Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-11-21
DOMESTIC,
+ rom "a. National IlteHigencer.I
MEMOIR BY MIR. MONROE,

ofthe U. States.
Relieving that had been injured by the settle
ment of my accounts, for services in former sta
tons, deemed il proper TO bring my claims be-
fore Congress, on the 9th oil January. 1925, al the
expiration OF which session, my term, in the high
trust which was then honored, expired | did
not ask decision on those claims, at that time,
out sought only 10 bring them under consideration,
That they might be decided on after my retirement
As objections we're raised agains, those claims
daring the last session, to which the observations
WHICH had presented to the committee to whom
they Were referred, at the preceding session, did
not extend. it become necessary for 10 give
further ext lanaions, applicable 10 each objection,
50 far as was acquainted with il; and hAying no
direct correspondence with the committee, / re
ques;ed Mr.: Gouverneur to attend in Washington,
to receive thos. explanations and 10 communicate
them 10 those who might be willing 10 reruse
them, which he accordingly did.
Ii may readily be conceived, that IL was impos-
! sible for me to advert to claims, founded pre-
sr,ned injuries, in the settlement of my accounts,
without taking into view the " hich produc-
Ell them The great lapse OF time which has in
,ervened may have erased those occurrences from
the minds of others, but, with The individual, all
the incidents which affected profoundly his char
ac,er, bis welfare, ard his peace, remain connected
through life, and it is tural for him to review
them with deep lin his retirement, especial
ly if recalled to his memory by others of like
kind, proceeding from them. My recall from my
first mission TO France of 1891, the ground
which the claims arising under that mission were
principally founded. Possessing documents illus
trative OF my conduct, in The very circumstance
for which was recalled that never used be-
fore, it seemed incumbent to make them
known on that very Interesting occasion. With
that view, transmitted them TO Mr. Gouverneur +,
with the explanations specified b. used in lik c
manner. TOOK that meas-re with unfriendy
feeling TO any one; indeed such feeling, so far ii
ever existed, has long since ceased. My object was
10 place my conduct, by such additional evidence
as possessed, in an occurrence oil high Importance
10 my country. well myself, in the light in
which knew that il ought to be viewed. | was
very anxious also, 10 make known the kind and
favorable sentiments which " ere expressed OF me,
by The ilusirious individual by whom ! was recall
ed, on receiving Information of my conduct, from
yery respectable friend, in whom be confded ;,
~ no was with me, and well acquainted .,iib j. al
the period when my recall was decided The
favorable opinion of that individual always an
object oil The highest iulerest 10 had served
under him a. subaltern, in Revolutionary
Army, and had Witnessed his very exemplary con
dpct a, he most difficult and perilous epochs of
tba great struggle. had received his appIoba-
ton of my conduct in that Struggle, and been
promoted b., him. | was a member oil the Revo-
u!ionary Congress in 1893, and present when be
resigned lis commission Commander in Chief of
our Armies, and retired 10 private life. knew
him a, his residence Ia retirement, as afterwards
did whilea member of the Senate, when at the
head of the Government TO Nhich he was called
by he unanimous suffrage of his fellow citizens,
and have always cherished the highest respect for
his memory, and admired his gres, virtues and tall
eHts.
There another instance in which my character
had been assaile! ia that mission, the circumstance
- LII III l.. 4
that occasion TO explain. After NY reception In
August, 1894, by The National Con, eniion of
France the Committee OF Public Safety offered
me house for my accommodation, the Minister
OF ihe United States, in any part of Paris which
should prefer, aud sent a carriage and horses
without waiting for my answer declined the
house Immediately, on the principle, that the sc-
ceptance Of it was forbidden by an article of our
Constitution, and, after retaining the carrias e few
weeks, until had obtained one of my own, I re-
turned j; with the horses, with a request thar
might he permitted to pay for their use, the same
manner as ii | had procured them OF an Individual
which was granted, and performed AT the in
stance and esrnes, pressure of many of my fellow
citizens who were then in Paris, who thought that
The refusal of those accommodations might revive
suspicious which had before existed, ard that The
purchase OF house on my account would
have good effect, and be useful to them and TO
our country, in the then state of our agsrs I
bought one OF an individual declaring 70 those in
power liz France that did it to accommodate me
as the Minister of their ally, and with intention 10
otter it 10 my Government, on my retirement, on
the terms on which l had purcha-edit Having
documents 10 prove this fact, with the heavy loss
which sustained in con equence thereof, as be-
lieved, by my recall, forward ed them 10 MIR. Gou-
veneur, with the Others.
Soon after my recall from this mission, wa.
appointed by my native State to the Office of Chic
| Magistrate, in which served the constitutional
term of three years, and retired from it with tn,
appreciation of my fellow citizens, az was eyiDcet
by the vote Of the General Assembly, and more
particularly by the manner in which il was given
My affairs requiring it, resumed Immediately my
station at the bar, and with fair prospect of sue
cess l was at time ri CHI; my landed inheritanc,
in Westmoreland county was small, but still il
was something. Fly the sale and investment o
the amount received for it in other lands, as soor
as arrived at maturity, bad laid the Foundation
OF Independence, and should have attained II, haC
l pursued the profession Of the law a few year,
longer for possessed, at the time of my appoint
ment on my first mission to France of 1894, NOR
property than | now hold, and owed comparative e.
iy nothing.
At this moment, an event occurred which pro-
duced great excitement Throughout our Union -
/ BY the treaty of ST Ildsphonso, between Franc,
and Spain, the latter had coded 10 The former Lou
isiana, and had suppressed, is believed, at jh,
instance OF 'he tbeu Govefumenf oil krance, our
deposite at New Orleans, The right 10 which hsc
been secured by treaty with Spain OF 1875
The excitement produced by that act was universe
throughout cur Union, ard particularly ardent il
the Western country, the commerce Of a large por
ton Of which, was dependent on the free nsvigs
ton Of the Mississippi. The aggression iust,6e
war, and MANY were prepargd 10 rak il H., rer,o,,