Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1846-05-09
BY s. R. THUHsTON & JAMES TIzzARD.]


ingersoIl and Webster. 1t is generally
known as the contingent Fund.-" In a
repnblicangovernment, perhaps, jealousy,
might be easily engendered, lest wrong
use might be made of it. Such fund,
however, is necessary. From 1929 to
1914, the snm expended, and not made
public is only $5,46o. The regulation Of
such expenditures will appear from the
following section of the law under which
such payments are made: .sfi.5,
"Where any sum of money shall be
drawn from the treasury under any law
making appropriation for the contingent
expenses OF intercourse betw cen the United
Stctes and foreign nations, the President
shall cause the same to be duly settled an
nuaily withlthe, accounting officers OF the
treasury by causing such money 10 be &C.
countedfor especially in all instances where
in the expenditure thereofmay, in his iudg-
ment, be made public; and by making a
certificate of the amount of such expendi-
lures as he may think it advisable not to
specify; and such certificate shall be deem
ed a sufficient voucher for the sum therein
expressed to have been expended"
Some very grave charges were made
against Mr.. Webster, that he used this
fund in behalf Of Great Britain in the AL
exander Mcleod case; that he hired from
tier presses to advocate the British side,
SC. We have no noubt Of its truth. our
selves-such course COMFORTS well with
MIR. Webster. But because one man may
forget his duty, or recollecting it deter
mine not to discharge it, is no reason why
the proper means should be refused to all
men coming after such delinquent, 10
discharge their duty. If Webster has be-
trayed has trust, and has used fund in
tended to be used, if need be, for our adj
vantage, against US, it is no cause why
that fund should be discontinued, since it
can and will be used to good purpose by
all honest Secretaries. On this ground
the President when called upon, to dis
close how this fund had been expended by
resolution Of the House, very properly re-
fused the information. In answer 10 the
call made on him by the House, to cause
to be furnished for the use of the House all
such secret expenditures during the time
Mr.. Webster was Secretary of State, the
President on the Goth of April sent his
message. He acknowledges the huda-.
bleness or The desire tic part Of The peo-
pie, to have al! the transactions of the gov
eminent made public. and states that no
such use has been made Of the public mon
eye during his administration, but in re-
fusing the information, among other things
says:
s'If the President may answer the pres
ent call, he must answer similar calls for
every such expenditure of a confidential
character made under every Administra-
ton, in war and in peace, from the organ
ization Of the Government to the present
period. To break the seal of confidence
imposed by the law, and heretofore uni
formly preserved, would be subversive of
the very purposes for which the law was
enacted, and might be productive Of the
most disastrous consequences. The ex-
penditures Of this confidential character, il
is believed, were never before sought to be
made public; and l should greatly appre-
bend the consequences of establishing a
precedent which would render such dis
closures hereafter inevitable.
am fully aware Of the strong and cor
rect public feeling which exists throughout
the country against secrecy Of any kind in
the administration Of the Government, and
especially in reference to public ,expendi-
lures; yet our foreign negotiations are
wisely and properly confined to the knowl-
edge Of the Executive during their pen
dency. Our laws require the accounts Of
every particular expenditure to be rem
dered and publically settled at the Treas
ury Department. The single exception
which exists is, not that the amount EN-
braced under Presidents certificates shall
be withheld from the public, but merely
that the items,of which these are conpos-
ed shall not be divulged. To this extent,
and no further, is secrecy observed.
!. The experience Of every nation on earth
has demonstrated that emergencies may
arise in which it becomes absolutely ne
cessary for the public safety or the public
good to make expenditures, the very OBJ
Jet Of which would be defeated by pub
licity. Some governments have very large
amounts at their disposal, and have made
vastly greater expenditures than the small
amounts which have from time to time
been accounted for on Presidents certif-
Gates. In no, nation is the application Of
such sums ever made public. Intime Of
war or impending danger the situation Of
the country may make it necessary to en-
ploy individuals for the purpose OF obtain
ing Information or rendering other impor-
tant services who could never be prevail