Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-03-15

ed by the special mission, the duties of hospitality,
from which thc latter is always exempted, devolvmg
on me, rather the obhnauOn to return the aten-
tions which we received, from those with whom we
had political relations and intercourse, and which
the national honor requi ed thatl should return.
IL Will be by the documents referred to, that
this item of that account. the equity of which was
admitted, as understood, reserved for further
consider tiu nv the special order of the President
The Secretary of State proposed to me, then, III con-
ference, that should write to him Il letter on that
item, on my return nome, which did, bearing date
on ,he 9th December, 1910. To that letter, with
my observations the whole account, which were
presented with il, ami the order of the President for
the suspension of this item Oeg p'sculary To re-
fer. To have a iull view of the whole subject, it
may be useful for you recur to- n decision, which
made in -, on reference To me by the Ac-
counting Officers oftbe Treasury, OF the claims of
Mr. Adams and Mr.. Clay, in which examined all
the precedents to salaries aud outfits, which had
been allowed to Ministers in Europe, from the
commencement ot oar government until that day.
Through the whole of this my second mission, in
which was employed nearly Eve years; and to three
powers France, Spain, and Great Britain, was eN-
posed by the nature of my duties and the force of
circumstances, to the greatest expense TO which amy
mission be subjected. My FIST appointment
was as Envoy Extraordinary 20 FIaure and Spain,
IN which associated with the Minister Pleui-
potentary of the United States, each Power with
Mr. LiVin- Ston at Paris, and MIR. Pinkney at Ma
drid. With the notice of my appointment, ii was
animated that my absence might be long, and, in
consequence, took my family with me. repaired
first to france. and the object with that government
having been accomplished and Mr.. King. Minister
at London, having resigned, i appointed 10
Great Britain, with an order, to be prepared to pro-
coed to Spain, whenever the state of affairs might
justify it. went to England in July, 1905, aud
remained there till October, 1904 when received
the order proceed to Spain, and take Paris in
my route, to obtain the aid OF the French govern
mcnt, in the negotiation with Spain. The mission
to Spaiu occupied me about months, at the ex-
piratiou of which, returned to London in the en-
pectation Of sailing thence in few weeks for the
United States but where | was detained two years
and four months, by the causes above .eccd.-
ThusI was exposed to Ill the expenses of special
mission. from the commencement of my service to
its termination, and having my family with me on
the most expensive scale; for even while was in
England, before went to Spain, expecting the ar
der TO proceed thither, aud intending sail for the
United States, soon after that mission should cease,
could make no arrangement, such as Stationary
Ministers make, with view 10 a residence for seve-
raj years fhc same state of things occurred, after
my return from Spain, and which lasted more than Il
year before the special mission, in which Twas as
sociated with Mr. VIM. Piukucy, took effect--a long
e. term than is usually employed in such missions.
The special mission afterwards CURED, and next
the attack on the Chesapeake by which was de-
tanned more than year longer. | menton these
because VIII be Impossible to form
just estimate OF the claim presented in the 8h item
OF this my second mission Europe, indeed of the
other items OF that mission, submitted your con-
sideration without a correct knowledge OF them.
II may not be improper. indeed it belongs the
subject, observe that the epoch referred 10 was
IN the highest degree, important and ditticut; that
We're ncnaccd with wars, to which the powers
oil Europe thought our country unequal did
many of our own citizens aud among them those
who most friendly 10 it. The SituatiOn there
fore, of person, whose official duties connected
him, the time, with the three great powers,
from whom that menace came, and " hose move
InentS he bound to watch, aud to report 10 his
government, could not be favorable to a strict su-
pcryi,ion Of expenditures, or to economy.
With respect 10 these claims the first question to
|be decided is Are they Ju,G The second, if Just,
Has any thing occurred to bar them: On the first
point nave nothing more To add. On the second. .
have To observe, mat, IL just, the delay III allow
Ing them was undoubtedly injury To me, aud the
longer the delay the greater the uJucy. That
have not pressed them heretofore, any branch of
thu gov rnmcnt. Is true. Vi hen the cause of this
ia, nearance Is duly considered. the Committee will
judge. how ian it ought operate to my prejudice.
On Inis point some further explanation will il is
presumed, not be dcemed improper.
Ii. ia the account p eSemted by sir. Dawson, fur
the setue,nent OF salary, Contingencies, sc. in my
first mission 10 France in 1884,, the first item was
omitted. and II the second included only the sum
which allowed the cause, suggested in my let
t. to tine Secretary of State, OF TIM l7th Decenbcr
1915, t. which beg leave to refer, was the true
one. here cCI!d ne none other. alwu y thought
that was Justly entitled to the usual compensation,
w lCh accrued after my recall, during my detention
through the winler, and til sailed for the Quilted
States in the Spring follow. .. Nor could I ever
doubt that an iudtrC JUte o'pWancc was made to
for contingent -Xpcu,ts, tnat mission. Iu the
settlement of that account my object was as al
ready observed. forward az claim Itirb