The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1828-10-23
Mr.. MONROE


We have intended. more than once. To call
the attention Of our readers 10 The pecnniarv
embarrassments Of this illnstr,ons servant aud
Trend ofhis conntry--but have b~esitsied 10 do
30, from n reluctance 10 drag his name and
wants unnecessarily before the public. There
is no longer, however. any reason why this
delicecy should be observed, since recent cir
cnms,a1ce6 have betrayed Tho fact mol only
that he is bankrupt, but that he IS almost desii.
~lnip.-Aware, as we all are, that Mr.. Monroe's
situation has been brought about, not by any
extraordinary degree of extravaganza in his
expenditures or osleniatian IN his departments,
but bv having devoted the yIgnr OF his yonih
and The prime OF his manhood to The service
OF his country, and TINS nee essarily neglected
his private affairs, we think il becomes a
question whether some means should moi bp
debt of gratitude and Justice which the nation
owes him, as will render comfortable The few
remaining years of his existence. H0p this
can be done, we are free to admit, is not so
S''y N"''i h'hfH Nv IL itlF idfCinS lfiltr
TO a friend in New York, Mr. Monroe re.
marks, " II tue nation is willing that an ind
yidnal who has served them thus long, and in
the Offices have held, should be reduced 10
want, and ! Cannot escape that fate by my
own means, | am willing TO meet il, rather
than take any Office 10 prevent il THIS de
termination OF Mr.. Monroe not aeaiafn accent
OF cficr, we think, is perfectly corl Get. At
his tim" of'ifc, and oppressed With debt. ii
would be The height Of absurdity 10 hurlhrn
himself with the additional cares aud RESPONSE.
hilities which belong TO M oficinl station
Besides, he has already had II Sufficiently in.
~struc'ive lesson, how worse than precarinus
are all hopes of emolumen nj built on such a
foundation. It he means, however, 10 say,
that the government should Grant him a pen.
sion, he assumes a position which ought moi
10. be, and never will he sustained by the pro,
pile Of this country. The injurious effects OF
a pension system, aud the abuses 10 which II
is subject, have been too strongly e4enplifed
IN the history OF contemporary nations, 10 find
foot-holi in this. But, il may very naturally
be asked here, If Mr.. Monroe's wants are mol
10 be relieved in this way, what other mode
can be suggested? We know of bu, one, 9th.
er than individual contributions. which, by
the way, are uot TO be depended on, in these
times Of universal pecuniary embarrassment.
We conceive that MIR. Monroe Inns Il strong
claim on the justice of the government. #
we have not been nisin(ormed, he hrs docu-
mentary evidence in his possession. showing,
that, at various times when his country call.
ed him into service, lie undertook tile duties
assigned 80 him with the fall knowledge on
ali hands, as we'll of himself as of the apioint-
ing power, that his pecuniary affairs would
necessarily receive a severe shock-and, in
deed, that al! his domestic CONCERNS. eni,ns,-
ed to the management of agents for years al a
time, when hispersonal inspection even for a
moment was impossible, would sustain scri-
Gus derange nent. Two documents. of this
character, whioi we ap.end 10 these re.
marks, and 10 which we solicit tue attention
Of The reader, have been copied by the Char
lottesville Advocate, from recent pnblica-
Ton of Mr.. Monroe (Which we have not senu)
tonching his claims on the government for re-
nnnera,iun, II, less, partially, Tor the losses