Ness, and, us
before stated, died on his way to the mission. Ills
representatives drew from the Treasury for his
fit 80 900, return allowance 50 ESQ., and salary and
other charges, the entire sum of $t4,5l4 65.
Mr. Eaton was appointed to the same mission in
4he spring of 1885, and up TO he 2ls Dec. 1886,
when he reached, Ca,liz, was entitled to $l4 CD for
outfit and salary The Secret ry of Legation is by
law entitled to $4,000 per annum
The expenses as chdrgcd to his mission and ac-
tually drawn from the treasury, Fl ON the 23d Sept
1899, I'LL 2ist Dec 1886 being about six years and
3 months are as follows;
Mr. Van Ness sos. 6a3 81
Mr. Barry 14,5I4 rs
MIR Eaton ii l62 90
Secretary OF Legation l4,500 10
$l4l ,7S5 go
Respectfully, r. HALVES.
E faz7=n1sa=Esss.===7sT1rsszs
THE SEDENTARY INFANTRY. structions, saws
the National Inielligencer, have been promptly
despatched (on the llth instantly by the Secretary
of War, to discharge the brigade OF Florida m ilta
(''sedentary) under Gen. Read, authorized to be
called into the service Of The United States durng
the past summer. We somewhat curious to