Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-10-03

LETTER FROM EX-PRESIDENT TYLER.
In recent number of the Richmond South, we find
the following letter from President Tyler, called
forth by the statement of Gen. Pillow relative to the
Puebla negotiations, that Gen. Scott in justification
of the proposition to bride Santa Anna said, that
" in the settlement of the north boundary
question $500, 600 had been used-no one knew how
but the officers of the government unless it used
to bride the Maine press President Tyler evidently
from not having IGen. Pillows letter before him,
improperly attributes this statement to Mr.. Trist
instead of Gen. Scott
New YORK, Sept. %, 1857.
My DEAR SIR: Owing to my absences from home
it is only this morning that | have been informed
of your call upon through your paper of the 14th
inst to furnish an explanation to the public of the
extraordinary statement to be found in Gen. Pill
lows late letter, which he bases on the authority
of Mr.. Trist, that, during the negotiation of the
Washington Treaty, and to its nation
had used SS5OO00O out Of the secret Serrice fund in
purchase ofthe political press Of the State Of Maine The
letter is not before but quote the the substance
of the statement. confess that the utter absurdity
of the statement has consigned it to the same class
with the many similar Inscriptions and absurdities
which have from time to time been alleged against
| me and my Administration, and which | have re-
| garded wholly unworthy of notice. / am only
surprised that one enlightened as Gen. Pillow is
esteemed to be, should have regarded ridiculous
statement worthy of repetition Five hundred
| thousand dollars from the secret service fund in
purchase of the press Of the State of Maine IfGen
Pillow had taken the precaUtion to have looked into
| the acts of Congress making appropriation to the
contingent fund for diplomatic intercourse commonly
| known as the secret service fund, he would have
seen that the largest amount appropriated any one
year, during the time of my official residence in
Washington, did not exceed thirty thousand dollars,
| and that nasmuch the negotiation referred to
occurred in 1912, there had at the time been but
single appropriation made to the fund.- and that of
the session of 1912, think it would have puzzled
Crocker to have obtained S5000 900 out of $50, 600
will take occasion TO add that the fund.- although
called secret, is public in most of its OUTLAWS
any other fund belonging to the government. 1t is
applicable to the many items growing out of the
necessities Of foreign missions and the consular
adjustment of the United States, which no specific
appropriation could well cover. They are contin
gent the very term implying their uncertainty
The expenditures for these enter intothe genera
| accounts ofthe government, and are annually pub
| lished and absorb large portion Of the fund. Il
of ten happens that not dollar is Withdrawn from
the fund for any confd initial object of the gov
eminent. Such confidential objects sometimes inter
vene in our intercourse with foreign countries, anC
sometimes have their origin within our own limits
contingencies which it may be imprudent at the tim
to disclose but which are intimely connected will
the preservation of peace and quetude Some such
tngencies arose during my Oficialresdence in Wash
ington: and have only add that when left tina
city directed the agent of the fund to file away il
a drawer of the State Department the vouchers 70
4 all the expenditure made under my orders out @
that fund.- and the day has nearly come when shal
be perfectly willing to have that drawer laid open
4 the inspection of any one who possesses any curl
- ! osity TO look into it Certainly he would find n
item for the purchase of the newspapers of the Stat
of Maine, or of any other State-and, with aprope
explanation of the objects of the expenditure, bu
n little or nothing 10 disapprove of.
Be pleased to put down these brief explanation
to the respect which have for you personally an
| believe me TO be,
: Truly and faithfully, yrs, &C.,
\ JOHN TYLER
- To Nh pRyoR