Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1876-04-01
Speech of Hon. C. j. Faulkner.
The Joint RESOLUTION was read !:

Il authorizes William l.. Scruggs, United
States Miaistcr at Bogota, to accept silver ink
stand with a suitable inscription, from the Queen
OF Great Britain, as 4 testimonial OF her apprecia
ton Of his services as a British arbitrator in an
important case between British subjects and the
government OF Colombia.
Mr. FAULKNER. Mr. Speaker the Commit
tee on Foreign Aflirs does not recommend the
passage Of tins join. resolution. Il regrets to
differ SO widely as it does in this case from
coordinate branch of the Legislature. 1t dill
iers from the Senate not Only as to the gener-
al policy Of this legislation, but II looks upon
this particular Case as involving principle
highly Objectionable, aud as establishing a
precedent which ought not to be encouraged.
This species OF legislation has grown upon
ms within the last few years There have been
more Of such applications before the present
Congress than were before all preceding Con-
crosses in the first sixty years Of the history
Of this Government. Ii the recent multiple
cation Of these cases afforded evidence OF an
increase in the performance Of praiseworthy
deeds demanding national recognition, | should
not have 50 much objection to them as | now
have. Indeed, should, as an American citl-
zen, rejoice to learn that some one of my coun-
trymen hal every day in the year performed
an act calculated to attract the grateful recos-
milton Of foreign governments, and thus shed
luster upon their own country. Bat when we
are called upon, as we are now being called up
on almost every day, to exercise this delicate
constitutional power in cases which have no
extraordinary merit Of any kind to recommend
them and which sometimes involve very ques-
tionable principles, it is time to pause and re-
fleet little upon the character and effect OF
such legislation.
Our plain aud republican ancestors had a
very different view Of the policy oil these Tor
cign presents from that which seems to pre-
vail in these days They looked upon all such
gifts by foreign princes to our public officers
with extreme disavor, as tending to open the
door to foreign Influence; and if not IN oppo-
sition to the letter Of the Constitution, they
held the practice, at least, not to be in accord
ance with the popular tastes and feelings oil
the country. Six,y-fye years Of our history
elapsed before Congress gave its assent to tue
acceptance by any public officer OF this Go
vcrumeut of a present from foreign prince
or state The earliest instance in our les'SIa'
ton of an effort TO procure such consent was IN
| 1928. This case is So remarkable in many OF
its features aud 50 full of instruction, that |
will ask to call the special attention Of Thu
/ House to t.
Thomas Piuckncy Of South Carolina, had
| been accredited as our minister plcuinpoien-
| tiaTy both to Spain and Great Britain. Upon
/ leaving those countries he was rendered by the
/ King Of Spain and the King of Great Britain
certain customary presents. He declined to
| receive them, upon the ground that the ConStl'
/ tuition of his country forbade his acceptance
/ Of them without the consent of Congress but
| he announced at the time of so declining that
he would bring the subject 10 the attention OF
! Congress aud ask its consent TO his acceptance
4 Of these presents lie accordingly did 50 by a
/ letter addressed 10 the Speaker OF tue House,
| No case upon its facts could have presented a
! iairer opportunity to test the opinion of Con
gress upon tho principle and policy involved
/ in these presents Mr. Pinckney was a dis
/ tiuguished man lie hal borne an honorable
part in our Revolutionary struggle. He hal
/ but two years before received the votes Of ell
even States for the office Of President Of the
| United States against John Adams. lie had
signalzcd his diplomacy abroad by The nego.
| tiation of valuable treaty. lie had ceased
| to be minister pleuipotentlary, aud was nj
/ that time an Influential member Of the body
| TO which he addressed his application. And
/ vet after full debate upon the policy OF allow
/ inc such presents, and amid the highest tn
/ butes of personal respect for the character and
/ conduct of the minister. Congress rejected hi'
application. The vote was taken 10y ayes and
| noes, and was never recouSilGrel. 4 few day,
/ afterward Mr. Piuckney himself addressed the
/ House upon the subject, and while he did not
/ seek to reverse the Judgment of that body, he
expressed the hope that the House would by
some resolution indicate the grounds OF then
/ decision, 50 that no implication personally IN
/ furious 90 him should De drawn from their ac'
/ ton. This request was accelcd to, and 4 re-
4 solution was prepared by one of his friends
and unanimously adopted by the House, de-
/ claring that 1T was indeed to such relus'
solely by motives Of general policy. and not 10y
any view personal to Mr.. Pinckney.
The next case was in 1914, when applica'
| ton was made on behalf Of General Andrew
jackson to permit him TO accept present Of
/ a tract Of laul rendered to him by the Creek
| Indians This also was rejected by Congress
/ Forty years passed before any further appli-
cation was made to Congress to consent t,
such gifts, when, in June, 1854, Matthew +
/ Maury, distinguished scientist, and at tina
time an officer Of our Navy, was allowed t.
/ accept the present Of gold medal from the
/ KiLg Of Sweden for his discoveries in the phys
/ ical geography Of the sea aud the currents o
the ocean which had proved SO useful to per
sons Of all nations engaged in navigation anC
commerce.
During this period OF sixty.fre years from
/ the origin of our Government, the preseut'
/ rendered % our ministers. consuls, and officer:
abroad were treated as the property Of th'
| Government not as private donations to the
individuals by whom they were received
/ They were deposited in the Department o
/ State where suitable for such disposition, auC
/ where not 50 suitable. as in the case Of the
/ lion and horses presented to the consul O
Iaucier by the Emperor Of Morocco, they
were ordered by Congress 10 he sold ut public
auction, and the proceeds Of sale ordered either
TO be paid into the public Treasury or applied
/ 10 some charitable institution in this city
So largely had these presents Accumulated in
+ the State Department, and so burdenSome had
| their preservation become, that PreSideu Jack
son in a special message to Congress in 1884
/ after announcing that he had given positive
Instructions that no more Of such presents
should be received by any Of our public Off
GERS abroad, without the prior consent Of Con-
greSS, recommended that the State Department
might he discncumbered OF all that were
then on deposit there, and that they might be
distributed to the parties who had originally
received them, or their heirs.
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