Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1831-02-09
Correspondence of The Richmond WLir.

WASHINGTON, 5th Feb, 1881
The bill as amended motion OF Mr. Hcmphil,
OF fonhSyivania, providing appropriation for the
settlement of he various claims of James Monroe
has passed the House Of Representatives., utter Sc
we're struggle. Il was actively opposed but the
friends OF Mr. Monroe wore down the majority
The appropriation amounts to thirty thousand dollars
To be paid IN satisfaction of much ms shall bo as
ccraned at the accounting department TO be due him
not exceeding that sum. The flte of the bill III tho
senate Is exceedingly doubtful. | know several
members dsinclined 70 allow any further sr,n :, tb
claims OF Mr. Monroe. They think the government
has already advanced enough. If it shall pass tho
senate, 1t WI! be IN the spirit Of charity hav. no
doubt the people viii be pleased to sce Mr. No,-ooI
made comfotab.c in the evening of his I,n, I'D
eVenliul lifc but perhaps Of them could norcc
upon the nature aud amount Of the provision TLoY
are perfectly unable TO comprehend how the cavern
mcht can owe Mr.. Monroe, he haync- beeD 90 lon,
employed IN Offices with the same salaries oivc, -,
other pubic men IN like situations which bnvc L.or
allowed to HIM lu his settlements M tho Tro,e.,,,
IN otnar cases the government is acquitted by tho
payment or the salaries provided by law. 'Thcv do
no. know that Mr.. Monroe IN The course of IN, az
ciaI duties, assumed voluntarily provide FOR cyrns
OF The United States wanting aid IN foreign countries
ard incurred c%tTancous expenses imposed upon hun
by reason OF the peculiar clcums ances in which ne
was placed. These disbursements and oxpons.s
Tcmuinna many years unsettled, were mostly allow
cd aud according 10 The claim Of Mr. Monroe on rbt
to draw interest up to the tinu of their loudati0n
But Tar the largest item in his accounts ~ commission
upon the many and heavy sums Of money borrowed
and disbursed through his voluntary agency, when
The country was supposed to be IN great peril. Al.
lOwarce5 for such services have been made bv
the government, and | can see no reason WIN
they ought not tn be made ~ his case II bns
been computed that while I've wss in fact Secretary
Of state, Secretary OF the Treasury and Secretary Of
War, At one and the same time Immediately after the
invasion OF this city, by the British forces he borrow
ed and discussed ia the public service, not less
than i,5OO,OOO dollars a commission of two and n
bali per ccntum upon which, would yield thirty seven
thousand dollars. To be sure, these duties were vol
unfairly assumed 10y Mr.. Monroe, but they were not
the less beneficial Tor the country that account, and
should suppose upon every principle Of equity and
justice, they ought to be compensated With these
explanations. think the limitation Of the
Of the claims, to thirty thousand dollars, unworthy of
Congress for he ought TO be paid the full sum Toi,nd
to be due at the Accounting Offices of the Treasury
whether that be thirty or sky thousand dollars In
this you and all liberal men will concur with me. The
apprehension of many members Of Congress, that Mr.
Monroe rapidly advancing to his grave and that any
bounty voted him, would go creditors
relatives, hung like a dead weight upon tho bill fop
his relief at every stage.
in the course ofyeserday the House Of T,eprcscn.
tatiges by large majority, put 70 sleep the bill repor