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

he IS entitled to the principle, ne ougnt ION
the same reason, be paid the interest: for Il
the money was then expended by him, and be
has since been lying out of it. should he not
receive INTEREST," Ifhe is entitled to one, il he
uot to the other, They cannot be separated.
It was too at this period, that Mr.. rIonroe dis
played that noble and disinterested generosity
in behalf of one, who had been pre-eminently
distinguished as one Of the great movers Of
the American revolution. One who, by the
universal sentiment in favor of his political
writings, kindled the fame Of patriotism in
this nation, which resulted in the overthrow
fiber oppressors, and the establishment Of her
liberties To TaoMAs PAINE We owed vast
debt Of gratitude; and while confined in a
French Bastile, for the stand which he took ..
gainst the death of Louis XVI. would it not
have been an act of the basest ingratitude in
Mr.. Monroe, to have refuset. his aid in his
behalf As private citizen, and without the
aid of his ministerial influence, MIR. Monroe
obtained his release, received HMM his house,
and maintained him 10 months, for which he
never asked of him cent, and left him in his
debt, for money lent, $50 louis. He obtained
the release of MADAME LA FArErrE, and gave
her money to go to her husband, ''the Illus
trious friend Of human rights, who was then
immured in the prison of Olmutz." For the
latter he received payment: the former he
never did. He does not ask to be refunded
for the money paid Paine; but let it stand as a
lasting monument to his fame, as one Of the
brightest jewels in his name; that he alone, of
the then administration, maintained the rights
of one of our noblest, best friends; 'gave him
food and raiment, and asked not pay"
The second item Of Mr.. Monroe saccounts,
is for the interest on his outfit to France in
1905, when appointed by Mr.. Jefferson, up
to 1910: Mr.. NJ. introduces the name of this
gentleman with that high feeling of respect
which must certainly have existed between
them; for it is but natural to suppose that
from the even tenor of their politics, and their
labors in the same field, that they must have
and do feel for each other mutual respect
Mr.. M. was appointed by this President in
1903 to France. At this time Mr.. Jefferson
to carry ona system of economy,
did not grant to Mr.. NJ. the outfit allowed mi
nisters, of 5000 dollars; as Mr.. NJ. himself
from the best of motives. When he
returned from France, the account of his mis- |
non was not settled at The Treasury, till 1910,
when this outfit was allowed; without interest.
He therefore claims interest from 1903 to 1910.
The admission of the claim by the President,
md the settlement Of it by the accounting Of
icers Of the Treasury Department, is clearly
manifest, that if he was entitled to the princi
pal, he was also to the interest; and on &C.
count of being deprived Of for seven years
{ is evident he ought to be paid. would ex-
end Mr.. Ms claim further, and state that If
ipon investigation, it shall appear that the in
crest is due to 1910, it is also up to the pre- |
ent day--the one Isl consequence of the other. |
The next item Of Mr.. Ms account, is for
money paid the owner ola vessel in New York |
or passage from that city to Europe. "Being
he says, ''when my appointment
vas communicated to me, that must hasten
ny departure, passage was taken for myself
md family by my friend MFR. Knox at New
York, in vessel just ready to sail. My in
tructfons for the mission however, were not
prepared in time, and, in consequence she
allied without me-" On account of this dis
appointment, the owner of the vessel claimed
he amount of the passage money; and Mr.. NJ.
S a nan of honor paid it. This item was ne
er presented, and the question is so clear,
hat it requires no comment.
Mr.. NJ. also claims an additional allowance
or contingent. expenses to Great Britain, up
m grounds the mostreasonable and just. He
avs that he regulated the contingent expenses
f this mission with Mr.. Kings account for
Ike term, but 1900 dollars was deducted
lie states, and no doubt with the most perfect
ruth, that ''for contingent expenses the hea-
hest item, that Of postage, vouchers are sell
lom taken, more particularly by a foreign mi
lister, who has so many duties to attend to-
The disbursement is generally made by SER
'ants The amount must therefore be judg-
ID of by circumstances and hence it was
presumed that a'better criterion could not be
.dopted, than that on which relied-the al
owancc which had been already made for like
expenses, for the same term, to minister to
he same government" Nobetterp plan could
possibly be adopted. The great and various
luties to be performed, the many important
luties which devolve upon minister, would
naturally prevent him from attending to every
title contingent expense incident to the Of.
ice. MIR. King could not have vouchers for
III his contingent expenses, and yet what plea
could he offer for the wholel Surely this fact |
s self evident-that Mr. Monroe is entitled to |
Is much for contingent expenses as Mr.. King, |
both being employed for the same term.