Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-09-28

and the Secretary Of State and suggested to him the
propriety Of this appropriation
Mr.. FOOTE. This appropriation is not based on that
letter, but based letter OF the Secretary o state
would inform the gentleman that the letter to which he refers
only read for information He is entirely mistaken, also,
regard to the object Of this provision is not to aPPro-
pirate $4,000 year for the purpose Of sustaining mission
from Turkey; bot is to appropriate SlO OOO or as mucn
be the expenses OF the agent who
il here II may be that than 600 or 3d. 600 may
be necessary. have some additional letters in my posses
sion. Here is letter Of the Secretary Of State.
Mr. TURNEY remarked before that this appropriation
bottomed upon private letter. reiterae the assertion
The Senator from Michigan informed that with this letter
be went the Department Of State and urged the necessity
Of appropriation. The Secretary Of State, upon reading
the letter. concured with him in opinion and wrote letter.
upon which the Senator from Mississippi informs US this ap
preparation boomed. II you take away this private COM
municaon nothing will be left upon which this appropriation
stand The idea originated in this private letter.
Sir Senators may tell that this is not to be continued
think with the chairman Of the Committee Finance, that
abuses corrected that eformed but that
they daily Increasing II you make this appropriation at
the present time, at the next session you will be called upon
to make similar one.
similar appropriation made in the time Of Mr. Jefferson,
Mr. Madison, for the benefit Of agent in of the
Barbary States may not be correct in this, but think
would inquire of some gentleman, whose memory ex-
tends little further back than mine, If this is not the
Mr. CASS. II done in Mr. Jeffersons time.
Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr.. President, have been notc-
ing the appropriation bills for the last fifteen years, and this
amendment the first thing Of the kind have witnessed II
we are to adopt it. seems to that ought to have
precedent The Senator from Ohio should find that there
such precedent that to which be REFERS DO not OBJ
ect to this appropriation because it is based upon private
communication much the principle Of it. object to
upon the ground that involves principle upon which the
foreign intercourse of this country ought not to be carried
We have adopted constitutional provson prohibiting any
diplomatic from receiving presents from foreign
nations Hook upon this violation Of the spirit OF that
constitutional provision Your diplomatic agents are not al
lowed presents from foreign nations but you give
presents the diplomatic agents Of other Governments You
willing sell yourselves, but you willing 10 buy
others, suppose admit there is distinction in that
respect But put it to the Senate and the country
whether it is proper for in any shape to tolerate by
precedent Of this SORT the paying the expenses Of agents OF
orega nations who may be sent here This will be but the
entering wedge pay their expenses You must extend it
to their salaries.
Unless can see some precsdent practice in the his
tory of Government which usti6es this expenditure,
shall against it. Ishould like to how Of n
favor Of setting precedent Of this sort. therefore ask the
yeas and nays on the amendment.
Mr. DAVIS, of Massachusetts. ! am glad the yeas and
nays have been called quite willing to record my vote
favor Of the proposed amendment Gentlemen that they
acting without information. take they have seen the
agent from the Sultan Of Turkey sitting in this room this very
morning They know that he is herc and they know that he
is the accredited agent TO this Government from the Sultan OF
Turkey Gentlemen say they need precedents for measure
Of this kind Why this founded usage which exists in
the East The first token Of saluaon and friendship there
ordinarily some of hospitality, and you intend to cu
friendship and good feeling and intercourse which
shall be advantageous you must pay respect to
that sentiment and principle which prevails there It only
few years since received present from the lmaum Of
Musca Some four horses believe, sent this Govern
present. and they sent as tokens friendship,
the Government did not fit 10 reject hem They were
present which had usefulness to the Government but the
present accepted in respectful MANNER and the vessel
which brought them shores having suffered serious dam
age from distress by weather. this Government repaired at
its expense and in addition suitable and proper presents
returned in her, at her departure Here, then. we
have agent sent TO us by the Sultan for the first time
It the first The part of the Government Of
Turkey establish intercourse with We have had
good deal Of intercourse with Them We have had minister
there for me and have considerable with
the various ports Of Turkey therefore Of some mPor-
tance to receive this agent in manner that will establish
friendly relations between the countries and this perhaps
the mode Of all others by which accomplish that object 1t
lis agreeab the usages which exist in the country from
which he and while am not authorized to say that
expected of u.s. yet very confidently say that 1t will
be agreeable them, and this Of money would proba
bly, be proaby laid out in this way it would be in any
other mode in which you could dispose of seems to me
that both duty and policy concur in recommending this amend
ment.
Mr.. SEWARD. I thank the honorable Senator who has
recalled the incident of the visit of the ambassador who
with present from the Imaum Of Musca If remember
well, the ambassador not in the roll Of common men,
He minister at home-a Secretary of State. passed
through the Navy Yard at Brooklyn with him. Among the
objects Of curiosity and interest there pointed his notice to
exquisite bust of Washington He looked upon it thought
fully, and inquired who was Washington I" think that
the quality of hospitality, like the equality Of mercy"
G. is twice blessed:
1t blesseth him that gives, and him that takes;
Ts mightiest in the mightiest."
If we were seeking how such nation this might en-
poy the small indicated in the most beneficial manner,
think should find it in disseminating among the nations
and the people of the East knowledge Of the institutions, the
arts and the history Of the Wesknowedge Of the progress
Of human society The Turk is willing learner. Let us
receive him with the rites of his native hospitality
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. One word more, sir. The argu-
ment of the Senator from New York is invitation to all
the nations of the earth come here to go school, laugh
te-to acquire knowledge Of institutions and of the
men who have dgnied nation. The gentemans argu-
ment IT means any thing that under the
guise OF hospitality to invite the nations of the world send
commercial agents here with view of disseminating nor
nation amongst them Sir, il that is the career to
enter upon, shall want money enough appropriate
the reception Hospitality of the agents from all the nations Of
the East who choose to send their public here to be
better instructed concerning institutions. As the
dote Of the Senator from Massachusetts, (M DAvI) is
certainly very commendabe to the heart and feelings of the
Pasha who would take such care of the ship as not allow
bird to fly it but how bears upon this question
have not dscernment enough to perceive.
Mr.. FOOTE. desired very much to have been heard
upon this subject somewhat LENGTH but think that il has
been already amply discussed and the proposition before
vndicaed by others successfully have heard nothing
that calls the poprey of the appropriation proposed into
serious question: either from the Senator from Kentucky,
(Mr USDERwooD, from the other gentlemen who have
opposed it, To be sure il is supposed TO be quite popular
thing now-adays and little calculated to conciae in
quarters be recognised as one who anxious be-
Afo