The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1878-06-22
ASHAMED OF HIS WAGES.
THE LOUISIANA COMMISSION.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., June 2O.-The fol
lowing correspondence explains itself.
5i2 TnmTgESrH STREET, " W,
WASHINGTON, u. c., June 49,
To Hon, John A. sherman, Secretary United States
Treasury,
SIR;-At late hour to-day my attention
was called to discussion in the Senate, of
proposition 10 pay the expenses of the
commission sent to Louisiana by the Presi.
dent in the spring of 1877. When | ac
copied aplace on the commission believed
as now do, that the President had un.
doubleday authority to constitute it as well
as TO order the Payment of the expenses
which was done by an officer detailed from
your department charged with that duty.
Since then however, the Senate, by A ma
jority vote tabing the proposition referred
to, has questioned the legality Of their dis.
burSements. cannot consent that either
yourself or the banker who furnished the
funds should be chGrgeablc with such
portion of the amount as was expended on
my account. | therefore enclose sight
| drafts on New York for SS27.63. which
embraces the two items of travelling ex
penses for myself, one-tifth of the general
account, II you will have the interest
account madeup Twill most chcertully remit
that also as well as any additional amount
that may appear proper for me to account
for. am, sir, most respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
john c. BRowS.
sHERNAS's REPLY.
| TREASURY DEPARTMENT June ~
| Hon. John c. Brown, Washington, d, c.:
DEAR SIR-Iour letter of the 18th inst,
inclosing check payable to my order for
sS1.53, being one-hfth part of the money
expended for the expenses of the commi,-
sion sent to Louisiana by the President in
the spring Of 1877, is received. | am de-
sired by the President to return this draft
to you uncollected, IS he is Of the opinion
thar congress will yet make provision for
this expenditure, and, at all events that
you ought not 70 pay any part Of it, as you
know the President was called upon in
April S1,, in the exercise of his constitu-
tiona! duty, and in an emergency, when two
rival state governments were arryed against
each other in open armed hostilities, threat
ening at any moment the public peace to
send 10 Louisiana a commission Of five distin-
guishcd citizens, Of whom you were one
under written instructions not only 10 aid
him by reliable information, but 10 prevent
by their presence and influence. actual col
iision and civil var This duty you and
the other members II the commission vol.
unfairly assumed sad faithfully performed.
In the absence Of m appropriation Of pub
lie money, available for n. expenses Of the
commission, the then assistant secretary Of
the treasury invited from the irs; national
bank OF New York \ loon Of thc sum need
ed .ad il Vas cheerful; grated and TIE
money was expended under -our direction
|, was not doubted but thai congress would
as il irnumcrable similsf ca1es OF the c1
erc!,a Of legal power by an
executive officer rcimOur,. the mon
ey thus expended for an objcc,
uniOrs II when congress. US in z.sSiUn. IT.
th!s case have assurance from senators
that The money would probably beca APP
propriated, but that the amendment propoS-
ed wa AZ 50 late period Of the session as
to delay and endanger the passage Of one
OF the leading appropriation bills. can
not doubt that congress ut it. next scs,ion
when the subject will be again presented,
will make the necessary appropriation. but
if it does not IA. President Ail feel il his
duty to contribute from his own means this
important expenditure for public service,
without permitting you to reimburse any
portion Of it.
Very respectfully,