390
WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1853
returned in the same vessel, or in another one of that line. He wrote to Mr. Collins, to know whether that gentleman could fui·nish a voucher for the passage of Mr. Kennedy to the World's Fair and back again. Mr. Collins, by his reply, said, "No, I cannot furnish any voucher for the expenses incurred, because he in- curred no expenses. Mr. Kennedy was not charged. I made an arrangement with the Post Office Department to· settle it. I understood he was going on the business of the Department, and of course it was credited." But, sir, what does Mr. Kennedy say about this? How consistent is he now? We must all agree that he paid nothing, or Mr. Collins tells a story, and I do not believe he does; he has no motive to do so. Mr. Kennedy says: "I certify that the above amount of $1,469 76 was necessarily expended during my journey, and falls short of my actual outlay." He ·has not sworn to that, but he has "certified," and that may, in that particular office, be considered a good voucher; but it was not so considered in the Comptroller's Office. The Comptroller got information as to the amount necessary to be expended by inquiring of other gentlemen. There was a Mr. Mason, who visited the World's Fair, and traversed a greater portion of Europe than even Mr. Kennedy in his statistical tour, and the expenses of Mr. Mason only amounted to about $800. There was also a Mr. Newton, whose travels were very little short of Mr. Kennedy's, and his expenses were only a little upwards of $600. Mr. Kennedy certifies to this as a fact; and if it is not true, what attitude does he now present before the world, and what has he presented before the Comptroller? It was required, by a resolution passed by the Senate on the 9th of August last, and amended by a subsequent resolution passed on the 17th, and sent to the Department, that we should have some information on this subject. That resolution was answered on the 24th of August, by Mr. Secretary Stuart, of the Department of the Interior. What does he say? Why, sir, in the very first sentence or paragraph of the report, he says what is not supported by the facts of the case. Here is what he says: "Sir, in reply to the resolution of the Senate of the. 9th instant, modified by that of the 17th instant, I have the honor to com- municate a report from the Superintendent of the Census, with sundry papers connected therewith, which I believe will furnish all the information called for by those resolutions."
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