American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-06-01

amount OF the sales oil the puDc lots IN Washington
eity, and the expenditures of the Commissioners of
the Public Buildlngs-reporting the balance due the
Un,ted States by the late Commissioner, Samuel
Lane OF S $500 85-hat his executor has not yet
completed the settlement OF his estate-and concu-
ding with resolution that the President be reques-
ted to to be made al the next session a full
statement OF the lots sold, and the payments made
due, by whom, &c.
The resolution with which the Report concludes
being taken up for consderation-a debate
upon it, OF which the following outline will TO
give the reader general idea
Mr. COOKE, OF Ten, quoted sundry accounts
relative to expenditures, &c, and the employment
of the funds ra, ed in the hands OF the late Com
missioner and Superintendent of the Public Build
ings at Washington, OH which he commented at
considerable length, end concluded his observations
by moving 10 recommit the report to the select com
mitee, with Instructions.
MIR. Brent, OF Lou, (who made the report from
the commlttte) replied to the observations Of Mr..
Cucke. He sald it had been stated by the hoDora
BILE gentleman that he opposed this report, to have
impartial justice done, and that he actuaed by
confederation for the public interest The mem
hers composing that committee az true friends
TO their country, and TO impartial Justice, as the
honorable member who had stated it. Here Mr..
Cooke interrupted MIR. Brent, and declared he meant
no insinuaton against the committee, and that he
believed their conduct flowed from the best of mo-
PLANTATION for myself and for the committee, but the
statement made oil the facts has been given with
that candour The gentleman ought to have observed.
He has made statement oil accounts between the
President of the United States and I.afarge Russell
& Co. OF France, Samuel Lane OF this city and
others, of their private transactions, and las stated
them as If these accounts had been contracted Tor
the pubiic. and paid Of the public money, when
he kROWs full lCeH that such are not the facts He
has thrown out insinuaons against the Chief Ma
gisrae OF The nation, calculated to tarrsh the honest
reputation Of that patriot, which he has earned in
the faithful service OF our country. AS member
Of the committee, Mr. b observed, he was acquan
ted with those facts. and would state them to the
House, and he vouched for their correctness. Mr.
Monroe took the Presidential Chair after the war,
after the Presidents House had been reduced to
ashes, with its furniture in it, and Congress, usual
made an appropriation TO purchase new furniture.
The President wrote TO La'arge Russell * Co. OF
France TO send for the OF the Presidents House,
certain descriptions OF furniture and also to send
several articles Tor his own private and that Of
his family. These merchants, in making out their
account blended the public and prtrate account Of
the President together, aud made out account,
which forwarded to the President with draft
Tor the money. This draft arrived when Mr.. Mon
roe was absent IN the discharge OF an important and
useful duty TO his country Mr.. Lane, who was the
Commissioner OF the Public Buildings and the p o.
per person to pay the charge for the furniture TO the
Presidents House, paid Tor IT. and the President be-
ing absent as his friend he aisn paid for the articles
ioT the private use OF the PRECEDENT, out Of the
public money but out oI his own money, and charg'
a I'd Mr. Monroe with it upon his prtcate account
A subsequent settlement took place, IN which MIR.
n Monroe paid This sun TO Mr. Lane, private
81 debt all the other named by the gentleman
from Tennessee, are OF precisely the same nature
all OF private transactions between Mr.. Monroe and
Mr.. Lane. SIEVE al years alter these accounts were
settled, Mr. Lane died. and il appears that his estate
is IN aileaFs 10 the United ) ates. II is now con
tended, that because Lane received public money
d that thel eore the money he paid for Mr. Monroe
On his piivtte account, must be presumed TO have
Il been with the public money, and that Mr.. Monroe
knew it, and must pay back the money to the Unilet
States, although he has aitly and honestly accoun
ri ted for II to Mr.. Lane. Who ever heard OF such
"A IN unjust, rhberal, and unjusthable attack! Mr.
IA Brent went on to explain the transfer OF some pr
III vale furniture nf Mr. Monroe to the Commlssone
8 Of public buidlngs.1 All these facts were showt
a in the committee, and why did not the gentleman
I4a (Mr Ceckel If he is actuated by no other motir
f than tburtiaL Justice, state them to the House
aA Mir Brent hen observed that there was something
sS4 wronu in This business He would no, indulge II
& observations which this attack might justify o.
8 obec, OF il occupied too elevated stand, was to-
1 well known to his country, and had served her !"
(. e faithfully IN every situation to which he had nee
s# sailed 10 be reached by any ungenerous alluslon
BNM WHEEL er made IN the discharge ol public duty o
# 10 crafty other rieiDS. He then showed that IN
" n subjects submitted TO the commitee had heen pro
3 perv considered and that the report was as luu
AsM il conId be made Mr.. Brent concluded by deprt
4 eating false impression produced ny the observe
l# tions Of .he gentleman from Tennessee, injurious
X ,he President whose conduct he INDICATED as no o.
EM ,v nnre and honest but as honorable IN high d'
~ Gree. and expressed his hope thai the motoh
& abe gentleman, (Mr Cocke) would De rejected