Newspaper Page Text
foi. rii.
a&aricn alette
edited *i.yd published
BY
iA’S. F. GRANDISON.
(on the bay)
g 5 fier annum, /tayable in advance
\ih'crti*ements will be inserted on the fol’
ing *erms:— Jttfc
■ ur (he first insertion, persquare, seventy
cents; for*ach subsequent successjve in
ion. thirty seven and a half cents? monthly
ertisements seventy-five cents per square
eacltinsertion. No advertisements con
red less than a square. Ka< h person’s
>erty advertised “by the Sheriff and Mar
isconsidered a square, t hose not ac
panted with written limits, ace continued
iirbid, and each insertion charged,
fes of land anti negroes, by Administra-
Executors, or Guardiaps, are required
*>, to be held on the first Tuesday in llie
th, between the hours often in the fore
i and three o’clock in the afternoon, at
court-house of the county in which the
,e-tv is situate. Notice of these sales
i be given.in a public gazette SIXTI
i previous to the day of sale,
otieeofthe sale of personal property
t be given in like manner, FORTY days
iot to the day of sale,
oticeto the debtors and creditors of an
ie must be published for FOR TY days,
otice that application will be made ty the
rt of Ordinary for leave to sell land, must
lublished for NINE.MON THS.
•tiers of D/sitfasion from an estate must
üblished snfmonths.
6.TTERS (on business) must be post
—or they may not meet with attention.
WpOUjYTSofthc LATE PRESIDENT.
I C Continuedfrom the last Gazette.J
Hiving presented, above, a view of my
His on the Government, in my several
■ons to Europe, l have now to invite a
■view of any which the government may
lon me, which 1 do from tile same peri-
Hit of 1794, to the present time, l wish
■ transaction of my life, in wliicli the
He have anv interest,to be an occurrence
Hbich may be sifted to the bottom, by
Hntic and original documents, or by liv-
Hstimony. Let both be appealed to
Hi. books and papers, bank and others,
Hen to your inspection, afid in, in ques-
Hufdoubt, if there be any, let those of
Hppi site party be referred to.
Hn induced to invite this inquiry by rea-
Hvliich appear to me so be inclusive.—
Hgthe two last sessions of Congress,
Hiittees were appointed to investigate
Hie of public lots in this city, by Colonel
Hlate superintendant of Public Huild-
Ho whom that business had been com-
Hi. The chairman ofthose Committees,
Hied himself in each session, by an in-
Hation of my conduct, not as a purcha
■ public lots, for I had never purchased
Hut in the disbursment of the furniture
■ and in other transactions, of a private
He, to which the power of the committee
Ht extend. Although apprised of this
Rlar proceeding,* and of its object, 1
Htlieless disregarded it. 1 was aware
Hroneous impressions might be formed,
Hspirions excited by it, to my prejudice
■ill this was a mortification which I could
Hoid, and was doomed to suffer. Know-
He ground on which I stood, in the dis-
He of my public duties, as to intention
Ht, I consoled myself with the reflec-
Hlm it japuld only be temporary. A
Hge waslft length sent to me, by the
Hian of tle Committee, to inquire
Hit-1 would attend the Committee, to
Hitch explanations as might be required
Rse points; or, if I should decline the in-
Bnto attend, whether I would give the
Hiations, m writing, in answer to a let-
Htich he might address to me, for the
Hk. My. reply was explicit, that I
H neither attend the committee nor an-
Hany letter which he might address to
Hithe points to which he had extended
Hvestigation; that, if the Committee
Hi explanation, touching any part of my
H conduct, they must seek it through
Hess, and before the nation, where I was
Hg and prepared to meet them. With
Hifterwards occurred, you are w-ell ac-
Bed. It is for these reasons that I in-
Hour to attention to this subject,- and
■ wish your inquiry to be extended to
■ trust that I have held from my coun-
IHat I may have an opportunity, before
Htirement, to give all the explanations
H> any case may require.
