Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-11-18

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his release? With Mr.. Paine, Mr.. M. was
scarcely acquainted The appeal to him, there
fore. was in his official character only. For
these expenses he asked nothing. Whether
they ought to fall on him, or on the nation, 9TH
ers will decide. They ought, at least, - nave
weight iaSthe> decision on other claims. inas
no other Minister Of the United States was ev-
err placed in such situation; compeI'eo 70 e"i'
ploy so many assistant Secretaries Tor suon
length Of time; to rent seperate mouse 'or ."e,
accommodation, cad otherwise EXPOSED 70 sucn
heavy contributions and expenses, IS certain
To allow him, therefore, the sum oniy "n'e"
has been allowed in other cases, wouid De man
ifestly unjust -
.The claims for the second mission consist OF
four items. The first is for interest on the out
6t for that mission, for the term during which
! was withheld, and to interest on the amount
Of that sum 10 the present time. VIII ASK
whether any minister was ever sent from the
JJnited States under circumstances which ex-
nosed him inevitably to such expenses! Whe
iber am outfit was ever refused TO any minister,
before or since, who was employed in any mis-
sion2 Other ministers, who were employed on
snecial missions, were sent to single Power,
with instruction 10 return as soon as the busl-
ness on which they were sent should be conclu-
ded. They left their families at home, and
were absent generally about year, and in some
Instances shorter term. For these missions,
an outfit was always allowed to the ministers
employed in them. Mr.. NJ. on the contrary,
was appointed 10 two Powers at the same time,
France and Spain, and informed that the state
of affairs might require his long absence. he
took his family with him, and was absent near
ly FIVE years, during which he represented his
country with three Powers, France and Spain,
to which he was originally appointed, and like
wise with Greal Britain, moving occasionally
rom the one TO the other. Great and unusual
expenses were inseparable from such mission,
and that the Withholding the outfit must have
increased his difficulties, and subjected him to
corresponding losses, is equally obvious
1t has, it is understood, been the practice OF
the government to advance to our ministers, IN
many instances, portion of their salary in ad-
dition TO their outfit, on their appointment.
Leaving their homes, their affairs, and many OF
them their professions, some aid might be ne
cessary. even 10 those in the best circumstances,
to enable them to Go so in satisfactory man.
ner. and without loss A quarters salary would
generally become due before they could reach
their stations. An advance, al least, to that "a
mount, seems reasonable and proper, anc 1t IS
said that. on some occasions, and on special
missions to a single power, larger portion OF
the salary has been advanced, in addition to the
outfit If such allowance and extra advance
would be proper in any instance, II would GER
tainly have been so, in that in question. Mr.
Nj. had sustained considerable loss by his tor
mer mission, from which he had not recovered,
and was hurried by the pressure OF cTcumstan-
tances, and by the President, TO his stations a.
broad, for which he sailed, without having pre-
yiouslv visited his own home. But the outht
was refused. and no portion OF the salary ad-
yanced. He was allowed his expenses TO Pa
ris, including those of a journey from his home
to New-York, and his expenses IN travelling
between the places at which he might be re-
ouired to attend-that is, between Paris ana
Madrid. and for which expenses, $4,000 were
advanced TO him: sum which 1t was Presum-
ed would be equivalent to those expenses, but
not exceed them With this advance, for which
he was held accountable, in the manner stated,
he was compelled to arrange his affairs, and
hasten to New-York, and thence TO France.
His appointment to England was not made
when he left the United States, nor known TO
him until after the treaties with France for the
cession of Louisiana had been concluded, and
ratified by the French government, and des-
patched by Mr.. Livingston and himself TO their
own, and after he had requested Of the French
government passport for Madrd,t with the
intention to proceed :hither, in obedience to his
instructions, to negotiate a treaty Tor the ces-
sion of Florida. 1t was at that time MIR. King,
having left England, that he received his APP
pointment for London, with discretionary
power to proceed thither or not, as circumstan-
ces might make most advisable. Experiencing,
at that moment, some difficulty with the French
government respecting the proposed negotia-
ton with Spain, and knowing that the success
of the negotiation would essentially depend on
the part the French government might take in
it, whose aid had been promised, and which
he was then assured should be afforded on a flu
ture occasion, he resolved to proceed forthwith
to England, and to postpone his mission 10
Spain until the treaties with France should be
received, and if approved or ratified by bis 60
vernment, and an order sent to him by it, on a
thorough knowlege of all circumstances, to
proceed to Spain. Accordingly he proceeded
to England, and the mission being stationary,
and not special one, an outfit was allowed, as
thing Of course 1t was, however, special, in
all the circumstances connected with the ex-
pense: for, expecting an order TO proceed TO
Spain, in few months, he could make none OF