Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-05-12
DEBATE
Continually

subject is novel in its iatuTe, ard may be
Important in It's consequences, presume
there exists a disposition to hear the rea-
soning which any gentleman 'saay be dlspo-
sed to offer upon it. 1t is with this view
that rise to express nav opinion n favor
Of creatinga committee Of enquiry. con-
slider this House as the grand inquest OF
the nation, whose duty ii is to enquire Oh
proper representation, into the conduct OF
every Official character under the govern
ment. Like grand Jury, We oughs IN my
opinion, at the instance OF any member TO
send for all persons possessed OF lniorma-
ton calculated TO throw Light upon the cor
duct of an individual inculpated. A con~
erary doctrine may lead 70 the most fatal
consequences, It would lead 30 TINS, that
minority would never be able to enquire
into the conduct OF a stale offender, unless
such an enquiry were favored By the Iiaa-
iority as it is now commended that the en-
quiry is not a matter of right which any
member may demand, but matter OF ia
vor to be granted according to the pleasure
Of the majority. Itmay be said thai ia
majority favor an individual, he will always
escape without an impeachment. But
believe otherwise and that the Senate
ike a virtuoas judge wilIn not suffer an atoRa
ofprejadlce or partially to fall Into the
scales of justice.
But say gentlemen, though It may be the
duty Of the House to impeach an officer,
It is necessary that facts warranting such
an impeachment, should be first presented.
This is not the course pursued in cases
where grand jury is called upon to act.
fla murderis committed it is their duty to
enquire ard diligently enquire who is gull
ty of the act, and to send for all persons
capable of giving information respectingit.
Such is the practice. Hlt shall be reqair-
ed to furnish facts, as is urged by gentle
men, the consequence VIII be that offences
Of the highest nature viii be committed
with impunity. 1t has been observed that
it is odious TO undertake the task OF pub
lie inforyner. But what the constitution
andlaws make our duty, so far from being
odious is honorable because we thereby
discharge duty imposed upon us by cur
oaths, and because we Shew ourselves un-
awed by the vicious conduct OF bad men.
1.-THE character Of q pubIlc iniormer be o.
dious, are we to expect that private lndl~
vi,iuals viii come forward with atidavlts
in such a case, to say the least OF it, the
duty would be Of an unpleasant nature.
We have, in the course OF this debate,
been frequently called upon for prece-
dents, and been told that when found, they
ought to be adhered to. In a country
from which we are accustomed to draw
precedents, in England, common report
has been considered as sufficient aatllorl-
tv for similar enquiries. We do) rot how
ever ask for an enquiry in this case on COM
mon report, but on declaIatloa OF mem
Der OF this House made in his place. Sup
pose there was ne such declaration, has
not a common report from Maine &c Geors
gia condemned the conduct the 3udge IN
the case Of Fries aad others at Phladel-
phia, in the case Of q grand jury in Dele
ware whom he directed to enquire tor Sc
ditious practices, ard IN the case OF Cal
lender in Virginia Has nor the general
sentiment of the country charged aial with
having in these cases abused his powers IS
2 Judge by organising oye1 those who
were broughc before him Il We pos
sess the RIGHT to enquire on common re-
port, surely We oughcto institute this en-
curry on the prevalence ofso general q SEN
tlment. Tosuch an enquiry would TN
heSigat n,glv agree. i the character OF the
president were Implicated, the opinion OF
the gsAtlernaa from Vermont TO tie COM
trary Notwithstanding. / would Likewise
agree to make the same enquiry IN any O.