He account for my mission to France, in
H is before you, as is that for the mission
Hance, Great Britain and Spain, which
Hier.ced in 1803. In those missions, and
Hiially that to France, in 1803, in which
Hassociated with Mr. Livingston, great
Hrs was granted to us. ami exercised
■moneys ’ I was, likewise, 4ix years in
Hepartments of State and War, in the lat
■ which, l had a great agency, at a par ;
Hr period, in obtaining loans of money,
He support of our military operations,
H” bte application of the money borrow-
H> the objects intended by it It will 1
H.appear, that, under my direction, and
H. v responsibility, with the sunctioit* of
■resident, loans were obtained from
H s ui Albany, New-York, Philadelphia,
B'oro, this District, Norfolk, Charleston,
H't mnny of the Southern and Western
For these extra services, which
Haul of the pressure and exigences of-.
‘Bar. 1 neyer asked, expeeted, or would
H'e, one cent; nor should I now notice
■-except as they involved a responsibili-
H to money,the most delicate of all trusts.
•>y earnest desire that - my coiuluct in
“Hi may now he thoroughly investigated,
f®>r th e reasons stated. Inviting this in-
DARIEN Wmt ‘GAZETTE.
vestigation, I will now proceed to minor
details, arising from on me,
in this office, and to that rela
ting to the disbursement of*he Furniture
fund, and the incidents connected with it.
Two acts have been passed relating to this
fund. The first, on the 3d of march, 1817,
the second, on the 20th of April, 1818. By
the first, 20,000 dollars were appropriated,
and, by the second, 30,000 dollars more, —
By these acts, the money was to be laid out
for such articles as the President might di
rect. It was their obvious import that the
articles should be designated by him,* but
that the pwchase of them should be made
byname person whom he might appoint for
the purpose.* For the service no commis
sion or compensation was authorized by ei
ther act. The employment -of an agent,
however, was indespensible: for indepen
dent of the obligation to do it, which seem
ed to be imposed by the law, it was impos
sible for the President, regarding his other
duties, to perform this, in all its details,
without injury to others of greater impor
tance.
In executing this trust, it was my object to
pursue strictly, the intention of ‘Congress,
according to my understanding of it. -The
building was extensive, and its apartments
spacious, all indicating the national purpose
for which it was intended. Wilh the house,
and its object, it was thoughtjAliat the fur
niture should correspond. Snch as suited
life small rooms of a private dwelling, would
not suit (hose this large edifice. Many of
the articles required, could be procured
from Europe only, such as Plate, Mirrors,
Chandeliers, Carpets, China, &c. Others
might be obtained in the country, and it was
certainly proper to procure, at home, all that
could be obtained, suited to the building.—
Whether procured at home or abroad, it was
necessary that they should be manufactured
according to order, for the room for which
tlffey were intended, and be of good qual
ity, strong, massive, and durable.
To execute any plan, it was necessary that
furniture should be provided for immediate
use. The furniture in the former building
had been destroyed with it, and the little
which had been purchased afterwards, for
the accommodation of my predecessor, in
the house which been rented for him,
had, of necessity, been procured in haste, was
of trifling value, and unsuited to the new
building. It was obvious that, if the sum
first appropriated should be laid out in the
purchase of such articles as might be found
in the shops, already made, 4 or be bought at
sales, at second hand, the fund would be, in
a great measure;''exhausted, and in procuring
such as were or interior quality It Was
equally obvious that the sum first appropria
ted, on the best estimate that could be form
ed of the articles necessary for the building,
and of their prices, would be altogether in
adequate. U nder these circumstances, I was
compelled to use my own furniture, and for
an indefinite term, for, if the alternative of
procuring such only as suited the building,
was adopted, respecting which I did not
hesitate, it was altogether uncertain within
what time it might be obtained. I had fur
niture in a limited extent, of good quality,
plate, drawing-room, bed-room, kitchen, &c,
most of which I had procured while abroad,
and the residue for my accommodation in
the Department of State. It was my inten
tion to have sold tins furniture, and I should
have sold it immediately after my election,
but for the reason stated, “having an urgent
occasion for the money it might raise, and
which I could not otherwiseweadily com
mand.
There were two modes by which I might
take my furniture into use—one, by selling
it, at public sale, to the highest bidder, and
having it bought by a private agent —the
other, by having it valued, by men of high
character, and by taking it at the valuation.
The latter was preferred, for obviousyeasons
andparticularlv from the consideration that,
if there should be no other appropriation,
which was uncertain, there could be no sale,
and, in consequence, however long the term
for which I might use it, I should be com
pelled to retake it, without receiving any
indemnity for its use, or the injury it might
sustain. My furniture was valued at §9,050,
as will be seen by the report made by the
citizens who were selected for the purpose.
