Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-11-25

on tho peace back to the department Of State, the
duties OF which latter department he had discharg-
ed while in the departmental War. On the re-
tirement OF his very enlightened and ilustrous pre-
deccsso.J he was elected by the nation his sue
cessor. In the latter office. he served eight years
at the expiration OF which he retired to private
life
During Mr.. NIonroe's service in the department
Of War, which occurred in the most difficult peri
oil of tho War, the whole maritime and inland
frontiers being assaied, and the treasury without
almost every part Of the Union, for the support Of
our military operations. several million Of dollars,
and on very advantageous terms. Treasury notes
were then selling at $50 in the 500. These
loans, with few exceptions obtained by him
at par. whereby $40 in the 500 were saved, and
our military operations supported. Knowing as he
did, the immense expenditure, which had been in-
CURED, by the defenceless condition Of our from
tiers, with the loss OF lives attending II during the
war, he deemed il his duty, on his election TO the
othce OF Chief Magistrate, having had experience
In our revolutionary war. with opportunities of i'm
provement since, particularly in the last war, to
inspect our frontiers i'll person, that he might be
able TO form more correct Judgment, Of the posi-
tons, at which our Notifications should he placed,
and aisoto hasten their completion. In this in
specdon, to which ne devoted two summers and
part OF third, IL Is understood that he expended
not less than 500 1t after these servi-
ces, that Mr.. Monroe retired to private life, OPP
pressed with debts in the discharge of which all
his property in this county has been sod and that
When the subject is resumed, we trust that II
| will be, we think that the nation should look to
itself as well as 70 him. The abstract question o.
justice and right, however conclusive. ia not the
only one involved in the case; Il IS our object as
1t Is our duty to support our free republican sys-
TEN OF government, and this cannot be done more
effectually, than by giving proper encouragement
4 for faithful and meritorious services. We have
already given as our opinion, that citizen, who
has devoted his life to his country. In its highest
stations with integrity. should not he ruined by
his services nor should his family be deprived OF
| the property which would otherwise have de-
scended to them. This applies to all who have
thus served their country, and whose property has
been taken from them by absence and neglect
| Higher views might be taken OF the subject as
to the encoura cement, which ought to be given,
TO faithful and meritorious services for the sup
port OF our free system OF government. The
| claims, however, which now advocate, do not
rest on that ground. They are founded in the
hrst instance, on positive injuries, from the gov
eminent itself, by the refusal Of justice by the
strict standard of right, in matters Of account for
services rendered. Those of this class which a
rose from the first mission were Of considerable
amount, IL confined to the two specified, only Ii
| the expenses incurred, on account OF Thomas
Paine, and which certainly ought not to fall or
him, are included, with others incident to me
MISSION ola like kind, not heretofore insisted on,
! but which the nation ought to pay, the amount
will be much increased. The claims for injuries
OF this class, arising from the second mission,
were OF still greater extent Taken together they
|
long time, could not fail to have the injurious
effect, complained Of. The loss in the affair OF
the house, in his first mission, TO France, is an
instance OF zeal to promote the welfare OF his
country, which forms appeal to its justice,
which ought not to be disregarded 1t cettanly
had beneficial effect, in connexion with his ad-
dress, to the convention, in mitigating the hcstili
ty OF the French government and retarding the
| rupture which afterwards took place. His reln-
punishment of the profession of the law, to which
he had returned, after the first mission OH the
call OF MIR. Jefferson to the second, on the emer-
gency which had occurred, with the disadvantages
to which he was subjected, on the commencement
and through the whole term, is another instance
OF his devotion to his country, and of his losses
arising theretrom. The emphatic language used
by the president, in that summons, was very de-
scrlptive OF all the circumstances OF the case in
relation TO the individual well 10 the public,
| and with which he we'll acquainted. He
called on him to make sacrifice of himself to
/ his country. He knew that it would be such ::
That MIR. NJ. had taken his station at the bar, with
his strong motives for il, and he had full conf
! dei.ce in his SUCCESS. He knew also that that
| hope would be wrested from him, and that no
equivalent could be offered to him in return for it,
He thought, however, that the sacrifice would be
temporary in which he was mistaken, for il was
| oil long continuance, attended with consequences
WHICH he did not foresee related to the indvi-
dual, therefore, between whom from his very ear
ly youth, and himself, there had existed strong
personal friendship; he must have been disappoint
| ed. Mr. Jefferson looked with patriotic and
dent zeal, TO the advantages which he thought,
would be derived By the nation from this mission,
and lie described, those which were felt immedi-
ateiy, internally with great force He anticipated
others from it, notices. favorable in France. He
knew that his former mission had made great inn
preston on the French Nation, and that many OF
those who then took the lead in its affairs, were
Sill In power, by whom he anticipated very ia
voursbie reception would be given 10 him. Ofthe
justice OF this anticipation, the result with the do
/ cuments which have been published, afford the
most unequivocal proof They shew that his APP
pointInent, from the moment that il was known,
| was ieit with interest by the French government,
\ and that his arrival was looked TO- as an event
| which promised to have happy effect, on the re.
lltions between the two nations. Till the moment
OF MS arrival, every thing suspended, and
thing favorable to tile great object Of the mission
expected. as soon as he did arrive the negotiation
was opened, and every thing which we desired,
| was obtained, by the treaties which were coDclu-
ded. War was not only prevented, but a vast ter
Iltory, comprising the Mississippi. from its mouth
10 IT'S source, the advantages OF which extend, to
| SO large portion OF our Union, was acquired with
u, and on terms the most favorable to the United
safes. Respecting his extra service, by the loans
which he obtained, when in the department of w ar
we have nothing new to add. The service was
essential, at the time, and the advantage resulting
rom IL TO the nation, very important. We cannot
doubt that his country will form Just estimate
OF 'he service. The same remark is applicable TO
uc inspection oil our frontiers, alter his election
TO the Office OF Chief Magistrate.
we shall conclude, by observing, that Mr. Mon
roe through this long course OF public service,
| great as his losses and sufierings were never
touched the subject Of his claims, until the mo
inent OF his retirement TO private Iife had arrived
ns nAed purpose having been, never to bring them
forward until restored TO the condition OF private
citizen, he could have 10 agency or influence in
| the decision "