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

d tention in Europe, before he rould enbarl
. for this conntry, interes; upon the money
: which he was compelled 10 hire, IN c6hsS.
: quencc Of bic outfit not being paid befbft
he sailed FROM this country. an additional
, allowance for contingent expenses while in
England, losses sustained ID the pnrc6ase
ola house 10 Paris, money iIsbursed to And
exPenses incurred 10 effect the liberation
OF Thomas Psine,, and comhi issiohs Sn
loans OF nioney y the government Of tho
United States obtained by extraordinary
exertions and BY bic personal credit during
the late war. These are the principal =
As pr. MensOs's hsss hisslob wee It.
TENDED with peculiar eiscbnssssncss end %
critical period in the history Of Frsnce,
we must for moment advert to The situ.
alton OF that country, to show that his ser
vices were extraordinary his exp enses
necessarily great, and that no allow ancs
to any Minister before, or any similar clsihi
since that period, could form a just csiteri.
on oy which we can Judge Of the sum which
ought to be paid to him. The French rev.
olution was Just over the nations Of Eu-
rope were combined, to crush the French
nation, and they had TO fight their battles
| against a world in arms. The operation
Of their edcts and decrees, had bronRhS
within their grasp millions Of property be-
longing to the United States, aud incar-
cerated thousands or our citizens. A.
many who were not imprisoned, were anx.
iously waiting the fate Of their property,
then under seizure, there was not In France
at that time any consular power establish
ed, to release from their. confinement, our
citizens: to claim and effect q release OF
their property: to assert, and by argument
enforce the rights of the United States,fe.
qtired no ordinary talentsj NO cort,inos
share OF Zeal and perseverance, and was
consequently the cause of extra expense.
Three secretaries were employed by him
for great length Of time: houses were
rented for their accommodation, and heavy
expenses were incurred on their account.
Was this necessary? There is not man
who hears me. who will say il was not.
For whose benefit? For the people OF the
United Ststes-for American citizens.
Can il be expected that mr.. Monroe or any
other mar, situated as he was, could exhib-
il vouchers for al the expenses which he
was compelled to incur on our account, un-
der such an extraordinary etaie Of thingsI
Sir. an, not surprised that he has O
claim for an additional allowance FOR con-
tihgent expenses; but am surprised that is
should be no larger than the one prese nted.
The gentleman from North Carolna asks
for vouchers. TIE very nature ,f the ses-
vice forbids the production OF them. In
many Of the common and ordinary tYans-
actions oflife, they are not expected. Are
they produced in settling the concerns be,
tween ship's.husband or owner. and the
master, ss to many expenses and disburse-
rnen.s: between the principal, his factor %
agenti No: the gentleman knows they
are neither produced nor expected.
Here mr. Williams rose, and said whst
he meant BY vouchers, was q detailed
statement.
In reply TO that, tnr Chairman. I could
say 10 the gentleman from North Csrolina,
that il would 0e just as difficult to produce,
and Just NJ unreasonable to expect this do.
tailed abatement, 40 the vouchers which
have been called for. Sir, these eon,ip-
gent expenses are paid to no Minister. un.
der any ordinary state Of affairs, In conse-
quence ofshe production OF vouchers.
Mr.. Chairman, there ara some things
probable in themselves, and do not require
a very great share Of proofdirsct, 10 COM
mand our belief and there are others In
themselves 80 improbable, we cannot well
ssIieve them when iostiAed ~ proofs the
most positive. That mr. Monroe's expens.
es should have been, during his first mis-
sion to France, while al Paris, greater by
the amount stated, than Ministers on or
dinsry occasions, 10 not only highly proba-
BILE, but is proved positively, BY tho ststs.
ments OF mr. Skipworth, mr. Gelson, and sll
the other Testimony in the case. could,
if il were necessary, take another ground.
if inr Monroe did not know that the allow.
ance claimed was not only equitable but ls.
gal, would he, ID there man living, who
has any knowledge of the character Of
James Monroe, who cen for one minute be-.
| lieve, that ne would, in his old age. ia pri--
vats life, having filed 90 many Offices.
having discharged the duties of them with
90 much honor to himself and credit to the
country, Thus persevefe in claim .hek
was not absolutely justf He has the feel.
,ngs Of q man. End knows full well the orr
deal every one has to pass through, who
applies to Congress for the settlement Of
an account and when he came before 20,
no doubt knew that he would necessarily
he subjected to the SCOTS snd sneers Of
many, whose province il would be 10 psse
upon his claim; perhaps anticipated what
hAs been said BY the gentleman from Ken
tucky, that he was calling on Congress to
pay him for fsasting his friends in Paris.
With this knowledge Of consequences.
would this claim have been the second
time before III, Tit were not IN oil respects
Just and equitable2 Ism satisfied Il would
not Well, Sir, if money be due, ana u
has been withheld, 10 not interest due a.
well % principal. But the gentlemen
from North Carolina informs rs that the
United, States are to 30 viswed % moral
person. always prssu.,ed to be ready To
pay what he owes whenever called on, .
presumption not warranted by fscis, ssd
that consequently no interest is TO be al
lowed on claims against the United Staies
Al lhia unoral -nexsos. Il acxx,oA.xx.oa sxssiI.