Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-11-20

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to obey the voice his country, in nyinstance
when called OH, and have assigned as reason,
tha, money was due to him for former servi-
ces, and until that was paid he would render
none other? Was il not rather his duty to obey
the cal, and is it not fair to presume that he
would have obeyed it, In the difficult conjunc-
lures in which he has served, be the effect on
his claims what it might? Did no: such call
waive any plea ofthis kind, even had II been
we'll founded
| 10 enumera,e the large amount OF saiaries
which MIR. Monroe has received, in the impor'
tant Offices which he has held, Is only 10 snow
| the great length of time which he has served
Were the salaries intended for the profit OF the
| individual. Or TO support the credit OF the OF
| 6cea II the latter, to retire from Office under
the pressure OF heavy debts, is proof that he
was not urmindful of what he owed his coun,
try. That he held more Offices than many 9th
ers, was owing to the generors confidence Of
his fellow citizens; for ii is certain that he has
been called on 10 those Of high importance, in
his absence and without his knowledge, OF
which several examples might be given, if i,
were necessary to enter into the subject III that
view. One he noticed in the observations which
| he presented to the committee at the last ses-
| sion, because he deemed 1t material 10 his
claim Beyond tina, he did no, SO. 10 have
devoted his services to his country, almost the
whole OF his life, from very early youth, in the
highest offices, and at the most dangerous e.
pochs, unprohtably to himself, is all that could
be expected Of any citizen. To have his pri-
| va,e property, which he held before he entered
into those offices, swept from him, at the expi-
ration Of his service, for the payment of debts
contracted, under the circumstances stated, is
an injury TO which no citizen ought to be sub
jected
In Mr.. Monroe's first mission to France,
some incidents occurred which could not fail to
prove cause of serious affection to him, and
TO which, it may not be improper to advert here.
In consideration of the divisions which prevail
ed among us, at that very interesting epoch, &
the part he had acted in them, he accepted a
trust which exposed him, in the discharge Of
its duties to the jealousy and suspicion ofthose
with whom he had differed in political senti-
ment; while, on the other hand, he was bound,
as we'll by self respect as regard to principle,
to maintain the character which he had held
before he accepted it. He had the most un-
bounded confidence in the integrity and patri-
otisn Of the President, as he likewise had in
his desire 10 administer the Government on its
principles, and to give it a fair experiment. He
had equal confidence in his attachment to those
principles, ard in desire that it might succeed.
A stroke from him, therefore, would not fail to
be deeply felt. He nevertheless made, in mo-
ments OF calm reflection, just allowance for
the difficulty Of the situation which he had been
placed, by the course Of events, and to cherish
for him, especially after ,hereport made TO him
by Dr. Edwards, founded on conference with
the President, thar his honor and integrity had
not been suspected, the same feelings and pro-
found respect which he had formed for him
when youth, and subaltern under him, in
our Revolutionary contest. Mr. NJ. was soon
afterwards called to the Government of his own
State, and it was his intention, as his motive
could not then have been suspected, 10 have
made advances to him, but was shocked, as he
entered Richmond, by the melancholy account
of his death.
That Mr.. NJ. did full justice to his country,
and TO the principles and character of the Pres
ident, seems 10 be admitted. If any doubt re-
manned ofit, it must, il is presumed, be remov-
ed BY the documents which are now forwarded
10 you, and which, although he has long pos
sessed them, were never used before.
In connection WITH this intere sting portion of
his service, and period Of his life, it seems pro-
per to notice another incident, the nature Of
which was much misrepresented at the time.
After the distinguished reception which was
given to him, by the National Convention, in
the hall of that assembly, the Committee Of
Public Safety offered to him house for his &C.
commodation, as the Minister of the United
States, in any part of Paris which he would de-
signate. They sent TO him, at the same time,
carriage and horses, which were appropriated
to his use. The house he promptly declined,
on the principle that the acceptance of it was
forbidden by an article Of our Constitution
The carriage and horses he retained few
weeks, and then returned them, with request
that he might be permitted to pay for their use,
in the same manner as if they had been furnish
ed by an individual, and that permission might
also be granted to him to purchase other hors-
es, which, under the existing laws Of France,
was then necessary. Both requests were grant
ed, as the original documents, presented to the
committee will shew. Shortly after this, a
house was offered to him by an individual for
sale, and which, on the best advice he could OBJ
tain there, at the time, of his fellow citizens
and others, he purchased; declaring publicly
that he bought ii for his use as Minister Of the
United States, and with intention to offer it to
his Government when he should retire, on the
same conditions that he had bought X. Hav-
ing II fused the house that had been offered TO
him. and requested permission TO pay, and hav-