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

To how many Of the public servants, pay
masters, quartermasters, and others, does the
Government advance money, TO enable them to
satisfy the just claims Of others, which they re-
tain in their hands, in part, for years, and with
out demanding from them interest tor 1T, or
making any deduction from their just claims,
on the settlement Of their accounts, for such adj
vances! When the nature of the trust which
was committed to this individual, and more es-
pecially its Importance, are considered, Of which
just idea may be formed, by perusal of the
letter of Mr.. Jefferson, then President, who
kindly permitted it to be communicated to the
Committee, does ii not appear that the motive
was peculiarly urgent for making very liberal
advance to him? And if the advance made was
from motives of economy, which are always
commendable, especially in Republic, more
limited than had ever been made to any other
Minister, in times, and under circumstances, In
all respects, more favorable, can any just cause
be assigned why the injury resulting from ii, so
far at least, as 10 place him on footing with
others, with the common allowance of interest
on the sum withheld, should not be repaired! 1t
should be recollected that this appointment had
not been sought, nor expected, that he was TAX
Ell from the bar, TO which he had just returned,
and with fair prospect Of success, after hav-
ing served his native State, the Constitutional
term Of three years, in the office Of Chief Ma
gistra,e, and under circumstances Of great diff
fculty, arising from his former mission.
On the second item of this the second mis-
sion, the claim being for money paid for pas
sage engaged in vessel in which he did not
sail, no comment would be made; nor need there
be any on the third, which relates to the contin-
gent expenses Of that mission. He claims only,
in the latter instance, corresponding allow
ance with that which was made to Mr. King
under circumstances most favorable to econo-
my, Mr.. King having been there large por-
ton OF his time in peace; whereas during the
whole term Of MIR. Monroe's service war pre-
vailed 1t is known that state Of peace is
more favorable TO economy than a state OF war,
in all contingent expenses, and indeed in every
other, and especially in the article of postage,
which is very heavy in England. The full al
lowance made 10 Mr. King is therefore deemed
only fair one TO Mr.. Monroe.
The fourth and last item is for extraordina-
ry expenses incurred by his detention in Eng
land, after his return from Spain, two years &
four months, by which, having the permission
of the President to return home, and being pre-
pared to do it, from month to month, he was
exposed 10 the greatest degree of expense that
any mission could be subjected TO. The causes
of detention, as enumerated by him, and known
to the Union, were such as would have made 1t
highly improper for him to have sailed sooner
than he did, had he had vessel engaged and
waiting for him at the port the whole time
The seizure of our vessels, by an order founded
on the principle of that of Nov. 1898, and a.
galnst which he demonstrated, in the most de-
cisive terms, was one. A negotiation ensued,
which he could not abandon. The special mis-
sion, on the result Of which the peace of the u
Mon hung, was another. The attack on the
Chesapeake, to which his attention was drawn
by his Government, and which involved conse-
quences not less serious, was third. Had he
withdrawn, at such crisis. negecting these
high concerns of his country, be the expense
attending his detention what it might, he would
have incurred and merited the censure of his
fellow citizens, throughout the Union. Shall
these extra expenses fall on him, or be defray-
ed by the public? The fact is, they have fallen
on him, and are among the causes OF like kind,
which have sub ected him to debts and losses,
for which the reparation claimed cannot indem-
nifty him This claim was presented in 1910,
when his account was settled, and, as is stated,
the equity being admitted was suspended by the
order of the President for further consideration,
and has never been acted on since. Mr.. Mon
roe was soon afterwards called into the Depart
iiieht vi otdte, III Wnl.H he Hau oHlCldi SoSni-
zance of the subject. From that Office he was
elected President, by which event his power o.
YER it was augmented. 1t requires no argu-
ment to prove, that during the whole term OF
his service in these Offices, he could not touch
the subject. We see, on the contrary, by the
documents reported, that he would decide on
no claim which involved the same principle
with his own.
To be continued.
dt 40 NJ