The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-01-03
From the Louisville Journal, December %.

DAVID Merlwether In explanation OF the charge
made by him for mileage in going to Washington
last summer aud returning home at the close of
the session. We have never thought, nor have we
ever intended to imply in any remarks of ours
that MIR. M was not strictly and scrupulousy con-
scientious in the charge made by him and allowed
by the constituted authorities Unquestionably it is
the duty of the committee on mileage to deter.
mine from actual inquiry and investigation what
amount each member ia entitled to, and Mr.. M,
presuming, no doubt, that the committee had been
in the habit of performing this plain duty, natu-
rally based his own estimate of mileage upon what
had been charged and received by the Hon. H.
Marshall, allowing only for the very brief distance
between their places of residence.
1t appears, however, that the committee on
mileage is of little or account. Every member
of Congress makes his own estimate, and the esti-
mate is allowed, so that there is no uniformity in
the system. Members generally are paid not so
much according to the distances they live from
Washington as according to the length of their
conscences. Mr.. Meriwether's scrupulous hon.
esty in regard to money matters is above suspi-
ciOn.
TO the Editors Of the Louisville Journal:
GENTLEMES: In your weekly Journal of the 18th
of October last, find article in reference to the
amount OF mileage received by me q member of
the Senate of the United States, and Immediately
after the appearance of said article | wrote to
Washington city for the necessary data upon which
to base defence OF myself; but failing to receive
it, until my arrival here. now hasten to forward
you this communication, with the hope that you
will give it place in your columns.
The charge made against me ia not that of having
received more mileage than the law allows, shut for
having received more than the amount received
by my predecessor, the Hon. Henry Clay; and
would respectfully submit whether the laws of the
land or the practice of my distinguished prede-
cessor should govern in this case If the latter is
to be the standard by which am to be measured,
then ask that the same rule of measurement be
applied to others, and especially to several very
honorable Wing friends of mine who have been
stance, Mr.. Clay received mileage for only $50
miles each way, when the Hon. John J. Crittenden
charged and received mileage for 800 miles each
way, when it is a we'll known fact that the places
of residence of these two honorable gentlemen are
not more than 25 miles from each other; yet the
difference in their mileage is 240 miles.
Again: the Hon. Thomas Metcalfe received pay
for 500 miles, which is 1877 miles more than the
well known fact that Mr.. Metcalfe resides nearer
to Warrington than did Mr.. Clay Again: the
Hon. Charles S. Morehead received pay for 972
miles, which is 4l2 miles more than Mr.. Clay, and
yet they resided only about twenty five miles from
each other. Again the Hon. Il Marshall receiv
ed pay Tor 1854 miles, which is 534 miles more
than Mr.. Clay, and yet these two gentlemen did
not reside over fifty miles from each other. This
comparison COuIQ De carried out through the en-
tire delegation from Kentucky, and indeed the
delegations of other neighboring States, with sim
liar results; but have selected the above named
gentlemen because of their residence in the imme
date neighborhood Of DIR. Clay, and think them
sufficient for my purpose which 10 to show that
others have not deemed it necessary TO regulate
their receipts for milage by those of Mr.. Clay.
Indeed, find that no other member of Congress
has ever deemed it necessary to measure himselfin
thss particular by the standard recently erected
:. portion Of the Wing press by which to mea-
sure me.
As Istated in publication made in October last,
now repeat, that res uIated my charge for mile
age by the allowance made nv the committee on
mileage of the House of Representatives TO Colonel
II. Marshall, the member from the Congressional
district in which reside, and the member whose
residence was nearest my own. It was but fair to
presume that committee of Congress whose espe-
cial duty it was to regulate the mileage ofmembers,
had done 80 with more accuracy than or any other
individual could do and hence this plan was resort.
edto, and my mileage was fixed at 1865 miles, which
lie less than the amount allowed by the committe
to Colonel Marshall, although his residence ia
nearer TO Washington city than my own.
By the act Of Congress, every Senator is entitled
to draw So for every twenty miles of estimated
distance by the most usual road from his place of
residence to the seat of Congress- This have
done, and no more.
Respectfully,
D MERIWETHER
WAsHlHeroN, December Is, 1852.