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

NEMAhhS OF MIX. PEARCE.
IN Consmittee efhe Whole House. Januar,
| 7h, on the bin for tte reii.fof James Mon.
| ros--.hr. Chilton's motion 10 strike oxl
| the enectinE scords Of said bill being un.
der eonsiderGffon-
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: Mr. Monroe. in lus com.
munication addressed TO us, this Session, in
his last appeal to Congress, says, II wish
it to be distinctly understood that IN re-.
gard to my claims ask no indulgence or
favor; that ask nothing which Is not
strictly due to me, on sound principles, and
which my country shall, on full considera
Ion and unquestionAble evidence. think
that i owes 4 10 itselfio allow me-" He
cloHes thar communication, snd takes his
leave Of us. in eitniisr langua ge--"fn the
decision on my claims, fsays he.) repeat
that ask no favor or Indulgence; that I
ask nothing but what shall appear 10 be
strictly due to me, on sound principles, on
full consideration. and uDduestiona eyi.
dence, the withholding Of which for 90 long
time, has subjected me 10 pains and
troubles which may readily be conceived. -
Does then Mr.. Monroe come before this
House different from other claimants and
shall not his claims receive the same re.
spectfnl consideration, candid examination.
we are in the daily practice of giving to
every other man's?' Thrt he asks no more
we have his written declaration; whether
this is 10 be denied him is the question to
be settled.
did hope, Mr.. Chairman, and did ex.
pect, before witnessed the course nf this
debate, that as Mr.. Monroe asked no more
than. was> accorded to every one who
knocked at our door, what was asked would
be given; that as he expected no favors
from long and faithful discharge Of public
services, and the important stations allied.
that because he had rendered those ser.
vices, and filled those stations, in consid.
erng claim that he had preferred against
the Government OF his country, they would
not be referred 10, for the purpose Of pref
udicing that claim. Our fears to do wrong
should not so operate az tn cause Us not to
do what We may know to be right. But.
sir, il 10 with regret say, the tendency of
the acts OF Gentlemen WIN have par,icipa.
ted in this debate, n irnpngn the motives
and Intentions OF no one,) has been such as
to deny to Mr.. Monroe that hearing to
which no one in his place here would dare
to bay there was n man in this nation no.,
entitled. The amount Of money he has re.
eeived from the public Treasury has been
mentioned, and we have been told that he
has been for a long time in tho employ Of
the Government Of the United States, Ion.
gsv thea sny other man. For tho argu
ment be It so. II he wns at the head Of
one Of the Departments for six years, did
he receive as compensation for his ser.
vices more than was allowed by lsw2--If|
he vas President eight years, was he paid
moro than his predecessors. Madison. JEFF.
ferson, or Washington--if he wns twice
Governor Of Virginia. was he not paid as
the other Governors Of that State had been.
--If, in our Revolutionary struggle, young
as he then was, he fought our battles, and
moistened the soil of New Jersey with his
blood, did he then receive, or has he since
claimed, more than what was allowed to
others Of the snms grade? Sir. what do
these arguments lead us tor Ifthe Gov
ornment ofthe United States contract with
one Of ite most distinguished citizens, for
the performance Of certain acts, the com.
pensation for which is by law regulated,
and the contract in all its parts has been
complied with, and the money paid, and
there is afterwards between the same par.
Ties another cnnisaAf Cas- -aiher seryicea n
lceupliance with the terms of the hrst, ac
corsing to the declaration Of Gentlemen
II will not say argument is q full dis
charge ofthe second. This is the effect Of
their reasoning: il has nothing to do with
the question now before this committec.
No man. Mr. Chairman, has heretofore
thought that because by his meritorions
services, great experience, and superior
qualifications, he had, in the estimation Of
his fellow citizens, somo claim for impor
tant trusts, that claim, in regard to his 9th
er rights, should operate against him bu;
this Is the measure nf fiustice to Mr.. Mon
roe. II gentlemen be disposed TO do what
they have professed willingness 10 DO,
why have they resorted to such remarks |?
The gentleman from North Carolins, Mr..
Williams, who has just resumed his seat,
has reminded tho committee or what late
Governor Of Virginia, fMr. Giles, has SAID
Of Mr.. Menroe, in regard to the amount Of
money he has received from the public,
and In telling us ono thing that gentleman
said, has no doubt, whether he 90 intended
or not, reminded every member Of this
committee Of another thing that Governor
(siles said OF Mr.. Monroe, that he had al
ways been a public psuper. and that the
United States must, 40 they always had,
continue 70 support him. What is the ef
feet OF this but to enlist the prejudiccs Of
every devoted friend Of the late Governor
lof Virginia against the claim Of James
Monroe? This does not agree with the
professions Of the gentleman from North
Carolins, made when he commenced his
remarks, and is hardly excused BY his apol.
logy, made when he concluded them. Ills
greatest apprehension st 6rss appeared to
be that Mr. Monroe's claim would be more
favorsbly considered than other mems,
from ihe great services he had rendered
ssd high o1icss he had filed; when reliev.
Cd Of that, 7 submit il 10 that gentleman
whether Il wss fair, or just. or comport'
with his ideas Of what is correct, by any
sllusicn OF his, 10 awaken prejndices that
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