Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1803-01-14

nv, containing certain anlmadversiops on
the report Of the committee Of investiga.
ton, made during the last session. ,~S:S
1. Considerable progress: having been
made, by the clerk threading ofthe above
letter, Mr. Aston said that the paper
which the clerk was reading appeared to
him 10 be very voluminous one, and
that he did not think the house were
bound to listen to the reading Of II, He
conceived them only bound to-, attend to
such documents as rnishtbe receivedfrom
public officers, or to petitions for aredressu
OF grievances. He did not believe thlI
paper now before the house to be one Of
that description, or that the house ought
to take any notice of il. If the house
were bound 10 take notics 81 every letter
any individual might think proper to
write and address 10 the Speaker, very
little time might be left to do any other
business. He concluded BY saying he
thought they ought to take no more no.
tice Of it, than they should Of any para
graph in newspaper which might be en-
closed to the Speaker. He therefore mo-
we'd that the paper. should not be read.
Mr.. Stanley observed that he did not
perceive the difference stated BY his col
leagtie--.nor did he know how the gen.
tleman could anticipate the contents of
\ communication before read. We shall
be enabled TO Judge better oft when we
hear it. By what inspiration could the
gentleman form a judgment now! The
communication appeared to him <ofthe
utmost importance. He hoped, therefore,
it would be read.
j., Mr.: Morris could not emit making
remark or two. From the: communica-
ton, so far as read, II appeared that it
was charged, that the character Of for
mer public officer had been aspersed.--
The house ought, therefore. not only TO
read the communication, but also to en-
quire into the complaint: There was not
an indecent expression in it. The writer
complains that his character has been at
tackled. 1t win be the height Of injustice
to refuse him an opportunity Of being
heard. =. ., -. -
The Speaker said that it was rule Of
the house, that when the reading Of apa.
per is called for, it shall be read, unles1
dispensed with by general consent.
Mr.. Randolph said he wished only TO-
observe, that there was but one principle
land that had been stated by the speaker)
on which these papers ought to Be read.
ANY member had right to call for the
reading Of papers. To him, however, il
appeared that there was no occasion fof
inspirationto perceive that the papers, so
far as read, were IN high degree indie
cent, unworthy Of amy man who had held
or ought to hold an Office under govern
inent, and defogatory from the. dignity
| Of the house, Members were cited BY
frame-insults were offered To individual
rnembers-a committee was divided in
to different sects-Gon one class iliiberA
calumnies were thrown, while he ether
class was shielded from reflection. Was
tins decent, or indecent He concrath-
lated himself that he differed az widely on
this subject, Is he did on others, from
gentlemen. /..-. ~
Mr.; Morris said however widely he
might differ on this as well as other sub
jects from the gentleman from Virginia,
he believed his own ideas of&hat was de-
cent or indecent, as correct as those of
that gentleman. The letter states tina. q
report had been made during The last
session.. duplicating the character of the
writer. 1t further states that certain gen
tlemen on the committee did not concur
in the report. This the writer knew from
the debates upon the report. He there
fore, thought it his duty, in yindieatink
himself, to exonerafe those members
from censure. Was this indecent He
conceived not. -. 90,
Mr.. Morris said that when he had OBJ
served that there was not an indecent ex.
preston in the letter, he mean, that there
was no such expression applied to the
house collectively. He did not mean to
say there were no charges against indivi-