The enquirer — Richmond, Va., 1810-02-27 00:00:00, page 2

Europe,
Naw-York, February 16.
NEWS FROM LONDON.
The ship Two Generals, which arrived at this
port yesterday from Liverpool, left there on
the 9th of December, and brings London pa
pers totlie 7th, from which t) • lothiwingaiti
des are copied.
The captain informs us that a rumor prevailed in
Liverpool ot Mr. Jackson’s dismissal.
London; Drc. 7. Wc mentioned yesterday a re
port of a commotion at Seville, in'which several
of the 'unta had been seized by the populace
on the suspicion ofbeing traitors to their coun
try— A letter from Cadiz, which we hare inser
ted in the preceding page, mentions the arrest of
the brother of Palafox, of the Marquis de Mon
tejo, and several ouicers of the guards. Another
letter from Seville, of the 18th, contains the fol- j
lowing important P S. :
“ The greatest confusion prevails in this city. I
Palafox, Ibe brother of the heroic defender of j
Saragossa, has been put under arrest. A French
officer of distinction has been detected here in !
disguise. A summary vengeance was indicted I
upon him by the people, who strangled him in I
their rage.” j
No further particulars have arrived : but
wc suspect that when they do, it will be found j
that the Junta have been forced to abandon !
the reins of government, and that several of*
the Members have fallen victims to the pnpu- j
lar indignation, or been arrested. The de_ '
sign of removing them has for some time been
in agitation.-When the Marquis Welles
ley was at Seville, information we under
stand, was communicated to him that a plot
had been formed to seize the whole of the !
Junta, in the middle of the night, while they
were engaged in Council—to put to death
some, and to send oil' others to South Ame
rica—to declare a regency, and to place at its
head the old Cardinal Bourbon, the Duke de
L Infautado, the Marquis de Roinana, and
two others—that the Dukc*s regiment of
guards, then at Seville, were to be theprin
cipal actors in the plot. The Marquis could
not of course suffer such a design to be ear
ned into execution without informing the
Junta, which lie did immediately. The Jun
ta were in a dreadful state of alarm, & threw
themselves upon his lordship, who promised *
to go instantly to the Duke de L’lnfantado, j
but urged the imperious necessity of their !
attending to the popular wishes, convoking
the Cortes, arul making several reforms in
the administration of affairs. This was pro
mised, and the Marquis had a conference
with the Duke de L’lnfantado, who exerted
his influence so ehectualiy with his regiment
ol guards, that the design was not carried in
to execution. '1 lie Junta, relieved from the
danger that had alarmed them, contrived to
remove the Duke's regiment, and to intro
duce other troops upon whom they could de
pend-They then shewed a reluctance to
fulfil the promises they had made-The !
greatest indignation was again excited a-1
gainst them, and the Marquis de Uomana
is understood to have made a long speech te
them; in which lie upbraided them in the
most cutting terms—Fearful of the popular
vengeance, the Cortes were at length agreed
to he convoked—The Marquis Wellesley
was so popular during hisstay in Spain, that
his departure was considered a public cala
mity ; and it w as feared that the populace,!
construing it into a proof of his being disgus- I
ted with the conduct of the Junta, would a-j
gain conspire against them. These fears his
Lordship did every thing in his power to re
move. He asserted that the attachment of
the English Government and People to the
Spanish cause was unabated—that no efforts
of theirs should be wanting to assist it; ana
that his departure from Spain was occasion
ed by a cause, which, so far from impairing,
would tend to increase, his power to be of
service to the Spanish nation. These re
presentations calmed the popular mind both
ut Seville and at Cadiz, where, we hear, it
was at first intended by the populace to nre
’• ent bis embarking for England, so anxious
were they to keep him in Spain.
New-York, Feb; 15.
Translated for the Mercantile Adverti
ser, from the Lisbon Cazcttc of Decem
ber 19.