By recurring to the valuation, it will also be
seen that fully one-half 6f the articles con
sisted of Plate, Mirrors, and China, which
undergo little change, if any, by use.
In deqiding on .the plan which 1 adopted
for furnishing the house, I availed myself, in
aid of my own experience and exertion's, and
of those of my family, of the good offices of
others to whom I might with propriety ap
ply. As no compensation was allowed tor
the service, I could ask such aid from none
but the officers of the Government and par
ticular friends. It was for this reason that
my attention wa3 drawn to Mr. Lee, Second
Auditor of public accounts, and to Col. Lane,
Superintendant of Public Buildings, and who
rendered all the service in their power, the
first in digesting the plan for furnishing the
house, and in contracting for, and receiving
flic articles when delivered, and the other in
taking charge of the fund, and disbursing it.
With Mr. I.ee, 1 had become acquainted in
my first mission to Franoe, where he long
served his country as Consul at Bordeaux,
and with Col. Lane from the time of his ap
pointment as superintendant of the Public
Buildings, by my predecessor, shortly after
the peace.
In executing the plan decided on, a remit
tance was made by the Secretary of the Trea
surypf 12,000 dollars to our bankers in Hol
s land, subject to the order of Joseph Russell,
of Boston, then residing in Paris, for the
purchase of articles there, according to a list
i and estimate that were sent to him. Other
2000 dollars were also sent to James Yard,
of Philadelphia, for the purchase of articles
ordered there, and contracts were entered
| into for other urtieles, in this district, and
DARIEN, (georcia,) €QUaI anti <£jract 3|Utftice. TUESDAY, APRIL 5 1825.
-
elsewhere, for the fulfilment of which l was
made responsible. The remaining 6000 dol
lars were advanced to me on account of my
furniture, which were repaid in ihe autumn
of that year, on the delivery of the furniture
thus contracted for.
For full information respecting the mo
tive and condition on which ! took my furni
ture into use, I refer you to three letters,
two of which were addressed to Colonel
Lane, and the third to the First Auditor of
Pu blic Accounts. The first bears date on j
the 28th of April, 1817, soon after my elec
tion to this office, the second, on the 24-th
April, 1818, immediately after the second ap
propriation was made, and the third on the
28th February, 1821, when it was under
stood that Col. Lane intended to settle his
furniture account. By the first, I was bound
to retake my own furniture, if a further ap
propriation should not be made, however
long 1 might have used it, without any in
demnity for it; and by the second, L was
boundto retake, unconditidhally, notwith
standing the appropriation which had then
been made, and to repay the money which
had been advanced* (9 me for it when I re
tired from office, ’lme third letter, that to
the First Auditor, is explanatory of the
principles on which I acted, and with which
1 thought it proper that he should then be
made acquainted.*
It will be seen by the documents in the
Treasury Department, that, when I entered
into the agreement, or made the declaration
which is contained in the second letter to
the Superintendant of the Public Buildings,
I had repaid the sum which had been ad
vanced to me by him on account of my own
furniture, being less by one-third than that
at which it had been valued by. very respec
table and disinterested men, and was actual
ly in advance in fulfilment of contracts which
had been entered into in this District and in
Philadelphia, upwards of two Thousand dol
lars from my own funds,.and was further
pledged for large additional sums for the
furniture which had been ordered and re
ceived from France, and engaged in this city
and elsewhere. Had I been able to have
executed by other means a purpose which I
had in part executed, and to the completion
of which I attached great interest, I would
not, notwithstanding the appropriation, have
taken one cent of the money on aocount of
my own furniture. 6v binding myself to re
take it, f meant to guard against the contin
gency of my death by placing the affair en
tirely under the control of the Government,
not doubting, in that event, on a full view of
all circumstances, that justice would be done
to my family. The letter to the First Audi
• tor, which was written when it wus exp'ected
that Col. Lane would have settled his furni
ture Account*, gave this explanation of the
transaction, and appropriated also the funds,
in case the furniture should be retaken, by
whicli the money which had been advanced
to me should be repaid.f
Having observed that I had* a pressing
demand for a sum of money when I came m-
offic£* which I could not readily com
mand otherwise than By means of my furni
ture, it is proper that I should state thecause.
