Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-12-29

er quences or that opposition, be they what the
e may-even though l may be SO unhappy a
10 incur the dspieasure of the gentleman from
j Louisiana, whose good opinion confess va
iue as much as that of any other citizen
know. | feel that have a DUTY TO perform
certainly shall perform it, nor can apy DOW
er oil man prevent me from doing il. with
these observations, MIR. Campbell expressed a
nope that the motion of the gentleman from
New Hampshire Mr. Bartlett) would prevail
days. ''' " ~
Alter some explanation from the Speaker
as 10 the point of order, Mr.. Tucker. of va.
moved TO lay the bill ON the table, his object
oe'"s 10 give time for conciIiatng an uuani
nous vote on the bill The question being
'ahen, TINS motion was negatived by large
majority.
MIR. Mercer, of Virginia, then rose. not. he
observed, ts wound the feelings Of Tia, Uouse
ny debating the principle uf the bill! before
'hem for he felt persuaded that, on that
question. there existed no diversity of sen,i-
menf: But he rose chiefly with u view to
corronorate some Of the statements which
''ad been Submitted to the House by the no
norabie Chairman ufihe Committee (Mr. Lii
'nsston) In doing SO, he hoped also to
satisfy the mind of The honorable member
rom Ohio DIR. Campbell), and in So desS-
mailing HIM, he did not make use Of the Ian
S"nse oil mere customary courtesy, for he
mad long been in the habit of viewing him as
truly honorable man. He rose with not
faint hope. however imperfect might be his
means OF doing it, that he should prevail ON
ms friends who differed from him ON the de
'aiis OF the bill, and for whose views and
scruPes he felt the most sincere respect, to
JON with the friends Of the bill as reported, in
unanimous vote for its adoption. The case
presented by this bill admitted hut of two
doubts: first, in respect to The principle of
me Diii, or, secondly, as 10 the veracity of
we facts which had been alleged, as form
ing me grounds of ii. Having himself been
INSTRUMENTAL la the production of that paper.
rar' u winch had been read by his friend
nom Louisiana and which contained a state
nent ot the af,irs of General I,af,ye,te. he.
Isit IL ms duty 10 verify The authenticity of
'hat paper, which he did under the sanc,ity
o' DIS oath of office, aud which he was ready
10 40 ]" any other furm that the Laws of evil
uehce might require Under this sanction.
he could say THAT the evidence afforded nv
,na' paper goes fully To establish the eaui,a-
Die claim of General Lafayette upon this
country 10 much larger sum than that pro-
poee" IN the bili IL was a paper which, ia
20 uaa oeen lard before court in France,
termed The Bureau III E,idenc. for the De-
|
'he stq'es'ration OF the estates of I,afsyette.
ana u bore The stamp of official authenticity.
Ahat document. he said, proved that the sum
eSPe'ueu ny The Marquis Lafayette in aid
W o"r revolution, exceeded million #
'''res. this TACT was brought forward IA
"ohSst The evidence collected by the govern
'nent tn prove, against him, that he had de
voted large part Of his fhrtune tn produc,
counter revolution in France. The charge
| fNr Il
pr"nnceu an INV esilgaon in consequence of
which the whole Of his once princeIy fortune
was c"nf'scaed 10 the public funds. The
testimony Is, therefore, legal, and such as
would be respected in a court of ius,ic. in
TINS country His agent, indeed, with mo-
des'y desived from The am able example Of his
mast dedscis from the amount expended in
our otha'i The expense of two voyages of
.ne "" gus Between tbIS country and France
| b"' 'hese voyages were undertaken at IN,
request of Congress, for objects connected
win our ben'hi, and are, therefore not To be-
deducted from, but added to the account
I WIN respect To the statement which had
oeeh gwen IN relation TO the land near New
Orleans, MIR. Mercer observed that he han
pened to he perfectly acquainted with all ,bs
| iacis OF the case The United States had
granted TO Gen. Lafayette $40 acres of
land He chose. fIF the location Of part of
", spot rear New Orlsans-a spot wb; oh
IS 10" 10 the hearl Of that city on which the
ouston hndse staGas, which is the seat of
business, and IS covered with large and splen
did houses. His title To that land was ner-
| iect and indispntab!e. Sometime afterwards
me Corporation Of New Orleans pettioned
congress 20 grant thrm the territory six hun
afeo yards rdund the city, which Congress.
lnen ,snorant OF Inc location by Lafayette
conceded 10 Them. OF Lafsyeite's superior
| mere cannot be shadow of doubt Wby
ne Ga NOT prosecute it has been already STA
ted The donation of land was given him in
'he iuiioess oil our hearts, as "A token of ouy
esteem anu gratitude, and he felt that il was
"o' 'o' MN 10 question the precise extent Of
such grant. The value If the land which
he might have recovered, but which he So
promptly relinquished, has been correctly
s'aieu al 400 900 dollars. There could not
oe any question, Mr.. NJ. said, that the prcu-
mary claims which General Lafayette could,
v disposed, suhstantiafe against the United
States on equitable grounds, would exceed
million Of dollars. For himself, Mr.. M. said
no had hoped that we should have mad. The
proposed issue of stock, instead of being re-
deemabie IN the year 1884, irredeemable for
ever, that IL might remain permanent mon.
nment OF this nalion's gratitude. II. had
hoped that the land we should bes,ow nm
Lafayette, and his family, instead of being
connned TO one poor township, would have
Deen OF such an exiect as 10 equal, or exceed.
inc whole amount of the BatioD's debt 10 this
her benefaetor. He did not mean her debit
Tor his services, but for his advances merely.
and The interes! on them. Asto his services,
'he'r value, 10 unreasonable. There is NOT a
man who breaibes our air, or ifeads our soil.
wEo IS not indebted to him. 1t would defy
'ne sK'ii OF Archmedes 10 compute what A
mer'ca owes TO her beDefsctor it is a mat