Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-04-25

lari'y OF the present case, this circumstance has
been considered as entitled TO some weight in an
equitable adjustment of this claim
ITEM 4-.4iiou1t paid for dea,nyrage, &c
! This sum was paid by Mr.. Monroe. as stated.
(see the receipt) The committee being salts J.d
OF the truth OF the facts upon which this s,m is
Claimed, recommend 1t as proper TO be allowed
ITEM D Contingent expenses Of tbs Mission TO
| Great Britain.
1t may be observed, in referenceco this item, as
wen as that Tor contingent eSlienses in France
that Mr.. Monroe had nor preserved the proner
vouchers to Justify It's atlcisson by the rules of sei-
| uement In the department; he therefore claimed
an allowance equal to- that made at former period
10 MT King whose known accuracy, added to the
circumstance OF aiong stationary residence enabled
him' as Mr. ~ onroe supposed, TO supervise his
| expenditure with more systematic attention. In
uec'aihS upen this item, the committee have
adopted We same rule by which they propose to
IN 'he allowance for contingent expenses in
FRANCES VIZ: the average of the amount allowed
10 ali our Ministers TO the same Government
4tem Instrumentation for extraordinary er
| Pe''Ses incurred 6y detention en- England &c
appears that Mr. Monroe had been for some
Time resident Minister in England and havin,
concluded TO return home he had received perrnis
SION, ana made his arrangements for that purpose
hese lacts are statedby him, and are corroborated
" he corr 'Spondence subsequently, in which fire.
Eueh' aiiusion Is made to his purpose of returning
"ohe' (see the communication from the Secretary
VI state 10 the committee marked L, and the cor
respondence referred to) 1t is generally admitted
tina, public Minister in England cannot ,vi,bou,
risia economy, aud very general seclusion from
society, support family upon the salary allowed
oy our law; II so, II must be evident that tenn
poty residence, liable TO various expenses heyond
! uhat OF more permanent one, would necessarily
eAPoSe nun 10 an expenditure greater than the
amount OF his salary; the circumstances under
which Mr.. Monroe thus detained were bevond
ms control, unless he had disregarded the solemn
ooilsaton OF duty to his country and its Govern
meat. these circumstances were Ist The seizure
OF American vessels engaged in the colonial carry
/ ing lrhde I'd The special mission with Mr. Pink
ney In 1906, which continued ill ISO7. and "a
Inc attack on the Chesapeake
These important events rendered il imposs;l,,,.
Tor MY Monroe, consistently with his DUTY tn
carry INTO effect his purpose of retiring from the
mission; while, at ;he time the expectation
tha' tie causes OF his detention would soon cease
prevented HIM from changing his very expensive
pa" o' feh'ihg and hiring upon short engagements
beia9 iGl!y persuaded that Mr.. Monroe WAS eub
Jeced, by reason OF the orders of the Goverr,oer,
aho uhc'r circumstances not within his control IN
an expense considerably greater than the a,nonp,
% MS salary, the only question that ed
10 me committee was, whether the Government
ough, 10 insist upon his sustaining the loss or
Whether some remuneration ought 10 be slIoy,eJ
''f~07t-N'ooiS wise policy III lSOvpru-
meht to give moderate salaries TO mime o..
ou II Is incompatible with that policy to reo,,i,e
'hem 10 devote their time and talents 10 the n,LIi
se1'lce' without compensation. Such a nolic, j.,
our country, where there are so few men of md
pendent fortunes, would exclude from pubIjc er,-
pioy"eht great number of persons, at least as
competent as the few who are able IN eor.a 81
public tor the mere honor of Office
| Inc Committee are, therefore, satisfied tho, -
s,uefaions OF policy, no less than Justice reo,,i
mat some allowance should be made rn,Ier III
i'eih W TN view to ascertain the probabIa =.
mount OF t'e extraordinary expenses then incur
Ieu Dy MI Monroe, they addressed an ipc,,ir- -,
r~la $50, ia,e munster 10 Great Britain, whose
expected would enable him to give the !, fa-'a "s
ton they desired. MIR. Rushs letter in ans,yer -
( inns inquiry, (marked g. contains very minnie
,."eH'eht o! the relative expenses of living. At
>llierent periods OF engagements, in the sfa,;or
| OF public Minister in London. which b,s 80;
led The committee that the allowance claimed h.,
! .ir' Monroe, Will not more than remunersto I;y,
Tor TINS extraordinary expense In co1nipa IN ,l;s
conclusion, the committee have not been "a
! III! oil the influence OF their decision rs 2 nrcco
ueA'' ihasmuch as the case is peculiar one. and
Is s'''eu oJ MI monroe himself, has no prece-
dent among the allowances heretofore mad a. -
lie Ministers. This fact, however rbo,,, r. -
such case IS not likely to become an ;o,s 40.
precedent and, II may be further reroorI,ed 49,
when public Minister abroad shall l,or,,,;,
| upon ie'u'hihS nome, or where the views of The
government may require his recall, il will seldo,o
happen that, upon the eve of his intended IT,
aI'ef ne mad made all his arrangements for that
purpose, the public interest would demand s,I, .
detention at such increased expensa al 1 Ills ="
long time, as TO require an additional co-,a,,..
uon but, where case of this nature elaU -
1t VIII be Tor The proper authorities under ,i,
OF all the circumstances, to decide upon il 40 i,,
tice and policy may demand 1t can scarceI,y h.
douoled, that Ut would generally be better ecoro-
! my ID such case, 10 detain Minister NJ the
place, than 10 send new one with the .ddi,;o-lI
expense OF an outfit, who might /, hans be Iess
conyersant with the important subjects c,re,. ..
ann, IMAM one who had been for some time o,r,e,
| ed In their discussion. Whether, therefors
/ allowance proposed, be considered in fbe cb,ro.
| 'eT oil precedent, or a measure of i,,s,ica :,
seems not less incumbent upon the Coveyrrne,' -
| grant The remuneration.
! The only remaining subject for considerable, :
Tue Claim oil interest. The committee forbear IN
go into an examination of the arguments Nil,
have often been advanced 10 sustain 49, e "l'',h
the payment OF interest by the Government ,i,,es
claims where there was specific c6n,Tac, 80
that effect. 10
1t will suffice 10 observe, that this Covernr,or,.
mas not adhered TO any settled rule upon ,biss,,t
Ject' The decisions of Congress are 80 vsr;o,,,
mat 1t Is to be supposed they have been 49,,
erned by the peculiar circumstance IS o.,
case. Whatever considerations of poIicv 80
require that claims allowed by the accn,n,;y
department should not carry interests with lis
the same reasons do not apply 10, no, have ~
cohuohed the decisions made by Congress- ,ta-y
me general rule OF equity, which REQUIRES The, 80
~ just debt should carry interest with +, 49,
very many cases been admitted and acted uno, g..
10 iU'' e"'th'' Inc present case is, in this res