575
PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BUONAPARTE LAMAR
ered a fraud upon the public for any other of your friends to accept an office, and pocket the emoluments thereof, under the expectation of · being recalled." To the ethics contained in this last quotation, I fully 8Ubscribe.-For me to send a Minister abroad, or for him to accept the station, with the conviction that he will be recalled almost immediately after pocketing the profits of the appointment, would certainly be equal to a fraud upon the public Treasury.- But with regard to the truth of the first proposition that Dr. Archer is the only one of my friends whom General Houston would not recall, I have no means of Judging. I do not pretend to know what reasons you have for believing that the Doctor may hope for a larger share of indulgence from my successor than the rest of my friends; for if a writ of proscription is to issue against the prominent patriots of the country in proportion to their attachment to me, I think that he would come in for more than an ordinary share of the denunciation. He has certainly been one of my most disinterested and zealous supporters, both personal and political, whose generous affection I have endeavoured to return with equal devotion, and which I shall continue to do I hope to the end of my days.-If it be true, however, that he alone of all my friends is the only one that General Houston would not recall, it would be highly improper for me to send, or for, Col Bee to go, to Europe; for to do this with the knowledge, or under the strong impression that he would be super- seded almost as soon as he drew his outfit and salary, would indeed, in your own appropriate language, virtually a fraud upon the public Treasury. But suppose in my great anxiety to serve Doctor Archer, I should consent, in defiance of my views of economy and justice, to send Col. Bee to France or some other court, it might so happen that it would not suit his convenience to be thus transferred. Indeed I have some reason to believe that it would not. Shall I then force upon him the alternative of either going to Europe, or returning home? Shall I say to him-"Sir, the friends of Doctor Archer desire that he s]:iould occupy your present situation ;-I have accordingly sent him on to take possession; but that your feelings may not be wounded, I will displace Genl. McIntosh, and let you go to France, or if you prefer it, to some other court."- What would be his feelings and opinions on the reception of such a letter as this. Yet just such an one, would truth require me to write, if I were to pursue the policy you advise. My knowledge of Col. Bees character enables me to anticipate his reply. He would say-"Your Excellency does me great injustice by supposing that I would be willing to have Genl. McIntosh removed for my ad- vantage;-if you desire my situation for some other of your friends, you have the power to remove me; 'but your Excellency must excuse me from going to France, or any other court at present; for I should scarcely be able to deliver my credentials, before your successor might order my return." Such might not be the exact language, but in all probability, it would be its spirit of his answer. And to what portion of it could I object? His honor would not permit him to supplant Genl. McIntosh; and his patriotism would not 3:llow him to pocket the profits of, what, in all probability, would be a temporary appointment. Thus does it appear that even if I were to throw the door open to him,
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