Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1803-02-18

/ inst issa sbened noae effAsse IL he la
bit effaking nofes mere bresent. Bui
q gentleman sDto heard ME speech, and
.vho mated the most i,sb orfdat parts 81
u, has obEigiagly Favored IT, NTH tie
ollovine skefch, sokick Is saiid 20 con-
tam the principal argumr1fs adDanced
By M Bayard Tie speech spos dtl;.
pesedsn 7hesday, january II.
Z = - (Gas. y. S. j
Mr. Bayard sSid he Iamented much,
that unavoidable occurre noes had pre-
vented his amending in his place wiienthe
resolution Was under confederation upon
'the' motion 10 20 into committees of the
whole house. Having no knowledge Of
the arguments then employed 10 induce
the adoption Of the resolution, be should
nbstain from manyremarks whichobvious1
lyPresspksd themselves On tie subject, lest
he should fall into repetitions Of what was
familiar 20 the minds of the house from
the observations Of other gentlemen.
He must, however, Be allowed 70 state
that IL was practice little known hereto.
fore, but one which had alarmingly i'm
creased of late, 70 resist 4 calIfor Informs
zion from my branch Of the executive go
vernment. 81
e cannnthe; on the ground Of secrecy.
reqtired " the state ofour Affairs; for Ne
have been often told that governinent
like ours ought 70 have no secrets.
Though the present times have assn.
med the character Of econeaicai, vet an
hons member ofgreas weight In the house,
and whom he did not then observe in his
place, had fetnafkea at the last session,
with great emphasis and effect, that no
disposition TO economy should ever in
duce him TO economixe information
A stronger casc than the presene could
not exist. The house had been called on
to act up0na question touching our 70
reign relationss On such subjects, Il was
among the chief duties Of the executiyeto
acquire information. II wasfor this pur-
pose that ministers were scnt abroad and
their communications were made to the
cabinet, 70 which we Had right to lbok
upon III occasions for information res.
pecting the proceedings Of foreign gu-
sernments which implicatedthe national
interest! 49, ID
. Il 4 stated Id the presidential message,
thar Louisiana L eeded By Spain To-
France. x
This Is an important fact. The state.
meat in the message shews that the pre.
sident has Obtained information relative
70 the session. and after the fact II Aiacls-
sed, which Is the extent at any indiscres
ton whichcan be committed on the sub
jsets wly ssaesA from - tho tiiYcl,s.-
stances 1
The naked far did not fsirni.H suiie;-
entlisht to ensbls Us 70 Judge Of tlie stems
which i would be proper foras topur-
sue.
Though the country had been ceded:
vet the possession remained with the
Spaniiris. This created pfe;umption,
that il Is mot simple, absoiate cesssion.-G
If the eession be conditional or qualified,
or % take efectupo some future contin-
Eency, il Is extremely materid thar the
house should Be informed Of tie existence
Of the eirrufnstance.
4 Mr.. Bayard repeated his regret that he
WA NOT present q the discussion of the
subject which had taken place, as il was
beyond his powers 70 imagine . ground
upon which the information requested BY
The resolution could be denied.
But after the resolution had been IN
eject negatiyed on the motion 10 20 into
q committee Of the wholet and, hs he UNI
derstood, BY 1 large majority, he should
not have risen - trouble the house, but
for an occurrence which had taken place
since the house had made their dstermi- ,
nation uponth the resolution.
4 An honorable member from Maryland. \
Mr.. s. Smith has just laid upon our IA
be resolction calling upon the house 70
place rug millions Of dollars a he discre-
ton Of the execntive. LThe speaker here
remarked to Mr.. Bayard, that g the
Ae-r.rsa L.. &.