The Wheeling repository — Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.], 1808-01-28 00:00:00, page 4

-11a11v>i* lie may be exulted. So true is
the old sa\ ing, that “ what is bred in the
bone will never come out of the flesh.”
Quidm \l.
GENERAL Yv iLKINSON.
C 0 X G R E S .S’.
House of Representatives.
[From the United States Gazette.]
Thursday, J.nuirv 7.
hi r. Burwell oil ere d the following
resolution.
Resolved, That Mr. John Randolph,
representative in congress from the
state of Virginia, and Mr. Daniel
Clarke, delegate irom the territory of
Orleans, he requested to lay on the
clerk’s table all the papers in their pos
session in relation to the conduct of
brigadier general Tames Wilkinson,
whit - in the servic. of the U. States, in
receiving corruptly money from the go
vern nv-nt or agents ol Spain.
Mr. Ramioph proposed to add after
the word papers, these words,“or other
information,” in order that all the know
ledge of the delegate from Orleans
might be obtained by the house. There
was reason to believe that the 9,640 dol- !
i.irs, mentioned m tr.e papers read the
other day, was only a single subsidy.
We are, said he, told that a court of
inquiry is already instituted. We have
no ( fu ial intelligence of that; but sup
po i: g that \vc had ; a court of Inquiry
has no power to compel the attendance
vl witnesses. It is onlv the semblance
of inquiry. There are genii :n*.n from
Kentucky who have much knowledge
on this subject, but who, for many rea
son will be extremely reluctant to come
iurw rd and state it to a court.
Mr. Hurwcll agreed to vat v the reso
lute n according to the proposal of Mr.
K ldolph.
Mr. Smilie agreed to vote for this
i'e'■> ‘anion. lie lamente \ however, that
the resolution whi< h liad been introdu
ced on a former clay had not been im
mediately adopted. Two days had
been spent in cieb«ie on the subject;
speeches had been it; vie against the
character of general Wilkinson whi< h
would he read in every part of the uni
on. These would prejudice the pub
lick imnd,:»nd preve it that officer fit m
obtaining «i fair md inipanl.il ni »i. Mr.
S. v* «ss very sorr\ for this. 11 thought
the personal rights of geu. Wilkinson
[ had been violated by this coarse. He
[was willing however that the papers
should be received by the house and
transmitted to the executive
Mr. Clarke hoped the house would
consider the peculiar delicacy of his si
tuation. He w as here a solitary indi
vidual, 1GUO miles from home. He
had not papers or vouchers to support
his statements. He had observed that
what he had intended to communicate
to the president did not relate peculiar
ly to this subject. He thought that he
had belore made sufficient explanations
on this point.
Mr. Randolph spoke at length in sup
port of the resolution. He insisted on
the constitutional right of the house to
take the measures proposed. He ani
madverted freely on the character of
gen. Wilkinson, saying that it would be
miserable affectation to pretend to any
delicacy in speaking of a man whom he
had been compelled, under the obligati
on ol an oath, to pronounce guilty of
misprison of treason.
Mr. Rowan (of Kentucky) delivered
an able speech on the resolution. In
reply to those gentlemen who called for
precedents, he observed, that before a
precedent can exist a case must arise ;
no case of this sort ever had before ari
sen ; there could therefore be no prece
dent.
i ne cnarge was a heavy one ; it was
worthy of investigation. It had been
well known that the Spani-ih govern
ment had attempted to detach Kentucky
from the union. They had expended
100,000 dollars for that object; they
had placed a consul at Frankfort. He
wished that na efficient inquiry might
be made. 'There were other characters
m i/istiuguished situation*, 7vho, he be
lieved, would tremble at .such an inquinj.
He had long h en impressed with the
be lit t of gen. Wilkins >n\s guilt. Tin
publick prints have furlong a time rung
w ith charges against him, and no inqui
ry was made. We are on the eve of
war. lie is commander in chi f of
the American army. It is time for a
full, effi lent, and satisfactory investiga
tion. The resolution. Air. Kowan
thought inadequate tti the object, and \
he was therefore obliged to vote a
gainst it.
Air. Alston said if general Wilkin
son’s character was not as pure as puri
ty itself, 1« t him fail. Hut 'u . was a;
oM saying, howev-r ich hud »<*•
j .ice in u. Givw tnc Devil his „ac.<
General W. is not on trivil, and his case
ought not to be prejudged.
Mr. Bacon opposed the resolution
principally on the ground that it tran
scended the constitutional powers of the
house. He also thought that consider
ations ot delicacy toward the executive
ought to have some influence against the
rc solution.
Mr. Rowan, who rose up a second
time on the subject, observed that for
one power to pension the command
er of the army of another power, is
good cause of war. It is stated that
Spain has pensioned the commander of
th American army ; it is the province
of this house to declare war. llenct
results a right to inquire into the charg
es preferred against Gen. Wilkinson.
In reply to a supposed insinuation ol
Burrism from Mr. Smilie, Mr. Rowan
said it was unnecessary to vindicate* his
character wherever he was known. In
Kentucky he had ever manifested a
more than common hostility to the en
terprise of Col. Burr. He had been so
licited to plead his cause before the
Kentucky court, but had refused to un
dertake his defence.
Mr Witherall supposed that ever-*
man who Iiad ever snapped a pistol or
bitten the point of a cartridge, would
know that an inquiry of this kind apper
tained to military courts, and not to le
gislative assemblies.
i\i A o clock the question on the reso
lution was taken by yeas anti nays, anti
carried—90 to 19.
Friday, January 8.
On motion of Mr. Randolph, the house
resumed the consideration of the reso
lution, requesting the President to cause
an inquiry into the conduct of James
Wilkinson in corruptly receiving mo
ney from the government or agents oi*
Spain.
Mr. Findly spoke against the rt s lu
tion, in which lie d uied, on gi eral
principles, the i: -lit anti the expediency
of making such a request of the Pi evi
dent.
Mr. Gardner 'of X. Hampshire) re
minded th • house of the ord. r passed
vesti rdav, requesting .Messrs. R n .o ph
and Ci uke, to l.iyon the clerk’*, ia 1c
utcli p'p-rs as they possessed in rela
tion to this subject. lie* wished to
k tow wia.th* r th y had laid any uch
r cr.i Oil the table.
It v iis ns were 1, th t Mr. Randolph
hud ' ,i 1 on die hie the papers he ha4
rw..d on a fo.mer day.