The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1831-03-10

committee was made, at very late perio
oft the ssssion, and the bill did not CON
before us until our night sessions had com
menced, favorable 10 any thing but sobs
deliberation. -
At the. chose Of the session and In th
hurry ofthe moment, the friends Of the bi
| were willing to take any sum rather tha
continue the whole question to the mex
session; and take upon myself to say
that in relation to the amount to be appto.
priated, there was not d full or even i de-
liberste discussion--this claim is not, then
nr. Chairman. as one gentleman, mr.. Chill
TIM has charitsbly assffted, an after
thought on the part Of nv Monroe, OF any
of his friends nor has the money received
been waiverof what he conceived here
tofbre, and now alleges to be due him--I
therefore, submit to tho committee wheth
er there is any good ground for the objec-
tion founded upon the appropriation made
10 mr. Monroe, as constituting a barrier 10
the present application; and whether this
is an application TO indemnify mr.. Monroe
for moneys expended in feasting his
friends, will fully consider that, when
come more directly to the merits Of this
claim-therc is one objection more, how
ever, made BY the gentleman from Ken
tuckey, which might ns well consider
now as at any other time.
An objection that applies just as well TO
any other claim rs this, ifgood in this case,
equally so in any other--why should we
says the gentleman, pay mr.. Monroe when
there are others who have claims upoh Us
we do not pay; the war. worn veteran, the
soldier Of the revolution, If sir. this ar
gnment is to obtain, we never can pay any
one because wc cannot or may not be dis
posed to pay all, at the same time--&hen
the case Of the solc:c. of.hc Rcyo!u,icn is
called, we cannot act upon that, because
inr. Monroehas claimthst is no satisfied,
cannot gay mr.. Monroe because the sold
ier and others have not been paid.
l believe the gentleman will do me the
justice to say thnt have gone 40 far as any
one, certainly as far as he has gone, in sat.
isfying what | deemed TO be the rightful
claims Of all the officers and soldiers ofthe
revolution whose cases have been before
us; the gentle,nan'sargum has been one,
too common with all those that have OBJ
jections to paying any ono; another object
ion has been made which claims q mo-
ment's consideration, and this from the
lapse of time since the items accrued, this
would be tenable, if unexplained, not re-
PEELED BY facts and circumstances which
gentlemen might have scquainted them
selves with, II they had read the commu-
nicstion of mr.. Menroe, or attended to the
report OF the COMMITTEES. To my mind,
sir, satisfactory reasons ave given why at
tempts have notlbeen made to enforce il
before. Called from his frs, mission, un-
dor peculiar circumstances, he had in the
first place, to vindicate his character and
reputation as a public man, more dear to
him than money, and while he was doing
that, he was willing the government should
pay his agent what at that time might be
in their own opinion due rather than cavil
with them about it: he however gayc no
discharge nor authorised any ons TO be
given in his name. He was soon called 70
the Office Of Chief Magistrate Of Virginia,
and hardly served his constitutional term,
before he was called to his second mission
80 soon as that was ended he was again
called by the citizens Of his native state to
the same office from which he was trAhs-
fcrrcd 20 the departments here, which he
left for the office Of President ofthe United
States,i in which he remained eight years.
He was in public life with very small
interruption from the time hc was called
40 his FIRST mission to the. end of his Presi.
DENTAL term; amer fIis eseos Woo st,os-
en-, then he made out and afterwards pre-.
sented this claim now under consideration
anterior TO which there was no period in
which he could with propriety have done H.
Sir, the relative situation of Mr. Monroe
furnishes q reply to the objection and re.
moves the presumption Of payment from
length oftime.
l have now, Mr.. Chairman, replied to
most Of the objections brought sgainst this
claim by gentlemen who are opposed to any
allowance Whatsoever, others will be con-
sidered in the examination more directly
oftho merits ofthe CHIN itself. am sen.
sible I have already trespassed, somewhat
upon the patience Of the committee, but
they will bear in mind that was the first
who obtained the floor. after these objec.
tions were made, and as friend Of the bill
il was as much my duty 10 meetihem as il
would be any gentleman's on the same side
or the question who might succeed me.
The gentleman from Virginia, lmr MGR.
cerl, who presehted this claim with 90
much ,clearncss; and urged its adoption
with 90 much zeal and oloquence, certain.
ly did not anticipate these objections, and
ii he had, i would not have been his prov
ince 10 reply to them: one word as to the
effect of the pending motion. The gen.
tlernsn from kentucky fmr ChiltonE no
donbt thinks there is nothing due James
Monroe, but ought he not to have suppos.
ed there might Be some gentleman on this
floor, who might think there was some part
Of the claim which ought to be paid, though
not the whole oft. Ifhis motion prevails
those gentlemen will be debsrred the right
Of moving for the lesser sum, when in their
conscisnces they bellows there is some
Thing due. Is this the motion then, which
at this stage Of the inquiry and investigs-
lion, ought 10 be made2 I think not.
come now, mr. Chairman, to q consid-
eralion Of those items which constitute n,r
Monroe,s claim and will atnte them "A