Beschreibung:

MONROE, James. Autograph letter signed ("James Monroe") to an unknown recipient, Oak Hill, [VA], 20 January 1826. 4 pages, 4to (7¾ x 9 5/8 in.), minor losses to margins, minor professional repairs at folds, last page evenly browned . MONROE ADVISES A CLAIMANT THAT "THE EX-PRESIDENT ON QUESTIONS OF THIS KIND MUST BE SILENT" AS "HE MIGHT...DO GREAT INJURY TO THE PUBLIC" A lengthy letter in which the former President considers the proper role of a chief executive after leaving office. After Monroe's retirement to his estate at Oak Hill in 1825, he faced the embarassment of mounting debt; fearing the loss of his property, he sought to claim from the government expenses incurred while serving in various political offices since 1794. Here, he considers the similar claims of a Mr. Meade, and expresses reservations about interfering. While "it would afford me pleasure to state to him, my recollection," Monroe observes, "I am now, out of office...The ex-President on questions of this kind must be silent, or it is difficult, to say, what a different course of conduct, might lead to. If he interferd, & held one language, on the concerns with foreign powers, & the Executive another, he might embarrass its mov'ments & do great injury to the public. If he interferes in one instance, where will he stop? How can he refuse an answer, to any one, on any subject?" Monroe's claims, including interest, amounted to $53,000. A portion was derived from "the loss, which I sustaind, by the purchasing of the house, for me, as minister, after declining one, as I did a carriage of horses, offerd me, by the committee...and which house I intended to offer to my gov t , when I retir'd, on the terms I bought it..." He argues that "the other documents relating to my efforts, to tranquilize the French gov t , in regard to the treaty, with England [Jay's Treaty], a suspicion of which produced my recall, should receive a like attention." Expressing continued resentment over his recall from France by President Washington, Monroe refers to "an injury done, in dismissing me, without cause, at a season, when I could not leave the country. The more satisfactory the evidence, that there was no cause, the stronger the claim to reparation, in the other object, the consequence of it." Monroe is adamant that his service should be justly compensated: "That a man who has servd his country 42 years, the last 22 in the highest offices of the gov t , abroad & at home must have rec d a considerable amount of money, is certain..." His case, in addition, was uunusual since he was "special envoy, to several courts, at the same time" and was accompanied by his family. The expenses of the offices I have held, have more than consumed the salaries, the last excepted, which has afforded a surplus, with the utmost economy, to do little more, than pay the interest on debts incurrd in the others. Did I ever, disregard, the dignity of the office, & what was due to the honor of my country, to save money for myself? Let my enemies look to my debts to the banks & they will see, that they were not incurrd, by purchasing property." Congress initially rebuffed Monroe's claim, partly over the issue of his claim of interest, which they believed might constitute a dangerous precedent. Finally, in 1826, Monroe was awarded $29,513; in 1830 he was granted an additional $30,000 which allowed him to pay off his substantial debts. Provenance: Gerard A.J. Stodolski, Inc., 1991.