The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1848-08-26
SIP E &c III.
y Il II II u H
OF THE
Hon. Andrew Stewart, Of Penna.,

~ = ~ IA y AAs
OF THE
Hon. Andrew Stewart, Of Penna.,
Delivered IN the House Of Representatives, U. S..
august 8, ls4s.
Conc'udeal
BIZ, there is another fact to which wish 10
call the attention Of the committee, Gen Cass
came 10 Washington in 1921 to settle his ac-
counts; remained here during whole session OF
Congress, EOS days; obtained 900 for extra
allowances, snd charged the Government Sl,4-
dS for this time, while receiving his legal sala-
ny Of $4,000, and extra allowances of Sc ESQ,
with 500 extra paid the territorial sc cretary for
attending to his business at home. n e also spent
another winter here in the same way, helping to
make an Indian Code" and electioneerng for
the War Department. for which he charged, g.
$50 in addition to all his salaries, increased by
new extras to $4,000 per annum, and as usual
Si,5oo ertra TO hs secretary.
But there is ono,her matter to which wish to
call attention. 1t is this. On the 18th Of Octo
Dor, 1921, when Governor Cass came on TO sci =
tie his accounts, the principal ground on which
he based his extra claims was the rise CproristonS
in Detroit in 1919, rs, and 'l6, and he sent "a
schedule of the prices" Of what he calls the 'ar-
tces Of life" with his letter to the War Depart
ment, and said ifthe Department would allow
him $4,000 for these three years (S6,000) he
would be satisfied or, to use his own words,
"tlese three years comprehend the period TO
which am willing this allowance sha ] b. ressrc
ted, and within which the prices OF every article
was extravaganL''-thus basng his claim express
ly on the ground OF the rise in the price of pro
vision of chickens and eggs, pigs and potatoes,
ard, perhaps, ''Bologna sausages," which, if ID
Co. ,ipi,,n 10 hn
good for raising every other larry in the country.
But what is most astonishing is this: Twelve
days after the date OF this lettor restricting" his
claim to S. 900, having got new views on the
subec he writes another letter, dated tho 29th
of the same month, increasing'his claim from So
600 TO SIC 600, that is, from 81 900 extra for
three years ~ s., 230--not for three wears, but
for the whole period of his service from 1878 to
1921. whice he received Now what will be
thought of this mans conscience, who SAYS S.
600 is enough one day, and claims SIC 900 the
next, for precisely the same services leave
gentleman to ex plain. But there was another
trait in this letter even worse than this In re-
ply to suggest ion of the President, that the
mode pointed out by Governor Cass for covering
his CLAIMS could not be just flied by iap or usage.
Governor Cass suggested that lhore was no limit
10 allowances out Of the CONTINGENCIES, con!in
gsnt-appro prIation for the Indian department
but "the discretion Of the Executive" anu to con
ceal the true character Of the transaction, ho
makes this suggestion to the Secretary Of War.
quote his words. He says: 1.-The expenditure
of the npproba ton for the Indian department is
entirely discretionary with the Cove rnment; il is
applied to such obi rts and in such manner, as
tho Government may deem most conduct w to
tie public interest-th1re is no limitation but the
discrc ion of the Executive. ! do not ask the
.ity, / t.ta IA ,yol al nil
but fair estimate of my claim under the au
thority of Government. do not ask it TO be. paid
to me. | request 1t may be allowed in my &C
count current as an item OF expenditure to winch
| was lab le." Not to be paid TO him on his
private account. but to be put in his public 9TH
cldl account current as an expenditure 10 winch
he was liable" And here, General Clsss atlor
ney the gentleman from Michigan, nigh, very
well stick in again "for supporting the lndian's'
to he taken out Of the 'lrdlhn contingent fund.-"
over which Governor Cass says the Executive
has an unlimited discretIon.' Sir, ! cannot
vii not attempt TO characterize this sigges ;on,
this pla" TO deceive the public, but vii! leave
gentlemen here, and the people at large, TO char
aclerize it as they think proper. 1t s susceptl-
BILE Of defence OF Just!hcatoH Iiso, | would De
glad to hear it.
But here is another curious thing about this
matter Itappears that in all his settlements Gov
crnor Cass never cha rgcd but one III 800 extra
allowance at time. One time he charged ST.
500 for Office rent &c, and the next time he
Drought up the other 81 500 charge for crossing
The territorial line; thus. apparently, charging
but Gle 81 500 extra allowance, wien, IN fact,
he was receiving two. And the officers them
selves seem to have been deceived, tor they sove
ial times state tina he got but " 500 year OK
ira. But when the Governo was appointed Sec
Ia. he Et,..l
count, he was obliged to charge and did charge,
for both his 81 500 extra allowances up to the
date of his appointment. See Doc. No lls, Sd
sess s5th Congress, page 5. And after getting
The money by requis.tion on the Treasury, he
then suspended the settlement, being himself at
the time Secretary Of War, and it remained sus
pended till he was appointed minister to France,
when hs got the I'd Auditor to close ltup. Thus,
It appears, that, for the purpose OF receiving the
balance, the account was conrdersd settled; but
then, beng himself Secretary Of War, the settle
ment was suspended-a very curious, but con-
yen,ent arrangement.
But, sir, there is another thing which regard
by far the worst feature in the whole matter
worse than all the extras. By referring 10 the
final settlement Of Governor Cass's acco UNITS as
Governor of Michigan, and er o6icio Supelinten
dent OF Indian affairs, see Doc. No. u. Sd SEES
SION, 25th congress, page 10, where u appears
that, about year after Governor Cass was APP
pointed Secretary ofWar, he drew up an account
against the Government for money alleged 10
have been advanced for the Government many
years before, in his official capacity, and fright,
ought 10 have been, and it is to be presumed
would have been, settled in his quarterly accounts
and paid by the Government. These charges
for over payments to Indians OH account Of an
nuities, presents, contingencies, SC, running back
in some instances ten and twelve years, brought
the Government in his debt s35,075, for which
he got requsi,ion mo. s,sos) on the Treasury,
dated the 2 LIST August, 1882, IA year after his ap
pontment as Secretary of WAR; in full of the al
legged 5alance;Iand then, having got the money,
he suspended the settlement, ofthi, account, and