Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-03-19

must be settled with his representa-
tives. How much more necessary, then, was
such aid to the person in this trust, and, es
pecially under the circumstances stated
Whom could have found better adapted BY
his Office to the service, or more able to rem
der II effectuali Would il have been proper
to settle the private account with Col. Lane
af&er the settlement of his public one, wher
s;ck in this House, and of disease with which
he diedi Could any mode have been adopt
ed better calculated to promote justice, OF
more liberal, than that which was taken, o.
was that settlement delayed! That both &C
counts were not settled at an early period, anc
nv Col. Lane himself, has been cause of re
pret to me. Blythe delay in settling the pub
lie account, have good cause to believe tha
I have sustained an injury, by the loss of some
voushers which were given to him for small
items and occasional repairs, to which such ar
establishment is always subject, and which, ir
his then state, could not be found, and oil
which notice was taken in letter from me to
the First Auditor Of Public Accounts, of the
5th March, 1922. have, also, good cause
to believe that sustained further injury by
the delay in settling the private account, and
in making the settlement with his representa-
tive instead of himself. For advances made
to him, while in charge of the House, some
Of which according to my reco lection, were
made at the moment of my departures, never
took receipts, nor did ever keep any account;
and for such no allowance was made, or claim
ed of his executor. Had the settlement been
made with him, his own memory and candor
would have been appealed to, and relied on.
1t has been already observed, that, for the dis
bursement of the furniture fund, no commits
sion or compensation of any kind was allowed,
or desired by Colonel Lane. In that instance,
therefore, something was saved to the public.
1t will, presume, be obvious, that, indepen-
dent of the casual losses referred to, some ex-
pense must have been incurred, in the pre-
cautions which | took for the security of the
building, and of the property within it, in my
absences from the city, by the household es-
Enlistment which maintained there for that
purpose These were cheerfully borne by me,
nor would they now be noticed, except that,
in rendering an account of my stewardship in
these concerns, they are incidents which
cannot but recollect, and which, presume, it
will not be deemed improper that should ad.
vert to.
Had made an artificial demand for furniture,
to afford pretext for the use Of my own, or
preferred mode for ascertaining its value,
less impartial and fair, than might have beeu
adopted, l should merit censure. Had the
been masked, hidden or final, I'M
favorable differences might have been drawn,
Of the motive. Had applied tie money re-
;eivedfor it to any purpose of private emolu.
nent, or even to the payment ofdebts, which
had contracted in the public service, and
which had justice been rendered to me, I
night have avoided, 1 should have evinced
more confidence in the justice and candour
Of others, regarding the collisions and ex-
elements, to which an Independent and con-
,cientious discharge Of public duty will al
ways subject the person in this trust, than
would have comported with correct know
edge and lust estimate Of human frailtes.-
These are fair objects of inquiry, and | wish
hem to be inquired into. That the fund was
necessary for the purpose above stated, and
hat a large sum was expended in the &C
of it, is certain. Regarding
he manner of my election, l will ask those
east friendly to me, whether could have
lad any motive for making those visits of in
pection, and epcounterng such expense and
atgue, other than that assigned Whether,
f | preserved the confidence of those who
placed me here, any thing more was necessary
o secure my reelection if desired, the only
elfish motive which could be imputed or sus-
,ected / will ask, further, whether ex-
pressed one sentiment, on any occasion, how
,ver anxious to exterminate the violence of
party spirit, and to draw the country together,
n one common effort, in support of our Re-
publican system, which was not in strict &C,
ord with, and in support Of, those principles
o which my life had been devoted.
Had the house been finished when enter
ID this office, or, had resided in another I'M
il it was finished; had sold my furniture to
,thers, for the sum it would have commanded,
md applied the money to my private use |;
lad also declined those visits Of inspection
-four maritime and inland frontiers, and re-
ired to the country, when the state of the |
public business permitted it, the difference in
nv expenses would have been immense. Be-
ng at home, too, might have paid the atten-
ion to my private concerns, which, in conse-
,uence of my long previous absences and ne
fleet, they required, and have avoided other
osses in that line, which are severely felt
This was the plain and obvious path before
ne, but, had pursued it, with the warnings
had received, should have deemed myself
Unworthy Of the public confidence. Knowing
rom long experience, as well as from recent
events, that this was the point at which the
LANCER was most imminent, and for which we
we're the least prepared, felt it particularly
Incumbent on me to direct my efforts to that
object.
In reviewing so large portion of my past
ife, which it has been incumbent on me to do,
cannot but recouect, the period Of my retire |
nent approaching, that l have served my
country other twenty years, in other stations,
n our Revolutionary army; in the General AS |
emily, Council, Convention, and Executive |
If my native state in the Congress under the
Confederation, and in the Senate Of the Uni
ed States. This recollection at this moment, |
s natural and inevitable. do not mention |
he fact as the ground of any claim, nor in |
support of the claims which have presented,
arther than to shew, that if have not ne
Elected my public duties, how little time
lave had to attend to my private concerns,
md, in consequence, if justice has been with |
held from me in any instance, that it must
have been severely felt.
Two questions are involved in this INQUIRY.