Having witnessed in the late warthe defence
ess condition of our maritime frontier, and
felt most sensibly its pernicious effect, while
acting in the Department of War, and Con
gress having decided at the peace to estab
lish a chaimof fortifications along the coast,
and, to augment the Navy to a certain extent)!’
and to establish naval depots and dock-yards,
at certain distances, I resolved to give prompt
ly every impulse, and all the aid in my pow
er, to this very important national undertak
ing. I had had some experience in the wars
ot my own country, and had likewise paid
attention to works of the kind in my missions
to Europe. I thought therefore, that, by ex
amining (he great inlets, and the command
ing ground bearing on each, l should be bet
ter enabled to judge of the reports which
might be made through the proper depart
ments, by the Engineers and Naval Commis
sioners appointed to survey the coast, res
pecting the sites and nature of ihose works,
than I could otherwise possibly be. 1 thought
also, that, by leaking this inspection in per
son, 1 might, from the office which I held,
draw the public attention more forcibly to
the object, and stimulate the officers engag.
ed in the work% and in the public service
generally, to a more vigorous and efficient
discharge of their duty. In 1817, the first
year of my service, I visited the coast, and
every important inlet from the ocean, espe
cially those leading to our principal cities,
from Baltfmore to Portland, thence, through !
New-Hampshire, and Vermont, by Rouse’s •
Point, on Lake Champlain, along the north* •
ern frontier, through the Chatougue woods, :
to St. Lawrence, thence, to Sackett’s Har- j
bor, and by. Lake Ontario, to the Niagara.;
Strait, and By Lake Erie to Detroit; thence, ;
back, to Sandusky, through the state of Ohio, !
and by the Cumberland road, to which some
attention was due, to this City. In the en- j
ailing year, the business pressing in this quar
ter, I viewed the works on the Potomac, and
examined the entrances into the St. Mary’s,
York, and James rivers, passing by Norfolk,
to’ 1 Elizabeth City, on the Albemarle Sound.
The season being far advanced when Con
gress adjourned, I could not then proceed
farther. In 1819,1 passed by the same route j
through (he Southern States, by Charleston,
and Savannah, along the Southern frontier,
•For the first letter, see copy of account
as settled with the Accounting Department,
page 61. For the second, see original do
cument in possession of the sth Auditor; and
for the third, see copy of a letter to the Ist
Auditor, of February 28th, 1821, and of ano
ther letter to him of the sth March, 1822.
ffiee my message to Congress of the 9th
February, 1818, suggesting the measures
which it was thought that it would be ex
pedient to adopt, by permanent regulation,
in regard to pumic furniture andthebuilding.
through the Cherokee nation, the states ot
Alabama, Tennessee, part of Indiana, through
Kentucky, back to this City. In those routes,
and as I thought in that service, for had 1 not
so considered it, 1 should certainly never
have undertaken them, I expended a larger
sum than niy furniture amounted to. Had
1 not received the money fox it, or raised it
by the sale of other property, 1 could not
have made that inspection. The documents
relating to a partiular item, the transporta
tion afforded me, unsought and unexpected,
though useful, by the General Post Office
Department, for a part of the distance, not
more than one-third, in 1816,. amounting to
one thousand nine hundred and twelve dol
lars, will give an idea of the expenseattend
ing those visits.
I inspected, at the same time, our manu
factory of arms at Springfield, our public ar
senals, and our garrisons, along the coast
and in the interior, with a view to stimulate,
also, all those who were employed at those
stations to a falhful discharge of their respec
tive duties.
