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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1853
392
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But how comes it, that when he changed those pounds and francs into the currency of the United States, the amount was $1,469.76? That is the amount exhibited at the Comptroller's Office, and it corresponds with the exhibit made here in the Secretary of the Interior's reply. That is the footing up of the items on the abstract of the vouchers, furnished the Comptroller. It must be that the sum of $1,469.76 is the amount charged here, thrown into our currency, and it corresponds with the amount in the report to which I have alluded, and which I have before me. Now, how Mr. Kennedy, when he took the round sum as charged, made up of these items, could have arranged it and subdivided it, and apportioned it according to the indebtedness of each party and the interest of each in the expenses, and then go and exhibit the whole at the Treasury, I cannot see, unless he was to receive the amount that went for the expenses of the whole. I do not understand it. The Secretary of the Interior very ingeniously touches upon that subject in the outset of his report, but he does not account for the large amount. The Secretary says: "It will be perceived that he [Mr. Kennedy] was directed to keep an accurate account of the expenses he might actually and necessarily incur-which were to be allowed to him; but he was to receive no other or further compensation than he would have received if he had remained at Washington." Now, the question arises, did Mr. Stuart approve of these sums as shown in the abstract of Mr. Kennedy, nearly double the amount of what a larger quantity of travel in Europe at the same time cost other parties? Did Mr. Stuart approve the charge for passage money in the steamers, when none was actually paid? Yet he retained him in office, and allowed him over $1,400 under his certificate, which I have read. There is a mistake somewhere, I have no doubt. Perhaps there is nobody to divide that responsibility with him. It is merely the money they are willing to divide, and not the responsibility of that certificate. I would not envy them the full enjoyment of it. But Mr. Stuart goes on: "It was not expected that Mr. Kennedy would be able to furnish exact vouchers for all his expenditures; for, from their nature, it was known that it would be impracticable to do so." How did the Secretary know this beforehand? It seems to me there could have been nothing more practicable on earth than to take vouchers for his expenses; for if he stopped at hotels of any character-which of course he did-there would always
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