Cadiz, Dec. 6—The Duke del Parque
having been informed of the dispersion of
the army of La Mancha, he determined up
on retveating, to avoid a similar fate : hut
upon his arrival atAlabade Tormeshehad
t<> front the enemy, when a most desperate
action, at the outset of which his cavalry
began to give way, but lie succeeded in re
mitting it, and in repulsing the enemy with
great slaughter. Owing to the cavalry gi
ving way, the division of Monde/.rtbel 'and
Cazzera found themselves surrounded. The
enemy demanded their surrender ; but their I
gallant chiefs, reiving on the best infantry !
in Furope, formed a square, cut through the
enemy's cavalry, and rejoined the main body
r»t the army. 1 lie victory would have been
complete, had the cavalry done their duty.
The Duke del Parque wr.s with his army
possessed of Hejar and Porto de l’ico as a
safeguard from any sudden attack.
Ha da jos, Dec. 4.— British troops pass
daily through this place on their wav to the I
north «f the Tagus. It is the opinion of many J
officers that their headquarters will not I
remain here much longer.
December 14.—Although we are tmac- i
qnainted with the particulars of the unfot tu- !
bate battle of Ocana, nor with the hiss of
the enemy, yet we are assured that on this
occasion, Fortune was favorable to the cause
of injustice and iniquity. This army accor
ding to the best information we have, has
been nearly re organized, and is anxious to I
recover at all hazards, in the very centre
of the enemy, the honor which it lust in the !
late action of the 19th Nov.
December 11.—Lord Wellington, com- J
m a rider in chief of the British army, took
leave of the Junta with the following Ad !
dress:—
" My Louis, I have the honor to inform j
your excellencies, that the success of the !
war in Ohl Castile compels me to put in ex- !
edition a movement 1 had projected some
time ago, which is, to go with my army to
the north side of the Tagus. Some of my troops
viill, therefore, begin their umreh towards
that destination to i mrrow. By this means
I shall he better enabled to judge of the situ
adon, movements and design of the enemy,
after our disasters in C wile and Da Mancha’,
w ithout comprou.itting the safety of ihe pro
vince of ]£stremadura.
"My head quarters will, however, remain
herr. a few days longer; but I cannot omit
the present Occasion of offering mv warmest
acknowledgement* for the attention I have
received from your excellencies, and tor
toe actual activity and zeal with which youi
Excellencies have facilitated the necessary
supplies for the detachment of the army
under my command while in this province.
“ 1 assure your excellencies I extremely
regret that circumstances of the greatest
importance to the general cause compel me
to remove my troops to another district ot
this country, ami to separate myself from
those persons to whom I am indebted for so
many kindnesses; and 1 beseech vonr ex
cellencies, to be convinced that it will be a
great satisfaction to me, should an occasion
present itseIt' of being useful to the province
of Estremadura and tho city of Badajos, in
whose safety and prosperity I shall always
take a lively interest.
" 1 believe the British army owes nothing
in this province. 1 have, nevertheless, di
rected the commissary general to discharge
all dues, and to leave here a person to bal
ance any account which may remain unset
tled, especially for provisions supplied when
the army passed through Valencia.
“ 1 have the honor to be your excellencies
most humble and devoted servant.
WELLINGTON.”
To this address the Supreme Junta made
the following reply :
** Excellent I.orrf, As an expression of
gratitude, your Excellency bids us to be al
ways at your service. The dispositions you
have made, which we have just now had the
pleasure ot receiving, show the correctness
of the opinion you have formed of the pro
vince of Estremadura. Wherever you may
be, we beseech your Excellency to remem
ber that our constant wishes are* to serve you
and to be grateful. God preserve you many
years.
The Exc. Lord I II ANCIS MARIA RIECO.
The Count de C.ASACHAVES.
I. M. CALATRAVA.
Boston, Feb. 13.
F ROM S P A I A*.
