Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1804-03-23

Ia
the committee proceeded % business,
one or two messengers had been sent TO =
summon both my friend from Connecti-
cut and myself, and he had before given
me the same information in private.
And most certainly, Sir, have not the
smallest doubt bat that this was dome
for the assertion of any fact, made by,
the gentleman from Virginia, will ever
receive from me the most ready and im-
plicit belief. 1t nevertheless, so happen-
ed, that neither the member from Con-
necticut nor myself received the snFn-
mons, or attended the committee, In
whiehit was determined during our ABB
senee, that n report should be drawn up
and made to the House, recommending
the impeachment of Judge Chase. This
circumstance did, I confess surprise me
in the FIRST instant, and until the matter
was explained to me. Istill regret It;
Tor we never had any previous discussi-
on in the committee, on the merits Of
the various charges exhibited against
the Judge, and ! certainly did expect,
that each particular case would have been
thoroughly sifted and canvassed in the
select committee, and a separate and
distinct vote taken on each OF them be.
fore any report was made. =
Under this impression had intended,
. to have objected had l been present to
the committees coming TO any final de-
. cision until we had received. the dcpo-
sition Of MIR. Robertson ffem Peters
burg; and ! had also, Gas / observed
10 the committee on the ton owing morn
ing) intended 70 have requested, that
the depositionso of Nj. Edmund Randolph
late attorney generalofthe United States,
aud some other gentlemen, (whom | had
just learned were present at the trial Of
Callender might be taken, for as the on
y dispositions before us in this case were
those of the parti>s Immediately and IN
dividually concerned, and who were not
merely the political opponents of judge
Chase, but personally interested as to
the Propriety of their own conduct in the
trial was involved in the question at issue
between them and the judge, I had not
wished to make upmy mind or give q e.
nal vote on case in which there was evil
IDENTITY no other than perfectly exparte e.
violence before US. The committee how
ever having as has been stated, met dur
ing our absence aud decided in favor of
an impeachment, was virtually precluded
from making the propositions had in
tended. -s-.''~... y. Ill
Tits trde Mr.. Speaker, and the gen.
tleman from Virginia is perfectly cor
rsctin stating "that the whole of the
committee met the next day, and the re-
port, as it now stands, was submitted to
our final decision, when every individual
member was present. He was equally
correct in the observation, that the report
,wasopento the objections, which might
be offered from any quarter.
Bur, after five out of seven members
had already on the preceding day deci-
ded in favor Of the principle it contained,
certainly, sir, had not the vanity to
suppose. that any thing i could say,
would effect change of opinion and I
conceived, that after what had passed.
il would be regarded as mere caril ON
my part, and only done from a wish to
SHoArtass ana Create unnecessary delay,
70 propose, when the question Of inn
Peaehmentwas already acted md decided
upon, that we should wait for further
testimony. | therefore acquiesced, and,
CATER having expressed, as above stated,
what ! should have wished to have been
done and had intended to propose, had
been present in the committee the pre-.
eseding day. Ideemed it my duty, las
believing che evidence in qusstion before
u, 20 DC entirely ex parte )>so give il in
the reject committee, as l sRalY again do
on the present occasion, my decided nss
! gatiye 20 that part Of The report, which
Includes the resolution for impeaehing
judge Chase. -s58 -,
ne question was then taken3by Yeas
and NAYS, on concurring in The re.
RxnGk 49, u =. y . ~