Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1802-05-05
TO THE PUBLIC.
Georgetown, Nav 1, ls

Ia Ge0ISSsfge0H, may 4, 1891.
A committee of congre6, ayleS, s
committee Of Inveaigatlon, wasappoptd
early in the prefent lefion, for purpda
which the relolution for rhe appoinrna,
will bet explain. A majority Of Til
committee after confirming nearly Eve
months, in enquiring into the fIauhA.
lodged to have been committeedby a,
,per ADMINISTRATIONS, have atlensth ath
clole ofthe teiiion, made a report, when,
| is too late to vindicate in debate ond.
floor Of congreis, the fair fame Of me,
who have performed meritoIious lerNa
for their country from thu, foul slpeI&n
contained in the report.
From the chairman Of this Commits,
I received letter at 3 o'clock on the l7i
Of April, dated that day, deGrlng TO know
by whar authority fix navy yards had ban
ourchaled, while l was fecretary Of th
navy and obfsrvipg that my anlSer nat
be in writing, and mutt be delivered 10
him by 10 O'Clock the next mornlns,a
the committee would report in the eoais
of the day. The lubject was familiar 70
memo time for delineration was neceai'
ry--I aniwered him the fame evening
but as it would be fwelIing to an rn''i'
(onable length, newspaper addteis TO
fert my anlwer here, | omit it con'enlaI
my!sit with the Jingle o5lervallon' 'ia'
doubted NOT the explanation it conta'nss'
was fuficient to fatlsfy gen1lemen Of ' ~.
did minds, and converfant with paoN
affairs that not Jingle navy yard ,ad N'I
purchaied, nor fngle lhiiling OF MONEY
expended on their Improvement, HlIn'''
full and ample legal authority.
This letter produced no elsett 0n'n
majority Of the committees has p'I'
previoully determined thar the Pui'as
of navy yards ihould atall events % w. ".
demned, and it was urged in vain 'y SSli
tlemen on the committee, who conep"'-
not with the majority, & whole DialoH'
horrence could not tall TO be excitea . y,
conduit Of that majority, that tie NV,
ihould at leaG be iuaered to acfoIDP1'
the report to congress, that the osF D.,
might be as public as the accuiaaon-p ,ai
this would have been fair proceeding, 80. @
il fuited rot the views Of the NAOMI
that the potion it was their purPois 'o@ y,
fill into the public mind, ihoaid vs. w.,
tended by its sntidose, and the l if'S
was lupprel1ed. From this initanes = ii,
uncandid courle Of the majority o. I ~
committee, in relation TO Pelton Gu .,,s
foot to anfwer them, a juf eltln'a'e .' ~,
Be made Of the treatment which '.''
(ervants Of the public abfent, snd al a t.,.
tance from the feat Of government :.
experienced at their hands. f,s
Fortunately for the free citizens q e,
United States, report of a r'ajorlIy I'M.
of congrefs is not cenden'a .,.r(oa
IS not even proof Of guilt. NO P er.,r
Iaments more than I do, the 100 ., nm
probability that fuch reports WA d;aht.
oole the power ofcreatiag even fi e ne he,
# of faipicion Of guilt, in the Peil0"'
hall accule. :. ~.
As far as their power extended Nv 10
ority of this committee, have s,an lor.
.sb me of that, which is dearef 'ila ad ft
une or life-reputation-in , ,ss.-n;ng,
,aving at a crifsPortentous and "a. s,'l If ny
o the neglect and infinite inJai l.ygos g rea.
private concerns, devoted and nv"