Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-08-29
Frem the n. 7ork Evenins' Past.

writing of Frenchman, without any sig
nature; we know nothing of the facts rela-
tive TO the location of the grant to the Mar
squis Lafayette. But if what is here stated
be true, it is of consequence TO the public !;
and our duty demands that we should not
suppress the information. If the statements
are false, some Of the persons whose names
are given can contradict them and we shall
be very happy-to publish any thing which
shall tend to clear those accused from the
charges here brought against them.
Bv looking back on the journals Of Con-
press, it will be seen, that besides giving to
General -Fayeue his pay, ra,ions and COM
mutation of halfspay for life, sCongress a
greed to givehi tract OF twelve thousand
Ave hundred acres of land, to Dedicated
zuhere the lands of other officers and SOL
diers of the old army located, that is, in one
of the two tracts set apart to satisfy military
grants. When we recollec. also, that the
price at which the land of the L. States
sold at the epoch of this grant was tavo dol.
lars the acre, we have distinct view OF
what congress and the country whom they
represented, m cant to do for Mr.. Lafay-
cite, and that the maximum Of theis gene
rosity was IS 900 dollars. This did not ex-
actly suit Nj. Jefferson This nephew of
his old Bon Ami at Paris, by concurrence
common enough in this world, of bad ma
nagement, bad principles, and bad fortune,
had got through most ample estate ct his
own, and had besides made a considerable
breach in that of his wife. Finding thsir
friend Thomas in power here, the aunt and
the nephew laid their heads together, and
BY French means SO piled the philosopher,
that ne pledged himself to repair, if posi-
bic, the mischiefs of the revolution. ,Ac-
cordingly, when he and his pienipos Ii
vings,on and Monroe) made their great
purchase of Louisiana, and actually bought
pig in poke, friend Thomas moved con.
gress to permit the location of Mr.. Latay-
cites grant any where within the limit, of
Louisiana, and OH land nor actually grant.
ed. And where, Mr.. Printer, did this
| Conscientious magistrate locate this grant,
think you? Was it in a situation and on
lands, the value Of which would nearly full
! FL the intentions OF the country that give it /?
! and who. as seen above, intended to make
MIR Lafayette grant OF Is 600 dollars p
| No, reader, no. He fulfilled his own in
tent;on better, and was generous as prince
with the property of the pubIic-In a word
| he located this grant partly on the commons
of the city of Nesv Orleans and partly al
| Point Coupee. The first Of these locations
! beginning to make some noise, this was
easily suited by secret convention be.
! tween Albert Gallatin, on the part Of the
| President, and Daniel Clarke on the par,
| of the town of New Orleans. These two
penipos agreed, that the locations Of gen
La Fayet,e's grant should not take all the
| Commons, and OF course, that the Increase
of this great emporium of western com.
merce should not be made dependent on 6
maio.-gene in the French army, and q
| voluntary subject of Bonaparte. A certain
range (that is, cannon shot, was accoras
ing!y given for the future uses an' s,'e'' u,
81 ja at4fg we're given to gen. La Fays..e
The town ofOfleans having acceded to this
arrangement, by their agent, Clarke, have
perhaps precluded themselves from com
plant, but are we ali therefore precluded
! Certainly not--and if the location be no,
made in form, Congress ought in honor to
themselves and justice to their constituents
to snqui,e-1st. zchere the gran, Of Mr.,
La Fayette is about to be locstcd? aud I'd,
[ what is the present valWe Of the land on
which it is proposed to make the location
! Of this grant? Fit be found to be million
! or half a million of dollars, you will surely
think it an object worth enquiring about.
| To furnish you with some information on
the subject of its value, l am able to state
the following facts:
1st. That MIR. La Faystte has actually
| borrowed upon this Grant. and before Line