Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-05-21

pIiCtQ ui tbt utuuS VI TIRE tdtc SOTltntS-
siontr aud superintendent of the Pubic
Buildings, az Washington, aud quoted suudry
acc".ots feitti,e To his expenditures, SC. On
which a, 'Sn,mented at considerable length,
aud concluded va Obiervatiu by moving [,
recUnmit the report TO the select committee,
with instructions to report lin what manner
the money arising from the sale Of city lots
has been expended: la what manner the mo-
uey appropriated by Congress To complete a
repair nj the public buildings has been dis
burse9 and how the money appropriated ia
Purchase furniture for the Presidents house
has been disburseJ hy whom, and to whom
paid, aud for what"
Nh. Daylirs, 'nf Massachusetts, spoke in re-
ply, and explained and defended the report oi
the cum nitter, stating the reasons why the
report did not go into farther statements.
Mr.. Brent, "f Lou. (Nho made the report
from theCommittee,) replied, To the observa
lions Ut Mr.. Cooke, nearly as follows: lie
SAID, IL had sern stated by the honorable gru-
t'@hnn that he opposed this report, tn have
impartial Justice done, and that he was actu-
ated by a consideration for the public interest.
MIR. Bren, then observed, that he meant not
to srraisn the motives of the gentleman, but
he could assure the House, that the members
composing that committee were rs true friends
To their country aud To impartial Justice, AS
the honorable member who had stated il
Here Mr.. Cooke interrupted Mr.. Brent, and
declared he meant M insinuation against The
committee, and that he believed their conduit
flowed from the hest of motives.] Mr.. Brenl
cnntinnsd. l receive The explanation for nv
sell and Tor the committee, but the statement
made of the facts has not been given with
that candor the gentleman ought to have oh
served. He has made statement of accounts
between the President of the United States
aud lI,farsa Russell s. Co. of France Samuel
Lane, OF this City, and others, of their priynfe
transactions, and has stated them as if these
accounts had been contract ed for the public
and paid out OF The public money, when he
fnows Jisa iceH that such are not the facts-
tie has thrown out Institutions against the
Chici Magistrate of the nation, calculated TO
tnnsh :he honest reputation Of that patriot,
WHICH lie has earned in the faithful service Of
our country. AS Il nenher of til. commit
tee, Mr.. Bent observed, he was acquainted
WIN Those iacts, and would state them To the
tlousr, and he vouched for their correctness
Air. Monroe took the Presidential Chair after
me war, after the Presidents House had been
reduced 10 ashes, with its furniture in il, and
Congress, as usual, made an appropriation TO
purchase new furniture. The President wrote
10 Lafarge Russell 81 Co. of France, tn send,
for the use Of The Presidents House, certain
descriptions of Furniture, aud also to send Sc
Verai articles for his own private use, and that
oil his family. These merchants, ia nnaknc
out their account, Blended the public and pri-
yale account OF The President together, and
made nut one account, which was forwarded
In The President, with draft for the money
This draft arri, ed when Mr.. Monroe was all
sent IN the discharge of an important and
useful duty To his country. Mr.. Lane, who
was the Commissioner of the Public Build
inSs, aud the proper person TO pay the charge
fur the furniture TO the Presidents House,
paid for it, and the President being absent,
az hrs friend, he also paid for the articles for
the private Use of the President, not out of
the public money, but nut Of his own money,
and charged Mr.. Monroe with it upon his pri
rdfe account. A subsequent settlement tnuk
place, IN which Mr.. Monroe paid this sum to
Mr.. Lane, as private debt; all the other
cases named ny the gentleman from Tenncs-
sr-, are Of precisely the same nature {; all of
private transactions between Mr.. Monroe and
AR. Lane. Several years after these accounts
were settled, Mr.. Lane died, and it appears
That his estate is in arrears 10 the United
States. IL is now commended, that because
Lane received public money, that, therefore
the money he paid for Mr.. Monroe, on his
private account, must be presumed to ha, e
been with the public money, and that Mr.
Monroe knew it, and mast pay back the mo.
ney to the United States, skhpugh he has
tairiy and honestly accounted for il TO Mr.
Line. Who ever hsa rd Of such an unjust. H.
liberal, and'unj ustifahe attack?
As regards the charge about the furniture of
the President taken for the United States by
the Commissioner Of the Public Buildings, the
proceedings III that case can shew, the accuse
lion OF indeceney, indeticacy made Ivy the gent
man, TO be incorrect. There was no furni
ture when DIR. Monroe went into the Pres
deats House, fit for iisuse. Mr.. Lane pro
posed To purchase some valuable furniture
that had been sent from France To Mr.. Mon
roe: Mr.. Monroe agreed 10 let the United
states have 1t, on condition that he might re.
take 1t when he went out of office, upon re-
paying the money tie received fort. To thi:
elect wrtteh agreement WAS made, and is
IN lie. The furniture was then vaiued nv two
highly respectable gentlemen, General Van
Ness, ct the city, and General Mason, OF
Gsorgciown, assisted by two mechanics,
judges OF is quality, and, after estimation
inahr, 1t vii he seen, by MIR. Lanes letter, tina
the President sold II for % per cent less thar
similar furniture could he purchased for. Al
these facts were shewn in the committee, aDC
why did not The gentleman, Mr.. Cocke) If he
- actuatPd by no other mOiire than imp0rfin
justice, state them 10 the House? Mr.. Brcn,
then observed, that there was something
wrong III this business. He woeid not indulge
IN observations which this attack might Justify
The 0i!Jcci OF u occupied too elevated "A stand
was '0o wen known To his country, and had
served her too faithfully 10 every si;uation n
which he had been called, To be reached he
any ungener0us illusions, whether made IN
thr discharge Ola public duty, or TO gratify
Other Dieies. From this statement, the Hons.
.er ( NJ.