Capt. Lewis, from Cadiz, left that place
on the 25th December. It was reported that
a battle had been fought between the French
anti Spanish armies, in which one of the
wings of the latter had been destroyed_
There were, no accounts, however, of the
advance of the French ; and although it was
feared they would be ultimately success
ful, it was not thought they would be be
fore Cadiz till May. A portion of the plate
of the people of Cadiz had been put in re
quisition to support the war, ana was col
lected with rigor. The ships of war remain
ed as before.
New-York, Feb. 20.
LATEST FROM TONNINGEN.
Yesterday arrived at this port, the ship
Amazon, Turner, from Tonningen, which
place he left -on the 10th of January. Capt. T.
intorms us, that the Danish Government had
6eized and condemned three American ves
sels, and cargoes, in consequence of their
coming last from England ; that all other A.
merican vessels as well as property were
pot under sequestration, but not condemned,
unless having come from a British port;
Capt. T. also informs, that three days be
fore he sailed, the Danish Governmeut issu
ed a Decree, prohibiting the exportation or
cotton out ot Holstein—Sugar and coffee had
been prohibited by a former decree.
We further learn, that the Emperor
Napoleon has been divorced from his wife
the Empress Josephine.
The ships Indiana, Hull, of Baltimore, and
Ocean, Aikins, of N. York, were lost about
the 1st of Jan. at the mouth of the Eyder ;
most of the cargoes lost, crew saved.
The ship Three Sisters, N. York, was lost
at the same place, about the 9th of Decem.
ber.
I he ship Oriental, of Baltimore, was driven
om shore at Heligoland ; the vessel & most of
the cargo lost, and an American schooner
(name not recollected) totally lost, at the
same place ; crew all saved.
Acconuts were received at Tonningen
of the loss of G2 vessels, on that coast, with
in 4 months.
LATEST FROM PORTUGAL.
Yesterday arrived at this port, the ship
Momecello, Kearney, from Lisbon, which
port he left on the 9th of January.
Capt. K. informs us, that the'British ar
my had left Spain, and that their head_quar_
tets were at Coimbra—that the British go
vernment were going to support a Portuguese
army of 40,000 men, to be commanded by
Bri.ish officers—that no battles had been
fought Very lately between the Spaniards and
French.
Captain K. further states, that just before
be sailed a British Packet arrived, bringing
London papers to the 3d of January, some of
which our informant perused but did not find
they contained any thivg of importance, ex
ccpting the dismissal of Mr. Jackson, b’v the
American government: and Mr. Canning’s
appointment to be first Lord of the Treasury,
in tfie place of Lord Mulgrave.
WEST INDIA NEWS.
Captain Groos, who arrived here yester
day tram Porto_Kico, informs us, thnt intel
ligence reached thnt port about the 25th of
January, stating that the British expedition,
from Martinique, 8cc.hnd effected a landing
on the island of (iaudaloupe, between Bas
saterre and the river Salle, having blown
np, and taken several redoubts, and inten
ded to attack Bassaterre on the first of Fe
bruary.
Captain Mitchell, of the Schooner Active,
in 15 days from St. Bart’s, furnishes us with
the following confirmation of the above para
graph, \jz. 1 fiat tlie day before lie sailed,
news arrived there from Gundaloupe, that
809 of the troops belonging to the British ex .
pf dition landed in the Bay of Maho on the
27th of January, drove the French before
diem, and took possession of that part of the
Island. On the 2d of February, an attack
was to be made on Point Petre_There
were 20 sail of the line lying off the mouth
ot the harbor.
Kxtract of n letter, dated Ifamhtrrtfh, Jan'
5, 1810, received fur the Amazon, ca/it.
Turner.
•* The attachment which the Danish Go
vernment fa r! a short time ago, on ail the
goods warehousing on the Holstein territory,
lias for the present reduced business to a
state of total inactivity. This measure has
been taken in order to make further resear
dies after English goods, and it is not doubt
ed that the American property will be res
pected as before. ”
Exchange 28 12.