Having been long employed in negotia
tions with three of the principal powers of
Europe, the great object of which was to
prevent war, as has been alre-dy shewn, I
knew well, fbr I had never studied any sub
ject with so much attention and solicitude,
the dangers to which wc were exposed, and
the means of averting them,"so far as it was
possible to avert them. I made this inspec
tion, therefore, under a firm conviction that
the completion of those works, military and
naval, would be of incalculable advantage to
our Union, in all its most vital interests; that,
by their moral effect on other powers, they
\yould tend to prevent war, and prolong the
intervals and,hlessings of peace; that, when
war should be inevitable,‘they would dimin
ish its calamities; that they would, in an emi
nent degree, promote economy; that they
would strengthen the bond of Union itself,
and thereby give a njw and most powerful
support to our Republican system of Gov
ernment. Being deeply impressed with
sentiments, and having so recently re
ceived the highest .proof of the confidence
of my countrj, I was willing, though then
indelicate health, to make this exertion, at
my own expense, from a strong feeling of
gratitude to my fellow citizens for the kind
ness shewn me. It is proper to add, that the
expese attending those visits was much di
minished by the hospitality ans accommoda
tion afforded me throughout the Union, and
especially in the principal cities, where the
expense was greatest.
Whether it will be proper for the Chief
Magistrate to make occasional visits through
the States, or any of them, during his ser
vice, is a subject into which I do not enter,
nor is it involved in those which l made.
Sites for fortifications and dock-vards were
to be fixed, and the works to be commenced
and executed with judgment and despatch.
A single visit to all the points in question
was sufficient for the object contemplatbe,
which being made the repetition would ed
unnecessary. The sites being established
on principle, would require no change, nor
admit of any, and the works being well exe
cuted, would last, with occasional repairs
for ages.
Having shewn, above, the manner in which
the agency of the furniture fund was dis
charged, and explained the transaction re.
latingto my own furniture,! will now pro
ceed to other details, with which it is equal
ly necessary that you should be made
thoroughly -acquainted. I allude to my
private account with Col. I.ane, of which, in,
the items, and the cause which produced it,
I will give an explanation equally minute.
By the agreement with Col. l ane, as agent
for the Furniture Fund, respecting my own
furniture, an ‘ the advances made by him to
me, in consequence thereof, an account
was formed between us. This was much
increased afterwards in the items and no
minal amount, by the advances which 1 made
from my own funds, between the first and
second appropration, forthepubliefurniture,
exceeding, by several thousand dollars, the
sums'previously received from him, and by
the repayment, by him to me, of those ad
vances. Other circumstances occurred to
make this account still more extensive.
In my absences from the city after I en
tered the building, especially dis
tances, and even on visits to the* country,
afterwards, it would have been very improp
er for me to have left it arid all the plate and
furniture in it, in the charge of servants only
Had 1 done so, and had any disaster occurred,
it would have been a cause of great afflic
tion to me. No provision of any kind had
been made by law, for its protection, so that
it was incumbent on me to make| the best
that I could, at my own expense. The state
of the building when I entered it, and for
aconsderable time afterwards, ma le such
precautions for its safety, and for that of the
property within, even while I was present,
absolutely necessary. There were then
employed about it, not less than fifty work
men, and a like number werethus employed,
for the two succeeding years. 1 may* add,
that scarcely a summer has since elapsed,
during which, nearly as many have not been
employed about the house or the grounds
around it, within the inclosure; so that even
when I was present, it has required my
constant attention to preserve order, and to
protect the interior from injury. During
my absences, this care was committed to
, Colonel Lane. As Superintendent, he would
have control of the Architect, and through
him, of the workmen, and thereby be bet
ter enabled, than any other person could be,
to protect the House and property within
| it, from injury. I always left a steward and
! several servants there, but they were not
1 equal to the duty. It required a public of
. ficer, invested with competent authority for
the purpose. The charge of the House
necessarily involved that of the whole es
j tablishment, including the servant, over
whom I gave him control. To accomplish
iheobject, lie generally resided in the House.
For the servants, I always made provision,
as l did for him, by the advance of money f
sometimes to him, and sometimes to t)i e
steward, for it was far from my intention,
he should incur one cent’s expense, on
my account, or on his own, in rendering that
service.
I had repeatedly requested Coionel Lane
to settle his account for furniture, for which
I considered myself responsible, notwith
standing his agency, and to settle also his
private account w ith me; but the former he
declined, for the want of some vouchersofar
ticles received and paid for, as I understood,
from Pittsburg, and the latter he avoided, as
I inferred,from a desire to settle his ptmhc
account first. When it was manifest m 1822
that his health was declining, I pressed'lie
settlement of his furniture account, which
was accomplished, by the aid of his clerk. I
wished much to have settled then, our pri
vate account also knowing that there could
be no difficulty between him and me. but,
his indisposition increasing, so that his recov
ery was at lengh despaired of, 1 declined it
from motives of delicacy, preferring to make
i the settlement with his representative, im
; mediately after his demise, l authorized Mr.
