The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-07-23

la year. although the gentlemen who filed
them before received together eight thou
sand flve hundred dollars a year
MI. Jefferson, approaching justly Mr.. Err
wings talents. and being we'll aware that
2OOO dollars was no reward for his services ;
that sum not being sufficient to bear his ex.
Pences in Lopdon, be gave him the appoint
ment OF assessor to the board OF cominissio.
ners then sitting in London under the 9TH
art, of the British treaty.
On Mr.. Erving's arrival in London. the
board 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 salary of 1900 dollars per an
mum. and an appropriate commission ont
ct certain claims, which. commission is
SAID have amounted to "a 900 dollars
! The progress ofthe public business being
threatened with serious consequences from
contention which now arose between the
| assessor appointed by the President and
the one appointed by the board, MIR Erving,
animated by that desire for the dispatch of
pubic business which. so much distinguishes
hin. withdrew his pretensions and conten.
ted himself with stating the sffair to the
PRESIDENT, thro wing himself on his justice
ior such remuneration as he might think
was due to him. representing at the same
time that he was then in the discharge of
functions becoming every day more ardu.
Gus and important. and for which his pre-
oecessors received $500 dollars annually.
The. late President in consequence Of
these representations ordered Mr. Madison,
then Secretary of State, to say to Mfr. En-
wing that fhe result of. his refecnons for
enc moment Svere tina he might charge l-2
per cent on ali the awards actually 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 government.
does this look like defrauaiug the public ?
Does Mr.. Smith intend to insinuate by his
remarks on Mr. Madison's letter being a
lflTtuate one, that any thing unfair was meant
either by him or Mi. Jefferson 2, Such an
insinuation would be as absurd as base.---
lhe letter was a friUdtc answec to a hri-
vate letter and could not possibly have any
concealed effect, because it could have no
effect, but as public voucher. There was
every probability. also that this affair would
be brought to final settlement during Mr..
Ieierson's administration (ths letter Of Mr.
Madison being dated in 1904 in which
case the decision of Mr.. Jefferson and got
this letter would have been tue authority
for the allowance,
| Thus 1t is seen, to the eternal disgrace of
Mr.. Smith, that the remuneration Of two &
a half per Cent amounting TO 1882 dollars
(which MIR. ErviDS " as allowed to charge.
did not amount to an equivalent for the loss
otthe assessorship, and that. calculating it
even as an additional annual compensation,
as MIR. s. has done, his salary fell short near
ly 1000 dollars per annum Of what had been
allowed his predecessors for performing the
same functions,
1t Is proper here to observe, that all the
omccrs OF the Treasury department allow
Mr.. Ervlngs accounts 70 be the most correct
and satisfactory OF any that have ever been
exhibited to that department. This is
highly honorable to Mr.. Erying, particular
iy when it is known that upwards of mil
lion md hall of dollars OF public money
passed through his hands Those merchants
OF the United States who were witnesses to
the promptitude and ability with which he
brought forward and supported their claimsp
nave been uniform'in their applause of Mr..
Erving; and the board Of commissioners,
we have been told by one Of them within
these few days. were highly satisfied with
bis activity and vigilance by which alone
great sums were saved both to the govern
ment and citizens of the U. States. This
same gentleman assures US that the business
OF the board was greatly accelerated by
Mr.. E. and that the mastery manner in
| which he classed these claims and pursued
them ,hro, the different stages, must have
established his reputation with the govern
| mcnt, as it did with all those who had re-
COURSE TO him as man Of business, Of in
Itegrify 81 talents.
| Whenin the December following that re-
nowned epoch of his accession to the Depart
| msnt of State, Mr.. Smith made the discODe-
ry so very distressing to his feelings that Sc
veral American claimants under the British
treaty had in vain presented their claims for
payment because Mr.. Erving had deducte
two and half per cent FROM said claims,
why did he not pursue his enquiry and dis
cover. what would have relieved his distres
ses and gratj6sd an honest SECRETARY OF
State, that a great unclaimed sorpins. (say
10000 dollars) still remained in the Treasn
! ~ arising from deductions made by order
| of the board OF commissioners from awards
generally, for the purpose Of reim6nrsing
10 the .. 5. the expences incurred in the
prosecution of these claimss Why could net
Mr. Smith discoUer that Mr. Erving. in clio
sing his accounts with the government, had
charged this Two and half per cent. to the
(" award account" instead Of charging il to
Ithe " expence account" and that in order
| to adjust this error and render justice 10 MIR.
irving, TO the government and to individu-
ais, all that was wanting was an appropria-
ton authorisiGg this sum Ut %, 1872 doll ars
TO be taken from the " award account" &
placed to the expence account WHY did
he not DISCOVER that in ciosing his accounts
a. -. III.