Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-07-17
EXTRACTS
From the National Intelligencer's
REVIEW
of Robert Smiths Pamphlet.

nave Feau VI dhCiOht lows " "A
luu,niator who did not substantiate his
accusations was adjudged to suffer the
same punishment as the accused would
have undergone had the crimes been
proved. Now as Mr.. Smith labors to make
it appear, that the Secretary OF State har-
ing i,timated to Mr.. Errins IN 1904 ty
order Of the President that ne might
make a charge of 9 and an half per cent.
in his accounts for all he azcards 1'ecelv-
ed bs him, and that the equity Of his claim
should be regularly brought before the
sorernment, is robbins the public ana poor
indir;ducls; and as we can prove, from
Mr.. Smith and others, that neither midi
viduals nor the government suffered by
this lust and reasonable compensation or
dercd by MIR. Jefferson to be allowed to
Mr.. Ewing, and confirmed by Nlr. Madl-
son, it having been drawn out of the fund
called the sequence account" created by
the board of commissioners to reimburse
the expenees incurred in the prosecution
of the claims, we shall leave the public
TO Judge, what ought to be the punish
ment OF MIR. Smith for this atrocity, since
sueh law does not exist in our codes.
George ". Erying was appointed IN the
year 1901, by Mr.. Jefferson. consul Tor the
port Of London to which office was an
nexed the la1o agency, held before by Mr..
Williams, the commercial agency, held by
Mr.. Cabot, and the agency for the protec-
tion of seumen, held by Mr.. LenOx: for
which several Offices he received only
aooo dollars year, although the gentle
men who filed them before received to-
gether eight thousand five hundred dol
lars year.
Mr.. Jefferson, approaching justly MIR.
Erv;no's talents. and being well aware
that 1000 dollars was no reward for his
services; that sum not being sufficient to
bear his expences in London, he gave him
the aDpointment of assessor to the board
Of commissioners then sitting in London,
under the 9TH article of the British treaty.
On Mr.. Erving's arrival ia London, the
hoard of commissioners refused to receive
him as their assessor, and insisted on their
right to appoint their own assessor !;
which they did accordingly by naming
another person with a salary of 1900 dol
lars per annum, and an appropriate COM
mission out Of certain claims, which COM
mission is said to have amounted to
$4,000 dollars.
The progress of the public business be-
ing threatened with serious consequences
from a contention which now arose be-
tween the assessor appointed by the Presi-
dent and the one appointed by the board,
MIR. Ewing, animated by that desire for
the dispatch of public business which so
much distinguishes him. withdrew his pre-
tensions and contented himself with stat
inc the affair to the President, throwing
himseif on his Justice for such rcmunera-
ton as he might think was due to him,
representing at the same time that he was
then in the discharge Of functions becom-
in. every day more arduous and impor-
tant. and for which his predecessors re-
eeiyed $500 dollars annually.
THE late President, i'm consequence OF
these representations, ordered MIR. Madl-
son. then Secretary of State. to say to
MIR. Erving that the result Of his rsqec-
t;ous for the moment zcere that he might
charge 2 1-2 per cent on all the awards
octnally received and paid by him, that
he might state this item in his account
with the public which would bring the
equity Of his claim before the govern
ment. :. :,
Does this look like defraudinS the pub
lie !: Does Mr.. Smith intend to insinuate
Nv l,;s rcma,ks ON Mr.. Madison's letter
being a pirate ono that any thing unfair
was meant either by him or MIR. Jet'er-
son? Such an insinuation would be as ab-
sn,J rs base. The letter was prl0ate
answer to arirate letter. and could not
possibly have any concealed effect but as
!. public voucher. There was every pro-
liability also that this affair would be
brought 10 final settlement during Mr.