Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-02-06
CONGRESS.
'2.,eERoyss OF RspnEsENrArIyns.
MONDAY, JAN. 90.
DEPATE.

DEBATE.
In the House Of Representatives on Me
bill TO SUSPEND the Privilege efthe zvrit
Of Habeas Corhus, for limited time in
certain cases.
On receiving this bill the doors OF the
House were closed. They were opened a
bout noon when, we understand, that a mo-
ton made by Mr.. Burwell to reject the
bill on the first veading, was depending
n message having been received from the
President of the United States: containing
additional information on the subject of
the conspiracy, Mr.. Burwell withdrew his
molten until that should be read
The Message having been read, MIR.
Burwell renewed his motion to reject the
bill.
Mr.. STANFORD seconded the motion.
Mr.. BURWELL said he was unac-
Guainted with the particular reasons which
had induced the Senate TO pass this bill.
None had been assigned when the bill was
communicated, and no additional docu-
mcnts presented. re conld therefore on
" be governed by that Information which
| the House had received and he believed
! that would Justify the molten before the
House The President in. hrs r1essa &c OF
TIE 221. SAYS. Son the whole the fugitives
/ from Ohio and their associates from Cum
| berland, or other places IN that quarter,
! c01ln0t threaten serious 6'.zHe'e5. 10 the ciSH
/ II Ne7y Orleans" IF that be the case, up
on what ground shall We suspend the writ
! Of IIaheas Corpus Can any person ina
! ginc the u 6. are IN danger AFTER this DC
| claration Of tho President, who unuHeSti-
! onahlv possesses more Correct informati-
on than any Other person can be supposed
4, to have. In another part of the message
| we arc informed, that the persons ares
ted at New Orleans have been embarked
for some of the Atlantic ports. "proSablv
[ on the consideration t'at an impartial tri-
| al could not be expected during the pre-
sent aeitations OF New Orleans, and that
that city was not as yet safe place oS con.
fnement. As soon as these persons shall
arrive, they will be delivered to the GUS
tc'y the law, ard left IN such. course n
i trial, both as TO place and PROCESS, as rs
iupctionaries may direct; The presence o.
the highest judicial authorize. 20 he assem-.
bed at this place within few DAYS. the
! means Of pursuing sounder course ofpro
ceediugs here than elsewhere. and the ait
of the executive means, should the iudeel
| have occasion TO use them, render il equal
" desirable, for the criminal as for the
pubic, thai being already removed from
!. the place where thty Tere apPrehended
the first regular arrest shoGld take place
here, and the course fproceedinea receive
here its pyoper direction" The j'f--"-'
dent evidently holds out the idea. that the
correct and proper mode Of proceeding car
Ire lad under the existing laws Of the u. 6
These ,scrsous may be transferred from
- 4. % ~ -,
proceeded against recording to law Those
therefore who fear the catSpe Of the trai'
tors already apprehended, an, would by
this measure obviate the difficulty, mus;
perceive that consequence would not ensuc
Mr.. 3. said he should consider the suspeu.
sion of the Haseas Corpus as holding out
an idea of danger and alarm. which was
highly improper, inasmuch as il did not ex.
list. IL is true this conspiracy was once
formidable, extensive and threatening hui
it has been tlissipatcd by the vigilance d
government. He would ask gentlemen, II
they seriously believed the danger sufTici.
emily great to justify the suspension oftbis
most important right OF the citizen, to pro.
claim the country in peril. and TO adopt a
measure so pregnant with mischief, by
8 which the innocent and guilty viii be ~.
Yolved in one common destruction. re
said this was not the first instance Of the
kind since the formation Of the federal 20
yernment; there had been already two in.
surrections in the u. s. both of which had
> defed the authority Of Congress, and me.
! DaCed the union with dissolution. Notwith.
standing one Of them justified, the calline
out of $4,000 men and the expenditure 81
one million Of dollars, he had not heard oil
proposition 10 suspend the writ OF II be.
as Corpus. What then will be said of us
) if non Tvhe1 tie danger is oUer, firm in
the attachment Of the people to the union
with ample resources to encounter any diff
fculties which may occur, we resort to q
measure 80 harsh in its nature, Oppressive
in its operation, and ruinousa az precedent
While IN former times, it was thought an
safe to suspend this most important and
valuable part Of the constitution, he would
ask whether the necessity at the presen,
time could be considered greater with
regard 10 those persons who NAV be i'm.
plicated in the conspiracy, if tho writ oil
Habeas Corpus he not suspended, what
will be the consequence When appre.
lhended they will be brought before court
. Of justice. who will decide whether there
IS any evidence that will justify their com.
! mitment for farther prosecution From
lthe communication Of the executive II an.
peared there was sufficient evidence 10 OF
thorise their commitment. Several month";
would eiapse before their final trial, which
would give time TO collect evidence, and j
this shall be sufficient they will not fail {,
a.. ...-.soI l..