I riern at Altouci.^— Coffee, good nrdinarv,
15 I 2—Sugar, brown, 22 a 24—white 28 a
39.
Congress.
IN SENATE,
February lfi.
| Tho hill further to provide fi t tin* relief
of the refugees from tlielhiush provinces r.t
j Canada and Nova Scotia, wan rtad a thitd
(time and passed.
The Senate resumed the consideration of
the motion of Mr. litlliiouse submitted yes
terday.
Me. (Hies moved to amend it bv striking
out all alter the word ** information” and
inserting “ whether in the execution of the
act, entitled •• an act to interdict the com
mercial intercourse between the U. States
and G. Brhain and France and their depen
i denotes and for other purposes.” exports m
ami imports from the ports of G. Britain or
France have been or are now permitted, ik
whether collectors of districts in the United
i States do not admit to an entry goods the
growth ae.d manufacture of fi. Britain or
1 France, and if so, under what instructions
j they have acted.” in lieu of the words propo
sed to be stricken out.
Mr. Hillhoune called for the division of the
[ question, and the question for striking out
was carried in the affirmative bv Yeas and
j Nays as follow :
YEAS--Messrs. Anderson, Bradlev,
Campbell, Condit, Franklin, Gnillard. Ger
man, Giles, Gilman, Lambert, Matbewson,
Mei^, Parker, Robinson, Smith, Md. Smith!
|N. \. Tail, Turrtcr, Whiteside_19.
N A YS— Messrs. Bayard, (.’ raw ford, Good
rich. Gregg, Hillhousc, Hoi sev Lloyd, Pick
ering, Reed, Sumpter—10.
The question on inserting the nmeml
meht proposed was carried bv Yeas and
Ncas, 29 to 1. Mr. Heed only voting in the
negative.
'The Senate resumed the consideration of
the appropriation bill, hut adjourned without
coming to a decision on it.
Mon pay, Feb. 19.
The bill to revive the act for the relief of
the refugees Irotn tire British provinces of
Canada ancl Nova Scotia, and for other pur
poses, was read a third time and passed.
1 he Senate resumed the consideration of
the appropriation bill.
On motion of Mr. Lloyd to strike nut the
following words :-•* For re .paying the
Bank of the lb S. a sum advanced to the
late collector of Ncw-Orlcans to enable him
to pay drawbacks,, one hundred thousand
dollars,”—It was determined in the negative
by A eas anti Nays ns follow :
A Kas—Messrs. Bayard, Champlin, Good •
rich, Hillhonsc, Ilsrsey, Lloyd, Pickerinvc.
Reed—8.
Nays—Messrs. Rradlcy, F.rcnt, Camp
bell, Condit, Crawford, Franklin, Gaillard,
German, Gi!e«, Gregg, Lambert, Leib,
Matthewson, Meigs. Parker, Robin sen,
Smith of Md. Smith of N. Y. Sumpter, Tate,
Turner, Whiteside- 22.
1 he bill alter being amended, was passed
to a third reading.
January 20.
Mr. Leib presented a memorial from sun
dry citizens of the county of Philadelphia,
ancl Mr. German of the citizens of N. York,
remonstrating against the passago of the bill
concerning commercial intercourse, S:c. now
pending before t lie Seriate.
1 he bill making appropriations for the
support of government for the year 1810 was
read a third time and passed.
Mr. Bradley laid on the table the follow
ing resolution:
Bcsolved, That a committee be appointed
to enquire into the expediency of employing
the torpedo or sub marine explosions in con
junction w;-.|\ the naval and military opera
tions of the U. S. for the better defence of
their ports and harbors, with leave to report
by bill or otherwise.
The Vice-President communicated the
petitions of sundry impressed citizens of
the United States, which were referred, on
motion of Air. Giles, to the Secretary of
State.
1 he Senate resumed the consideration of
Mr. Reed’s motion for amendment to the
constitution; which after some debate as to
the constructions of the terms of it, was re
committed, on motion of Mr. Cilcs, toa com
mittee consisting of Messrs. Crawford, Giles,
Reed, Pickering and Bayard.
