Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-06-13

Mr.. VARNUA1. am not about to
take up the lime of the House by any
discussion of the question before Them,
which has already been debated three or
four weeks ago. and principally occupied
by the declaration of the gentleman from
Virginia. l think it my duty however,
10 give shori history Of the circumstance
from which has arisen the celebrated sto-
ry of back. stairs influence, Charles Jen.
kinson, &c. Gentlemen declared there
was nothing in the message of the Presi.
dent that justified the measure before the
committee, that it on the contrary prov
ed and pointed out as most proper the
measure reported by the select commit
tee. did not believe that il pointed out
that measure, or that there was any cause
to believe that any thing had occurred
between the Sd aud 9Th of Decem her,
which could have induced the President
to change the opinion he entertained,
when he communicated the first me ssage.
In the message of The Sd oil Defender,
he says" Whether it will be necessary
to augment our land forces viii be decid
ed by occurrences probably in the course
OF your session." No such occurrences
had taken place between the Sd and the
OH OF December. Taking this into view,
and also taking into consideration what
j considered 10 be the true meaning of
the message, Isaid that would venture
to assert as my opinion, that The neasur.
OF the appropriation was agreeable to the
executive; and that formed this opini-
On from documents on the table. On this
the gentleman from Virginia rose, and
commenced violent attack, similar 10
that we have Witnessed to day. asked
leave to explain. Ibid explain & / now
appeal to the House, whether did not
observe at thattime that the measure Of the
appropriationI considerable be agreeable
to the wishes of the executive, Sc whether
did not support this opinion from docu.
men's before you; and added, that if any
other idea had escaped me, or could be
attached to what said, that This was my
explanation, and thatit was not my inten-
ton that what Ihad said should GO farther
than to Intimate this opinion, * that did
believe had not said any thing that could
1aIriy be construed to have a different
meaning. 1t is a lact, that it has been
published in some papers 10 the eastward,
that MIR. Jefferson expressed to me his
secret wish that resolution should be
Drought forward contrary To his message.
l say this representation il contrary TO
fact. j say that Mr.. jefferson never men
toned any such thing to me; and if had
MADE such statement, l should have
wronged the first magistrate. Why these
observations are again brought forward at
this tune do not pretend to say; but
what have stated are The facts coDnec-
TED with this business. believe such an
attack as this has never been made be-
tore, in the face Of an explanation raade
at the time, which / did believe would
have been satisfactory.
MIR. J. RANDOLPH. When the We.
racity OF man is called in question, tits
serious business. The gentleman from
Massachusetts has appealed to the House
Tor the correctness Of his statement. l
too appeal to the House whether this was
not his expression, when he undertook 10
explain away what he had said, for he did
not dsny it--ihat he mould vorch shat
sHch Trere the secret wishes Of The Preai.
DEM land whether | did not observe
That his attempt 10 explain, was like
Judge Chase attempting TO draw back a
preJudcated opinion in the case Of Fries !;
that he might take back the words, but
not the eHecl they had made on the as.
sembly; that The constitution knows only
OF two ways by hieh the executive could
influence the legislature the one by a
recommendation of such measures as he
deemed expedent, the other by a mega.
tive on our bills 4; and that the moment It
was attempted TO influence the House by
whispers and private messages, It's inde-
pendence YVES gone. stated the prone
ness OF legislative bodies to be governed
by executive influence, and in illustration
referred 10 the Senate, who, from its as.
ISOLATION with the executive and the
length OF time for which It's members
bold their seals, was necessarily made up
OF gaping expe6ants Of office. And
there can be no doubt Of the fa6. IL
musI be go from the nature Of things.
Row, II Il be necessary, let the House ap-
robi committee of enquiry to ascertain
what the gentleman from Massachusetts
d'd say, ard Lex US see who can sdduce
The rnos1 Witnesses ard swear the hardest.
tH.I