Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-01-10

a long time since, TO Col. Eaurpus. He |
thought this ought, in Justice, 20 be added 10
the amount to be yranled-and, therefore,
moved that the sum of S2S.50O h. stricken
out from The b, and the sum of s 26, 700 in
serted in lis stead.
The allowance of Interest wa, oppos, j by
Ne i.anmau, Holmes OF Maine, Macon,
and Van Buren,, on the ground that the claim
had not been before presen eel, and that the
Same principle which had been adopted in the
Settlement of other claims, of a similar ma
ture, should he preserved in this case.
The question having been divided, the mo-
t'"n Tor STRIKING out ) $500 prevailed; but,
before the question was taken ON inserting the
sum proposed by MIR. Barbour, the bill was
ordered, TN motion of Mr.. Van Buren,, to FL
on the table.
"Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, the
ancestor who's, ser, ices, civil aud military, oc-
Guy brilliant page ia the history of the
Revolution, entered the Amy of the United
States, as aid TO the Commander in Chief in
August, i777. In this situation, he displayed
Zeal, courage, and devotedness, not sur
passed 10y any ofhis compa,rots. He concilia-
ted the est. EN- OF his COMMANDER, s. of his bro
ther soldiers, and, for his distinguished services,
frequently received the thanks of Congress
In 1880, he had acquired so much of the con-
huence oi hiS country, as to induce Congress,
unanimously, to appoint linn special Minister
IL France, on most important service. Such
was his success in this mission, as again to
call forth the public thanks Of that body
lie returned To this country in September, '8l
and, at his special request, Congress, per
United him tn JUN the army, then conducting
the siege of Yorktown, in Virginia, where
tresh lanrels awaited him. He finally fell, ON
The s7th August, '32 in the lap of honor,
lighting the battles ofhis country. His death
was national misfortune. He left an orphan
daughter To the gratitude aud TO the protec-
ton ut his country. A dsinterestedntss, even
III carelessness, was distinguished trait
among his other qualities. Hence, for his
long andimportant services, and the expenses
attending the same, he seems neither To have
kept an account, nor 10 have received any
advances except Il small sum, to which, here
after, more particular reference will bp
made.
The father drad-his only child an infant
anu orphan-and the grandfather, Henry
Laurens, in captivity in Ensland-there was
no one To assert her claims
Eventually, the grandfather returned from
Ear"pe, and n84, as the guardaA of'the child
presented her case to Congress, who came
10 the following resolution:
fesotved, That, in settling the accounts of
me late Lieut.. Col John Laurens, as special
mln'ster to the Court of Versailles, he be al
lowed the same pay that was given at this
period TO the Ministers Penipotentiary ur the
United States at Foreign Courts, from the
Tune OF his appointment to that embassy, until
his return; and that the balance remaining
Que tor his services as Minister, be paid to MS
Representatives.
This resolution was not acted upon ill go
me accounts of the father Col. Laurens, in
both characters, AS Colonel and as Minister
were settled. But it is objected by his legal
representative, the petitioner, (who inter-
married with Frances Eleanor Laurens, the
only child of Colonel John Laurens) and, in
the opinion of the committee, justly-that, in
the settlement, no allowance was made for
the expenses Of Col. Laurens, while on his
foreign mission, although. at that time, no
advances being made dur foreign ministers as
an outfit, 1t was the usage Of the government
10 pay their expenses and more especially,
100, as Congress had especially directed that,
IN The ad iustment of the account, his COM
pensaton should be the same as that of other
ministers.
No account having been kept by Colonel
Laurens OF his expenses the Committee have
OF course, no certain data by which to ascer-
tain the amount in the absence of which, they
nave been compelled TO resort To other cir
cumstances, for the purpose of arriving at any
Satisfactory result. These are. LIST, That it is
IN proof Colonel Laurens paid his own ex
penSes, ~ we'll as those of his suite. 2dly, He
Took mp. nj Nantes, on the credit oil hi = father
= 1000 sterling. equal to S4,4+i III 3dly -
lie received from DIR. Frank in, the then
resident minister in France. 8 ALL AZ and,
Nhly, on his return 10 the United States, he
Received, at Boston, where he landed, S 72O
from the SUPERINTENDENT of Finance, TO enable
him 10 join the army before York Town, in
Virginia. The committee, therefore, have
assumed these sums, as furnishing the proha
Ole amount Of his expenses in which they
have the more readily acqnesced, as it was
about equal To the sum, in proportion to the
Tune, allowed Silas Deane. a contemporary
minister at that court, for bis expenses.
The claim for IOl IS, results from the
Improper application Uf the scale of deprecia-
ton to the item for ratioDs, in the military ar
Count of Colonel Laurens who, unconnectpd
WITH any state regiment, would be deprived
offhe compensation which his brother officers
received, If IL be not awarded by Congress {;
and, Therefore, the committee derined il rra-
son bile To- allow it. The claim for s o. 10 is
obviously just, as itarises from an omission in
extending and adding up the account. Uniting
these two sums with his diplomatic expenses,
Produces an amount of s 1912 81, which, with
interest, at five per cent. from the fifth Sep
TENDER, 1891 The day of his return from Eu.
rope, is equal to 8 %. 800. Ii allowing the
charge for interest, from the above period, the
committee have been guided by the resolu
ton Of Congress above referred to, and the re-
port on which it was founded, which directs
that the child Of Colonel Laurens should re-
Celee wh 'iever wa-, in equity and Justice,
due the father /; and for tbe further reasons
that the grandfather, in fixing the portion ufl
the daughter of John Laurens, by his will,