NAVIGATION BILL.
The Senate resumed the consideration of
the bill concerning commercial imercourse,
Scr.
Mr. Bayard moved to postpone the further
consideration of the bill ’till Monday next.
This motion was decided as follows:
For the motion, Alessrs Bayard, Champ
lin, Giles, Horsey, Matthewson, Altigs, Par
ker, Robinson—8.
•Against it, Messrs. Anderson, Bradley,
Campbell, Clay, Condit, Crawford, Franklin,
Gaillard,German, Gilman, Goodrich.Grcgg,
Hillhouse, Lambert, Leib, Lloyd, Pickering,
Pope. Reed. Smith of Md. Smith of N. V!
Sumpter, Fate, Turner, W hiteside—25.
On motion of Mr. Cites, the further consi
deration was postponed ’till to-morrow.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Monday, Feb. 12.
Mr. Newton from the committee of Oum
merer and Manufactures to whom was re
ferred so imirh of the message of the Presi
dent of the United States ns relates to penal
ties incurred involuntarily in consequence of
the renewal of the non-intercourse act, re
ported a bill “to remit certain fines, penal
ties and forfeitures.” Twice read and com
mitted.
MILITIA, VOLUNTEERS, &c.
Mr. Clay, from the - committee to whom
was recommitted the bill authorising a de
tachment of the militia of the U. States,
reported the same with amendments.——
[These amendments authorise the acccp
tauce of volunteers, who are to sign articles,
&c. to be exercised at certain times, nearly
as provider, in the bill now before the Senate
“authorising the President to engage for a
short period in the service of the U. States a
corps of volunteers.”] Twice read & com
mitted.
SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY.
Mr. (Jardcnicr rose and observed, that in
the present exhausted state of the Treasury
and with the utter hopelessness of its being
speedily replenished, at least by any means
visible toman, it was very natural that the
public should be c-xtremely sensible to any
attacks made on *be honor or integrity of the
officer who was at the head of that depart
ment. I have myself (said Mr. f» ) been
subjected lost r.satlons extremely unpleasant, j
m consequence of allegations which I see
advanced against not on.y the capacity but
the integrity of the Secretary of the Treasu
ry. I do not know that I should have at
tached to them so much of importance my
, self, were they hot .iffcbrr panic*! bv cir-r.rh
stances calculated to give them greater fi-rce.
J I* is of the first importance to the politic
; »hat Hit* purity of their •'Hirers should lie
unquestioned. I'hcrrlorf, in my opinion, it
j is the duty of the llepresert.it)'c3 t.f tin*
| people to investigate charges made ngaii.s*
t|iem, no m titer in wh.i> manner rr by wht m.
[ f bed induced to make these remarks
by a publication which i* now, l perceive,
[ rinTnit gthe circuit of t»-:_* newspapers, ma
i king the in >st serin is an;! (if true) the most
, comi. uining charges against »iie Secret at y
jof the Trensuty. " 1'or the infor mation of the
■ H"iise l will read nn extract from a piece
[ (under tin-signaMtie of Camillas) published
; originally i:i the Viiginia Argus ;—
: *^1 ;t *ime like die present, when the
| kingdoms of Europe appear to have r.ouspir
■ r-‘d to do us wrong, it was naturally to have
• he* U expected that the 1; msted tah nts of the
Secrntary of the Treasury would have pro..
