Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-05-18
Debate
fC5,ltaued-)

1t was said BY gentleman from Con-
necticut (Mr. r. Griswold) that we were
about TO appoint committee to ransaok
the country for an accusation, and alter
wards to search for prOet to support It.
He complains that no accusation Is made.
Mr.. n. averred that an ACQUISITION was
made it was made during the last session,
and again repeated during the present. he
asked if twas no charge to declare that
Judge had condemned man to the most
ignomenious death, without hearing;
without allowing him these benefits which
he claimed under the constitution? Was
. il trivial circumstance Tor member OF
this House to declare that freeman had
been indicted fora high capital offence
that he appeared at the bar and pleaded not
guilty THAT his counsel were ready to
prove the truth of the plea, but that the
presiding Judge had refused TO hear them.
lfthis was NOT a charge and charge too
of a most solemn nature, he did not ander-
stand the meaning of the words. 1t was
brought forward as boldly as the gentleman
from Connecticut could wish, and the on
we enquire into the truth OF it. Shall we
appoint committee to make the enquiry
by calling witnesses before them, Or shall
we dismiss it without investigation? Shall
we give it the, go-bye and suffer the cha
-racter Of the judges 70 rest under an impu-
tation so heavys Shall we proclaim our
own dishouor by publishing abroad that a
heavy charge had been made in the face of
this House against one of the highest judi.
cial officers of the government, and that we
were to pusillanimous to notice it?
What The gentleman meant by compar-
ing the proposed committee to the Spanish
inquisition. Mr.. n. really did not under
stand. Did tie gentleman wish to make
false Impression upon the public mind :
Was he anxious to cast an odium upon the
proceeding by calling it an inquisitorial
committee, and affecting to believe that it
was to be cloathed with the powers of the
holy inqoisision? The inquisition had the
power to seize the person Of the party, to
deny him all access to his friends, TO con-
fine him in cell, and refuse him all asst
ance whatever to stretch him on the wheel
and rack and torture him into confession.
Does the gentleman wish to induce belief
s that this committee is to be cloathed with
the same powers Ali committees appoint-
ed to enquire, might, to be sure, be called
inquisitorial, because they were to make
enquiry but the epithet of Spanish lnqui-
sinon, was intended to convey an idea to-
tally incorrect.
The gentleman bad asked why this
charge had been suffered to rest long !!
The facts upon which it was made, Were
said to have taken place in 1900. Mr..
n. thought it would be fair to reply to.
the gentleman, that possibly he himself
bad in some measure accounted tor the.
delay, the proper time had nos, perhaps,
b fore arrived. Dutif the act upon which
the charge was grounded was criminal s,tH
thai day. was il less SO now? If justice.
had slept SO long, didit follow tilatshe was:
dead? He hoped and trusted nos. Tho
she had lain dormant till she was almost
trampled to death, she was again reused
10 her accustomed vigilance, woali pursue
her victims and dragthe to punishment.
The day OF retribution he hoped was at
hand.
The gentleman from Connecticut had.
declared that the proposed course was.
not warranted by precedent. He had.
noticed but mot explained away, the prece-
dents intoduced by the gentleman from
Pennsylvania Mr.. Eindley.) His own.
precedent derived from the impeachment
Of Mr.. Hastings, instead of being in his
favor was direcl againt him. In that
case it was not pretended that the proof
was before the House ofCommons. Mr.