Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-03-22

low.e;tlzens. After this splendid galaxy, there
vet remains man to FIJI up the list.-It Is
James Monroe. They are alike in the prin-
ciples which have governed them through 2
long life Of public services. In fact they may
be said to move along pni passu. tits james
Monroe, whose name viii standfas high or
the List of our country's worthless, as any she
has ever produced. His fame shall live to af.
ter ages: his name shall "whiten with all time. .
II 10 he. whose fair fame has been attacked
by the disappointed and ambitious, with all
the venom which their personal malignity
could invent. Yet there is one pleasing con,
ISOLATION to his honest fellow-citizens, that it is
a contention between the sparrow and the
hawk, the lion and the ass.
have been induced to make the above. re.
marks, from the late infamous attacks upon our
venerable statesman, and from the publication
of his more recent communication to the com
mittee upon his accounts. A communication
replete with the good sense and sterling i'i-
tegrity of the writer; which bears the impress
of its own virtuous penman, and is sufficient
(if such thing is possible) toput to the blush,
his vile and slanderous accusers. propose
to offer few remarks upon Mr.. Monroe's
claims-to examine portion of the items criti-
cally, and endeavor to show how indispensable
is the duty of Congress to settle them upon
the strict principles of equity and Justice
The extreme, length Of the communication,
must, of necessity, preclude an anxious desire
to examine them thoroughly. Ishall, there
fore, confne my remarks to the most partic-
ular item 8.
After serving his country, for upwards Of
forty years, in many of the most responsible
stations, and at length in the highest Office
which could be bestowed, MIR. Monroe finds,
in his retirement, he will not have that ease
and independence which blessed his predc-
cessors; but, that he will leave his rank with
poverty. He was aware of this before he
transmitted his first message to Congress, but
that delicacy which has marked his public ca
reer. prevented him from presenting these just
claims, until the close of his administration, in
order that even his enemies might have moth.
ing wherewith to censure: that they could not
accuse him of using his influence, as President,
in order to have them paid This, of itself,
is sufficient ground ofpraise; but the manner
in which he introduces them, is still more
striking He says-"1 have been long in the
service ofmy country, and in its most difficult
conjunctures, as well abroad, as at home, in
the course Of which have had control over
the public moneys to vast amount. II, in the
course of my service, it shall appear, on the
most severe scrutiny, WHICH INVITE, that
the pubic have sustained any loss, by any act
of mine, or of others, for which ought to be
held responsible, am willing to bear it. If
ON the other hand, it shall appear, on view of
the law, and of precedents in other cases, that
Justice has been withheld from me, in any in
stance, as believe it to be in many, and
greatly to my injury, it is submitted whether
It ought not be rendered" Mr. Monroe then |
asks that his claims may be settled, sswith that
strict regard to justice, which is observed be-
tween individuals in private life" From this
extract it will be perceived that Mr.. Monroe
invited the "most severe scrutiny" into his ac-
counts. So far from any exposure of dispo-
sition to make this scrutiny as slight as posi-
sible, he shows a bold determination to
stand the same test, which is exercised to-
wards individuals in private life. He asks it,
that nc more lenity may be extended to him,
than to others in like cases,-he asks it, that
it may form precedent by which cases that
may hereafterappear may be decided.
After his message, and some debate upon
the subject, in which, the vindictive spi-
rt of some members, burst forth, a committee
is appointed, who request of the President
upon the subject of the claims,
and he transmits them the communications
which induced me to write this number.
Mr.. Monroe most modestly introduces the
subject to the committee, by stating that he
has been employed in the public service ofhis
country, from 1894, when he was appointed,
by President Washington, Minister to France,
up to the present day. With defcacy SO
becoming, but at the same time with truth, he
sneaks of the manner in which he was recall
ed on the 9th December, 1896, by that Pre-
sident, and attributes it not to any i'll will or
private resentment but from the influence of
his "bad advisers, whowere my enemies. -
Mr.. NJ. received his letter Of recall on the 9th
of December, 1896, but, in that letter, he was
instructed, before his departure, to take leave
ofthe French Court. This could not be &C.
complished until the LIST Of January, from
which time, to the Goth of April, he was CON-
PEELED to remain. He therefore claims pay
from LIST Of January, to Goth of April. He
proves, clearly and satisfactorily, even to the
most prejudiced minds, that this delay was un-
ayoidable-that the sickness of his family-the
dangers 81 winter voyage, and the inability
IN procure a vessel from british hJockadeo