I duccd a system ol finance commensurate to
the occasion, The report which he has
| inad-* is probably the performance cf one ,.t
’ Ids clerks, and the pubfic ore \»et to he asto
nished, perhaps with something more praisc
, worthy from the fruitful inventioh of the ho
j norable Secretary. lam loth to suspect his
capacity ; hut if he di es not speeddj pvo
| dace some rcsjiectahlc evidence of his atiili
I tv, his talents or his integrity will undoul t.
edlv he questioned. It must be confessed,
I that his official estimate, during the e . bar
go and now, give "great scope for the im
peachment of his intellectual vigor, and the
sudden growth of his private fortune is un
favorable to the supposition that he is the
most disinterested of ministers. When the
Secretary of the Treasury, from a yearly sa
lary of four or five thousand, amasses in the
short Compass of eight years the enormous
fortune of two hundred thousand dollars,
we are authorised to enquire how lie has ef
fected it ? If this were a government of
England, and Mr. Gallatin a Lwd Me vilie,
there would be nodfiicnlty in accounting for
the circumstance : but it would be too nas
ty a determination to decide, without farther
investigation, that Mr. Gallatin had m«de
use of the opportunities which his station af
fords, to speculate in the funds for his indi
vidual benefit ; or, that he availed himself of
the same opportunities, to become the pro
prietor ot lauds which have hern sacrificed
by the artful representations of the man who
purcnasea trom tbe public. If the hnnora ]
hie Secretary has recently transmitted the ^
interest of the Dutch loan to Holland in spe
cie, we may be assured he has his reasons
tor it ; and it will require all ynnr ingenuity,
sir, to demonstrate that Albert Uallaiin, who
lias drained the country .of hard dollars to
pay them into the hands of or.c^if the Bona
partes, would have been a proper cnarac
ter to fill the office ot the Secretary oi State,
to which he aspired ? I am not fearful of
contradiction when I affirm that he did this
act contrary to the inclinations of the Presi
dent.”
This publication may be considered as ma
kmg three specific charges : 1st. that this
officer has made use of the public funds,
while at his disposal, for the purpose of pri
vate speculation; 2ndly. that by artful con
trivances he has procured sales to he made
of the public lands for the purpose of pos
ressing himself of them ; and 3<llv. that con
trary to the manifest wishes of the President
of the United States, he has endeavored to
drain the country of specie, for the purpose
ot placing it in the hands of one of the Bona
p.artes. They are serious charges, whate
ver may he the source of them, and it is pro
per that they should he investigated, that, if
true, the officer implicated may be punish
ed ; and, if false, that his innocence may be
put beyond doubt. In proposing this inves
tigation I wish to be understood, that I am
not inclined to believe these charges. I can
neither believe nor disbelieve, for I have no
ground for either. It is sufficient to induce
me to make an investigation, that the char
ges are publicly made. If this would be my
opinion in ordinary cases, I am more strong'
ly induced to demand the present investiga
tion, because hearing, as all do, the voice of
public rumour, 1 have heard (and so fre
quently as to induce me to say that the re
port is current tlirough the nation) that the
publication from which I have read an ex
tract, had its origin in the department of
state, and that it comes to the world with
the knowledge of the head of that depart
ment. I d<> not say such is the fact; I mere
ly state that such a rumor is afloat and will
spread through the nation. And the source
to which the publication is ascribed will
tend to place the reputation of this high offi
cr-r before the nation in such a light that, if
innocent, great injustice will lie done to him.
I hope therefore an investigation will be
made to ascertain the truth. I enter into
the enquiry with no prejudice against the
Secretary of the Treasury. If I have any
particular impression, as I would suppose e
very man innocent till I found him guilty, I
am under the opinion that the charges are
not well founded. Yet, though this is my
impression, I must confess that I cannot bear
to have these charges circulating in this way
And not desire an investigation in some way
which shall 9uppoit their truth or prove
them baseless calumnies. With this view I
have prepared several resolutions, which I
submit to the House:
“ Resolved, That a committee be appoint,
ed to enquire generally into the official con
duct of the pvespnt Secretary of the Treasu
ry, and particvdarly whether the said Se
cretary has at any time, and when, a\,l in
what manner, and to what amount specula
ted in the public funds.
“ And wheth r the said Secretary has be
come proprietor of any and what tracts of
land sold by the United States, and if so,how
the sales thereof have been conducted.
