Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-09-06

in the same way, helping to make an Indian Code,
and electioneerlng for tho War Department, fol-
which he charged 81 $50 in addition to all his sal
aries, Increased by new extras to $1,000 per an
nam, and as usual 81 500 eri,a 10 his secretary.
But there is an other matter 10 which wish TO
call attention 1t is this On the 18th of October,
1921, when Governor Cass came on to settle his
accounts, The principal ground on which he based
his extra claims the rise IF provisions in De
trot in 1914, 10, and ZIG, and he sent "a sched-
ulc Of the prices" Of what he calls the "arcles OF
life" with his letter TO The War Department, and
said ii the Department would allow him ~ 900 for
these three years (S6,O00 in all he would be sat
slicd or, to use his own words, ''these three years
comprehend the period to which am willing this
allowance shall be restricted, and within which the
prices vi every article most eNtravagant'-
thus baslng his claim expressly on the ground Of
the rise in the price OF provision OF chickens and
eggs, pigs and potatoes, and, perhaps, ''Bologna
sausages," which, if good reason for raising his,
would be equally good for raising every other sal
AIRY IN the country. But what is most astonishing
is this: Twelve days after the date Of this letter
Restricting" his claim TO 5000, having got new
views on the subject, he writes another letter, da-
ted the 18Th OF the same month. increasing his
claim from 5000 10 $4,000; that is from S., 600
extra for three years to S2,230-not for three
years, but for the whole period of his service from
will be thought OF this mans conscience, who saws
$4,000 is enough one day, and claims $4,000 the
next Tor precisely the same services? | leave
gentlemen TO explain. But there was another trait
in this letter even worse than this. In reply TO
suggestion Of the President that the mode pointed
out by Governor Cass for covering his claims could
not be justified by lac or usage Governor Cass
suggests that there no limit to allowances out
Of the contingencies, acknowledgements
for the Indian department but "Mc discretion of Me
Executive :" and to conceal tho true character of
the transaction, he makes this suggestion TO the
Secretary OF War. | quote his words. He SAYS:
"The expenditure of the appropriation for the In
dian department is entirely discretionary with the
Government; it is applied to such objects, and in
such manner, us the Government may deem most
conducive TO the public interest-there is no limi-
ta,ion but the discretion Of the Executive. do
not ask the SUN have stated fixed annual al
lowance, but fair estimate Of my claim under
the authority of Government | do not ask it to be
paid 10 me. request it may lie allowed in my &C
count current as an item Of expenditure to which
was liable" Not 10 be paid 10 him on his private
account, but to be put in his public official 'accot
current, an expenditure 10 which he was liable"
And here, Gen. Cass's attorney, the gentleman
from Michigan, might very well stick in again
for supporting the Indians" to be taken out ofthe
Indian contingent fund, ;" over which Gov Cass
says ''the Executive has an unlimited discretion"
this suggestion, this plan 10 deceive the public but
will leave gentlemen here, and the people at large,
to characterize it as they think proper Is it sus-
ceptble of defence justification If so, | would
be glad 10 hear it,
Bat there is another curious thing about this mat
Ter 1t appears that in all his settlements Gov.
Cass never charged but one ST. 500 extra allow
ance at time. One time he charged 81 500 for
Different, SC, and the next time he brought up
the other 500 charge for crossing the territorial
line; thus, apparently, charging but ST. 500 ex-
ira allowance, when in fact he was receiving two.
And the officers themselves seem to have been de-
ceved, for they several times state that he got but
81 300 year extra. But when the Governor was
appointed Secretary of War, and come to settle his
final account, 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. IL,
Sd sess, 25th Congress, page Is. And after get
ting the money by requsi,ion 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 he got the second Auditor to close it up
Thus, II appears, that for the purpose of receiving
the balance, the account was considered settled
but then, being himself Secretary Of War, the set
Element was suspended-a very curious, but con-
ven.ent arrangement.
But, sir, there is a.other thing which | REGARD
by far the worst feature in the whole matter
worse than all the extras BY referring TO the fl
nal settlement of Gov Cass's accounts as Governor
of Michigan, and er oDicio Superintendent of In
dian affairs, (see Doc. No. Ii2, Sd session, 25th
Congress, page l6.) where it appears that, about
year after Governor Cass was appointed Secretary
Of War, he drew up account against the Gov
eminent for money alleged to have been advanced
for the Government many years before, in his ofli-
cIal capacity, and 1t right, ought to have BEEN and
it is 10 be presumed would have been, settled in
his quarterly accounts, and paid by the Govern.
ment. These charges for over-payments to Indians
on account Of annulties, presents, contingencies
Sc, running back in some instances ten and twelve
years. brought the government in his debt S35 O75,
for which he got 4 requistion (No. 2,906) on the
Treasury dated the Dist August, 1882, Ga year af-
Ter his appointment Secretary of War; in full of
the alleged balance; and then, having got the mo-
ney, he suspended The settlement of this account.
and it remained suspended some four or five years,
till he was about leaving as minister to France,
when he got the matter closed by his friend, WIN.
Il. Lewis, the I'd Auditor of the Treasury
Now, who will believe, for one moment that this
Government owed S35,O75 for years to Governor
Cass2 And still less can it be believed that Gov
Cass who received annually. on his own estimates
all that he required would let this large sum, or
any sum, remain unpaid. Not at ALL Engaged
rs he was largely in land speculations, money was
important and valuable TO him. YET it seems, he
forgot and overlooked this enormous balance of
$35, 075 due him for years. and did not think Of it
till more than year after his office of Governor
expired. Who can believe such an absurditv q
1t was much more likely that Governor Cass was
in debt to tho Governments and until this account
was rendered such would seem 10 be the fact for
the amount of Governor Cass's claims as rendered.
was $50, l2S 90 Yet this only brought the Gov,
eminent in his debt $35, 075. For the whole of
this matter refer to Doc No. H. Sd session, 25th
Congress, page 10, which will append to nv
speech, with such parts Of the other documents re-
ferred to as may be material to a full understanding
on the subject. | was anxious TO see the vouchers