Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-01-18

the accounts of the Vice President were referred
They had, Indeed, afterwards gone to the com
miltce of ways and means, but it was merely for
| financial purpose.
Mr.. A. STEVENSON, of Va begged to mako
sIngle suggestion to the House, as TO the dcs-
tination which this subject ought To take. There
were but two enquiries, In his opinion, which il
was necessary 10 make: Was there sufficient in
formation nor before the House, To enable il TO
acs and, If so, ought il to be referred; and TO
what committee? Ii was to these points, the at
tention of the House ought To be directed. MIR.
>. SAID, he did not cOnt ur in the opinion which
he had understood his friend from Delaware MIR.
hcLane) To- express. that the information now
In their possession was Insufficient to authorize
the reference of the subject to the consideration
OF committee. He believed he Message would
be found 10 contain upou this point, all that could
be required In it, the President tells us, that
he has had control over the public moneys, TO a
vast amount-that he has ''long been III the
public service, abroad aud at hoine,n and that
there are matters of accounts and claims be-
tween himself aud his country, which are unset
tlcd and ought 20 be adjusted. That the cause
OF the delay, IN presenting these claims, shall be
explained to the committee 30 whom the subject
may be refereed. Here thea is a distinct inior-
nation, as TO the fact of unsettled accounts be-
tween this officer and the government, which
not only authorize but requires us to act. What
other information can be required, at this stage
OF the business: Mr.. $. thought none. But, to
what committee ought the subject to go' There
was, Hr. Stevenson said, no standing committee
OF the House, whose duties would embrace the
WHOLE subject. These claims might not have
arisen IN the same character. Those which re-
tate To his diplomatic character, would belong,
, appropriately, To the committee on foreign rca-
tIons-those In his individual character, to the
committee of claims, and those as President of
the United States, To a select committee. Was
1t eXpedient, or proper TO cut up the subject and
refer 1t 10 three distinct committees, when the
whole could be acted upon by O5leI Mr.. 5. said
he thought not; and should, therefore, prefer the
latter course. Let the whole subject be referred
| to an Intelligent select committee let the facts
be reported, and we shall then be fully co,npe-
tent TO apply the rules and principles which ought
to govern Us IN the adjustment of claims against
| the government. The President will then stand
upon The same ground with every other citizen,
who comes here for relief. This hal been ask
| ed by the President as a matter of sheer Justice
and right. He had long been in the public ser
wee, aud was anxious that the evening of his
lie should be peaceful aud undisturbed So far
'lr. ). said, as this enquiry would be the means
OF accomplishing this object, it should have hls
support. He should therefore, vote for the orr
] =
| sylvania, { Mr.. inghain.
! Mr. hicLANE, again rose. All that he wish
ed, he said, was information as to the 7auture OF
| the claims alluded to In the Message OF the Pre-
sIdent. tie should, ne said, checrlaly AFFORD 10
| the Presidcnt-of the United States any enquiry
| he mg"t wish, through committee of this
House, whether for the settlement his accounts,
or 10 resist any asperslon, founded or unfounded
on MS character. His objection TO acting on
fIIGc u =
ture of the claim which had been presented TO
the House. If, said he, this is a mere matter of
account-It the object be only TO adjust and set
tie existing accounts between the United States
and the President, ii is not subject within our
province. Ii 1t be matter OF claim founded
on injustice to HIM in the settlement of mis- ac-
counts, in which the officers of government have
been governed by strict and rigorous const,uc-
ton OF law, but in regard to which, there are
equitable considerations, which place ii fairly
before us, then 1t is properly presented here and
ought to be deliberately examined, sc. Under
FSuch circumstances, it would stand on the same
footing with other cases which had been referred
/ to as precedents. Mr.. M'Lane said, he did not
believe, that a case had ever arisen, i'm which
an individual had come to this House to settle his
accounts, where no legal obstacle stood in the
way OF their settlement Ii, in the settlement
OF his public accounts, balance had been found
against Mr.. Monroe uT, if items of his account
against the government had been rejected, Mr..
M'Lane granted, that ii would have been a fair
subject TO Justify the iutcrposition of this House
and he would be willing to give it that direction
II the Message really involved a variety of ac-
: counts between the government and Mr.. Mon
roe, then 1t ought to go to select committee
for in that case, Mr.. N'Lane agreed with the
gentleman from Virginia, that the very diversity
accounts :, ST f..
select committee, embracing the powers of
all the committees of the House, should be ap-
pointed to take IT into consideration He should
ike to kuOw, he said, what these accounts were
NO balance had been reported against the Pre-
sIdent, and he was very well satisfied that none
could be. But, if he had accounts not vet SCI
tied, MIR. Nl'L. submitted that the proper course
would be, for a settlement of these accounts of
tue President to take place. If there we're any
items OF MS accounts with the government which
could not be settled under existing laws, but
which had equity for their support, it would be
ti'ne enough, when that fact was ascertaned
tor Congress to undertake to adjust them
whist up Mr., M'Lane, said, he would take
occasion TO express his regret, That this distin-
guishcd individual, had thought it necessary for
MS rePutatIon-it was certainly not necessary
Tor his reputation or for his interest, TO take the
course he had done IN this matter.
Wiz. BUCHANAN, OF Pennsylvania, said, that,
as to himself, he would rather the President
mad exhibited lis claim before the House in
precise aud distinct form, and demanded its
payment. lie did not conceive it necessary,
for tue character Of that distinguished indjyidi,
al that he should request general investiga-
ton OF his Pccuniary transactions with the gov
eminent But, said ne, that was a proper sub
lect for the exercise Of his own discrction and
he has determined otherwise. What then, is it