“ And also, in what manner remittances
either of principal or interest of frtreign debt
have heen made, and whether in any and
what cases contrary to the inclination of
the President, either as to the amount or
manner.
" And that the said commitrce have power
to send for persons and papers.”
Mr G. said, as he did not wish to take the
House by surprise, he would not now ask
the consideration of the resolutions.
Mr. At'Kim moved that ihe House now
consider them.
The motion for now taking them up was
agreed to by a large majority.
Mr. flurivell said he was confident, from
the evidence which presen ed itself cn the
very face of the paper which had been quo
ted, that nothing could he more groundless
than the charges insinuated against the Se
cretary of the I ren mry. How was it pos
sible that he could speculate • n the public
lands, the prices of which are fixed Ly law
and tfie patents for winch pass through se
veral offices f It was utterly impo siblethat
iie could defraud the United States r 1 an n
ere. As to the accumulation of n tot »uue i
100,000 dollars, in what way could »e haw
;d tne it by the a-' of pnldY. funds ? Arc
_ ih ■?:* nut ^.Xitiil AI*1, .lit v. , j :\n..u..l itu..; fs
from the treasury x’ep lumen:, nm-n to th j
inspection of this Knir-e ? KVerx nive .lt.; i
Jtmn made has pvo»’yd hmi inrorv i,,.Iblc . .il
i honest As to the spec ie sout to iloH.mu. t
jis well known that the interest and s >.\ e
.part of the principal of the I). oh debt ;u»
| nu.illv becomes due; and sinc«- ci'in.uei e
j lias bern sti>|ici.Oi d, UH te have liri'li » >i -
Heels of our merchants there; and it h <
I been ilitnct.lt, it t<»»t imp. >»• |jle *«> pur.ch't . j m
| bills <». hat minti y. 1 .us tact is nntorioh n
ilow then was the public debt to be paid?
I *• bills con'd not be purchased, specie •• ust
!1,e The mi.il. \ l.c c une doe. and if », e
tvnul'.l.prose*ve i.i»f i tie our faith as ovety
! button on dir, wc must .send specie there—
| One remai-t xvas di uppe 1 by tbe gentleman
ifinni Nt'v Yoik which, i confess, appeared
!to me very singular. He said that a ruhior
I had gone tibroad that this statement derived
j autltentjr ity from the sanction of thekccreta
: vy ol State. Is it possible*. *.ir, tosuppose that
, the Secretary of State would so far descend,
j that he wt»n:d degrade hints- If bv circulat
• «T*jr, in a private an.I nndei ihd manner,
I slander against a man who acted with him
•in office? \\ !iat*»ver he might at anytime
! have felt,lie could not lend h.s sanction to a
private marked attack on any man’s ch:i
i meter, it is utterly impossible that any ui
i hcer of the L'. S. cciuld so tar forget eveiy
[claim he lt.iu to his own respect as to des
cend tossxrli c'->nd'tct.
If the .»toiiBc were to adopt parao'raT>hs
from the public pi inis and minors of tha
day as grounds for charges against anv oRi
cus of the government, how many men of
eminence would you lind, xvhosecharactcrx
have not through these vehicles been im
peached ? Have not r.ur papers sunk to that
degrading st ate that they charge the most
incorruptible men with fraudulent specula
tions? I could point out numerous instan
ces of men belonging to both parties, xvho
are honest and incorruptible, who have been
Charged with toe most shameless peculation.
—If we were to be influenced by every ru
mor whirh finds its way into the papers, in
stead of appointing a committee to examine
into the conduct of the Secretary of the
Treasury, we should have to appoint a com
mittee which should embrace in the scone
of its enquiry all the political characters of
the country.
as to tins piece winch lias appeared in a
Virginia paper, it bears its contradiction on
the face of it. It is one of those anonymous
papers, daily published, avowing with bold
ness, without fearing contradiction ; the wri
ter of which is evidently ignorant of notori
ous facts, and unacquainted with Treasury
transactions.
