Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-12-28

expenditure, IL IS True, had been great, bat, II any
blame arose out OF it, that attached it was
supposed to the late President but to agents I'M
der him. Mr.. S. thought it was proper that this case
should be referred TO Select Committee; for al
though all the evidence brought forward by the
claimant had been laid before the House by the
COMMITTEE, at the las, session, of that which might
be brought on the other side, they knew nothing
Both ought 10 be examined alike. lie was not in
idvor oil extending any thing to this individual,
which he would not extend willingly 10 any other
Ills having been President of the United States had
nothing to do with his claim; but, if any indiyi-
dual, however humble. should present claim under
similar circumstances, he ould say of that as he
now said o this, that 1t ought to go Select Com
mt'ee. His friend and colleague had spoken about
precedent aud seemed TO suppose that the proceed
in%s IN this case would, matter of Ingredient
stand prominent and alone: but certainly there were
already numerous cases oi similar kind and which
operated as precedenis much as this would DO
a variety %! didcreat claims, some of which had
been enumerated by The gentleman from Virginia.
and which required less Investigation than this did
had gone 10 Select Committees and this had alrea-
dy happened more than once at the present session.
lie did not consider this forming a prece-
dent, because il was the of Mr.. Monroe: II
must stand, like all others, on its own merits and
the House would act, in respect 10 it, they should
thnk most Jus; TO the indi, iiua aad TO the nation.
Mr.. Mci4ane of Delaware said, that when tn .
subject heretofore under the consideration of
this House, il had been his misfortune TO differ from
the majority OF tie House. He mad been opposed
to the application to this House. and to the refer
ence OF lie application to COMMITTEES. He had
then thought, that tie better course would have
been TO have presented these claims to the Account
ant OF tie Treasury DEPARTMENT. where they would
have been examined accounts usually are: and
If, according to the rules of thai Department, the
petitioner could not have Justice done him, il had
been his opinion that it would then be in time for
him TO cor,e 10 This House for relief. The House
had ove-rulel him, however, in that opinion and
referred the case TO Select Committee. When
tins subject was before the ho few DAYS ago.
Ar. NJ Lane said, he in favor of referring il
to the Committee oil Claims, AID had so voted
lie was now disposed, however on a review Of the
case. To vote Tor It's reference to select committee
Oh the ore ground, a. that alone, that he un-
derstOod the organ ot The Committee of laims 10
state that it believed by chat committee net TO
be IN Its power, consistently with due attention TO
other matters referred to it, TO do Justice To the
Claimant or to the nation. Mir NJ Lane said in
making NJ his opinion thus, lie put of view al
together Ire character of the irdivdual who nre-
Seni@ this claim he treated the case as claim of
a Tree citizen this country, who, whatever he be
or has been, Is entitled TO the measure of Justice
which * due to every other Individual and to no
more IAus viewed, the case now before the House
was one OF ordinary occurrence, in which 4 peti
ton had been referred to standing committee over
ourdeneJ with business, and which it was therefore
eNpedIent 10 transfer TO a special comm tee The
cases OF Governors TOmpkins and B!ount had been
already adver'ed to, and precedeuts were nut want
Ing o! similar course, during the present session,
IN cases which would naturally have referred them
serves eithcr Ia the Committee Public Lands
or the Committee On Private Land Claims, and
only had different direction given them on the
ground that, from the extent of the investigation
required, select committee in each case was adj
Visable. On the same ground, Mr. NJ Ilne said he
should vote for the proposed reference of this case
to a select committee.
Mr. Dwight, OF Massachusetts, Observed thar
the general principles laid down by the honora-
ole gentleman from North Carolina, first IN. (Nir
dangin') met has apr citation, but that he thought
a correct application OF those principles ought 10
nave led that gentleman 10 directly opposite con-
cfiHion from that which he had arrived at. The
gentleman had insisted that equal Justice Should be
dealt GU, claimants IN the highest and in the Io
est station 1t vas on that very principle, Mr.. ID.
saiC, thai lie should vote, in this case Tor a Select
Committee.
We ga.ea Select Committee to this individual
when he llrst applied, said Mr.. ID and would deal
out the same measure to james Monroe. now he
has retired TO ubscuriiy, (and sorry 10 be obi
Sed to add, TO penury) in Virginia a. did n
Oh
gigantic republic, in the palace of the capital This
would be giving the same justice to men in all
sIuauo:s The Committee OF Claims however
"hie, and however iaborIous, were overN helmea
WIN mass of business and the very respectable
member OF that committee who had .c!dres,ed the
House had honestly apprised it that, if thev did
llSuceaA' TINS claim, 1t must he the sxpense OF
neglectng the Others confidcd to them The zen
ileman from North Carolina had reminded the
House that that cosamittee was ed ~, f,eJ
ana invariable principles of justice. Bu., did he
mean 10 a-perse the Select Committees of his
iion5e, by Insulating that they would not he gov
efned by the same principles, or in The same de-
gree by them! The COMMITTEE of Claims ask IN no
relieved They have been relieved in other cases
why should they not in this? The gentleman saws
mat no difference is to he made between Presi-
dent OF the L States and any other individual
ct he IS himself insisting tia we ought to m,Se
. difference The claim of the Baron de Bastrop. |
INC clam oil the Marquis de Maison Romeo the |
cram 81 Cdron de Bedumarchais hid al! heei, per
mlied TO 20 o select committees WHY must nor |
TIE clam OF James Monroe 20 10 q select commit
tee, unless 1t be because Jsme. Monroe has he..
fTes'den' OF the United States and those claimants
nave NOT fhe i'Vor, II any favo i granted, will
be granted, not TO him, but to The Committee of
Claims who ask the relief
Mr.. Mansun again rose. He ( id he was ,,s,,cL
more sOlIcnous that his views and FEELINGS n ,bis
'l'Ject should not be misconceved, than that he
'no"d succeed IN his opposition TO this motion.
lie had already disclaimed any thing like per-on,t
y political feeling d. regard o this matter: he hon
I'd he y"s Incapable of suffering himself 10 be i,g-
'nced ~ II IN any c1se in which cairo OF in,li |
'id1ai hoh was involved. But lie said, he thought
{ might be shown that the analogue. to ihi, case
YhIch BeH'em wished TO force upon the House.
'n 'hIs occasion, had no existence ~ relBfy. Does
as case SAID ne, stand on the same basis those
F"ch nave oeen considered analogous 10 il? Is
his mere Ba-rop claim I think not In one
new this case add c oilers referee, 10 are essen