The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-09-14
From the Washington Union.
THE BOUNDARY COMMISSION.

In the OeOate OF rTluuy evening uPo"
the civil and diplomatic appropriation bill,
Senator Weller, Of California, rising to
move that the appropriation Of $4,000
demanded by the administration for the
boundary commission be stricken out,
stated some facts which must produce a
deep impression upon the public mind as
to the wasteful and reckless expenditure
of the public money by the present wing
dynasty.
Mr.. Weller, as we understood him. sta
ted, in substance. that since he LETT the
commission in 1849, three hundred and
sirty. fve thousand dollars have been al
ready asked and appropriated for its ex.
penditures. A further appropriation Of
one hundred and twenty thousand dollars
is now demanded. In anticipation of this
state of things, the Senate. fue months ago.
adopted a resolution calling upon the adj
ministration to inform the Senate and the
country how the three hundred and sirty-
Gre thousand dollars have been spent.
To this call of .fve months standing not
one word Of answer has yet been given.
The administration has received the mo-
ney; has spent it; wants more; and Thai IS
all that Congress or the people are yet
permitted to know about the matter! by
way of excuse for this most scandalous
state of things, Mr.. Senator Pearce stated
that the Secretary of the Interior had in
formed him that the accounts were not in
his office, but were somewhere else. These
accounts run through nearly the last three
gears, and are returnable quarterly and
yet the Secretary coolly states that he can
not lay his hand on them! Of one thing
he is sure, however; and that is, that more
money is wanted for the commission.
In reply to the observation ofMr. Pearce.
Mr.. Weller stated with great force that it
was 10 him a matter Of III consequence
whether the accounts were in the Secre-
tary's Office or in that Of the accounting or
controlling officer, his accusation being
against The whig administration. 10 show
the contrast, however, between the course
ofthe administration in relation to accounts
of the commission when a democrat was
the commissioner, he would state that when
his own accounts as commissioner were
called for, with intent TO charge him with
improper expenditure Of the public money
to the amount Of fifty thousand dollars,
those accounts were furnished, vouchers
and all, in Just seuen days after the call
was made. Instead OF showing him to be
in default, they showed a balance due him
of fire thousand dollars, which has since
been allowed and paid at the treasury.
But now the accounts Of the commission
in wing hands, for three years past. have
been demanded by the Senate for fUe
months, and are still withhelN
Is any comment needed upon such facts
as these?
Must they not impress upon every can.
did mind the conviction that wing policy
and administration cost a great dea! more
than they come to!
Must they not be regarded as establish.
ing the conclusion that the wing party, as
now organized and managed, cannot be
safely trusted by the people with the man.
agement ofthe public funds?
Such a conclusion would be inevitable,
even if the work Of the commission had
been properly performed. But the fact is,
that while this vast sum Of money has been
expended, and the accounts withheld, and
now more is asked for to the tun of about
!, half a million in all, the boundary line
r has been run in such a manner as, in plain
. violation ofthe treaty, to subject the United
States to the loss of about fue thousand
e square miles of territory.
Not only has this been done; but the
surveyor, who, with the commissioner, is
made by the treaty an Independent and
responsible judge Of the correctness of the
s line. and is, as such. required to sign and
certify the adoption Of the line. has now,
e upon his refusal to sign the report Of the
g commission. been peremptorily instructed
by the Secretary Of the Interior so to sign
e it, whether he approves it or not.
The treaty provides that the line pres.
e cribed in the treaty, when duly signed
and certified by both the commissioner
5 and surveyor, shall be deemed a part o.
the treaty itself. In entering into this
agreement the United States reserved a
two: fold protection against error. First
the commissioner-supposed to be a mar
Z versed in civil affairs-must be satisfied o.
the correctness of the line. Then the sur
veyor-supposed to be a man Of science
: must be satisfied. Both must attest, by
their signatures, their satisfaction that the
! line was run as prescribed in the treaty:
and then, and not till then. the United
9 States agree that the line so run and sc
y certified shall be deemed a part of the
= treaty.
All this the present administration has
usurped the power 10 reverse. 1t finds tht
commissioner satisfied with his line, which
is a blunder andloss. 1t finds the surveyor
dissatisfied. 1t instructs the surveyor tt
h give his signature, a~ttesting that in hi
iudment the line is right, when. in point o
c..s ha ovowo hio iudUmanfl IN he that IN,