I should myself be extremely sorry, -that
rumors of this kind should ever produce any
effect on those who are the subject of theni.
I do hope, that ihe Secretary of the Trea
sury will, while ho estimates properly lhr»
parity and dignity of his own character, ab
solve his colleague in office from an imputa
tion so odious as that attempted to he fixed
on him. No man who has a. regard for his
own character, would suppose, that a gen -
tleman placed high in office would attempt
in this clandestine manner to destroy his re
putation. I have no doubt hut an enquiry,
if instituted, would terminate in a manner
highly honorable to the Secretary of the
Treasmy ; and there can be no question,
but it would In* impossible to produce evi
dence, that any officer in the government
has bean so far forgetful of himself and the
dignity of his station, as to conduct himself
in a manner which would disgrace ii.m for
ever as a man of honor. Mr. r$. concluded
by moving to postpone the further consider
ation of the subject till to-morrow.
Mr. M' him was opposed to a delay of a
decision on the resolutions. He thought the
House would be disgraced by an enquiry on
such grounds. It would he but justice to
themselves to show the public, that the
House would not occupy its lime with sur.it
frivolous pursuits. Gentlemen talked ofien
about precedents. The adoption of thi- re
solution on the grounds stated bv the mover,
would be one of the most injurious prece
dents. There was not a man of information
in the nation, who would not think it ridicu
lous. He hoped the resolutions would be
promptly decided on.
Mr. (iurdenicr said, he did not himself
place great faith i* these charges ; but in v
case ol this kind, the House cou’d not he too
desirous to satisfy the public mind. An in
vestigation into them, iffaise, would ttndi>
confirm the officer in the public confidence.
It was in the nature of all charges of this
sort, no matter by whom propagated, to run
through the community, till there are many
whobelieve them. Mr. G. said nis princi
pal object was to vindicate the Secretary of
the Treasury The only question was, whe
ther the House would evince their disbelief
of the charges, by a rejection of the resolu
tions, nr, whether, by an examination into
the subject, would refute them under
stawlingly. The . ejection of the resolutions
would lie an evidence of the faith of the
I House, in the integrity of the Secretary of
the Ttra'ury ; but if an examination was
made, and the author was called before the
committee to substantiate his charges, the
result of the investigation, if favorable,
would produce a conviction to every mird.
For himself, he thought the House could not
be too careful, or too eager to prove the in
nocence of the Secretary of the Treasury.
He wished, of all things, to have it distinct
ly understood, that lie did not move the en
quiry under the impression, that it would re
sult in the conviction of the Secretary of the
Treasury; but the manner and style in
which these charges had been announced,
made him wish that all the departments
should be clear of the imputations they con
veyed.
Mr. (i'hofn'jn said he was sorry, that any
base calumny, which must be despised by
every honest, virtuous and enlightened mail
in the community, should, in the estimation
of the gentleman from N. York, be deemed
of so much importance as to merit an exam
ination by this Ifnnsc. The resolution be*
had offered was very extrordiuarv in itself,
pu'ting out of view tho improbability of 'he
facts into which it proposed to enquire, flow
was an enquiry tobe made iotothe purchase
1 of land by the Secre'ary. of the Treasury ? re
into the amount or nature of his private pro
perty ? Countenancing the resolution so far
[ as to permit it. to be on the table, would be
materially affecting the repa'ation of the
enlightened officer who presides over ti e
Treasury Department. Wouldit b<- »v •aim.
edby the people abroad, that the lion*? of
Representatives would in any rasa whatever
institute an enquiry into the conduct of one
| of the highest ofhtrrs of the government,
I unless they tli* i.s Ives believed there w as
something bk"don *t a« to b s integrity ? To
> xpre i any thing like d T't of the charac
ecof a man is cs'-lm ■» .'’» ui i* jur** him, f
isk it 'nvre be any lmiii in the Ilotr.e wb*