Hay to settle that account, and on the most
liberal principles. I continued to him my
bank books, and all my other papers, for his
| own inspection, and for that also of Colonel
1 Lane’s executor, and particularly enjoined
it on him to admit every item’ without re
gard to vouchers, which he should have rea
son to believe had been advanced to the Re
ward, or otherwise applied to my use, and
which he did, with a reservation reciprocal,
that the account should still be open to rev-i
----sionand correction, should it afterwards ap
pear that any :tem had been omitted, or been
improperly charged, on either side. Ot the
sum which became due by that settlement,
which exceeded far my anticipation, the
; greater part was immediately paid. “I he
j delay in paying the balance has proceeded
from a deire to examine, at my leisu*e,all the
documents relatingtotransactions, with many
of which I was altogether ignorant, and with
some of the parties to them unacquainted;
from a belief also, as no receipts had ever
been taken for personal advances to him,
that all the credits to which I was entitled,
had not been allowed me.
It will appear by the items and their dates,
that he never advanced to me one cent di
rectly, except on account of my furniture,
nor one cent more on that account than was
supposed to be due me at the time, taking
into consideration theaum at which it had
been valued, and the amount which 1 had
paid for the public furniture which had been
delivered in between the first and second
appropriation. “I he principal items are,
1,500 dollars, which he paid to the Patriotic
Bank, and the sums which he likewise paid
to Russell & La Fourque, of France, and to
Mr. Yard, of Philadelphia. Respecting the
first mentioned sum, a note from Mr Carr,
the cashier of that bank, will explain the cir
cumstances under which the pay ment was
made. By this, it is evident that it was not
by my desire, nor with my knowledge. It
will aiso be seen, by comparing dates, hat it
was made at a time when there was due to
me, beyond the temporary advance which
had been made on account of my furniture,
upwards of 3,000 dollars, independentlv of
the sums which 1 was, immediately after
wards, paying from my own tunds, for the
furniture delivered in before the second ap.
propriatinn. Respecting the other two items
I have to add, lhat, when the furniture was
ordered from France, through the agency of
Mr. Russell, and from Philadelphia, by that
of Mr. Yard, I requested those gentlemen,
with whom I had been long acquainted, and
for whom I had great personal regard, to
procure for. and sendto, me, from each place
certain articles and supplies on my private
account, and to draw on me for the amount.
Mr. Russell’s letters show that he so under
stood it. The furniture, however, received
from France, having exceeded considerably
the 12,000 dollars which had been remitted
to him. he drew for the balance, and also for
the sum due on my private account, on me,
in the same bill, which, being presented to
Col. Lane, was paid by him. To Mr. Yard
1 had remitted 4,500 dollars, which I had
supposed would not only pay for his engage
ments for me, but go far to satisfy the de
mands against the public, as was, in fact, the
case. The list, however, being enlarged, a
balance of about 2,000 dollars remained due
on account of the furniture he had purchas
ed, and for which he drew on Col. Lane, who
paid it. As I had previously remitted to Mr;
Yard upwards of 2,000 dollars more than I
owed him on my private account, and he
knew that Col. Lane was the agent for the
furniture fund, it was natural that he should
draw on him for the balance, and equally so
that he should pay it. Neither could the
one have received that balance, nor tlie oth
er have paid it, on my private account, or on
any other account than that of the puhlic
furniture. Nor could it be known that I
owed to Col. Lane that sum or any other,
until account for the public furniture, as
well as his private account with me, should
be first settled. Os the other items, no par
ticular explanation is deemed necessary•
It is manifest that they grew out of the
charge which he hadot the house and house
hold establishment in my absences from the
i city. No authority to pay any of them has
been shown, nor has it been urged, that the
articles furnished were furnished by my or
der, os with my knowledge.
As I had advanced a considerable sum from
my own funds between ‘lie first and second
appropriation, and was frequently paying,
; afterwards, for smaller items and repairs, it
was impossible fbr me to know the precise
state of our private account, until he should
have first settled his public one. Being re
| sponsible, also, for the sums placed in his
,\‘o. 14.