Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1807-02-26
Proceedings Of Congress.
YogsEs OF REPRESENT ATIVEs.
Wsaasslay, FEB. IS.

nc TSSOl ul4Ou CoeSt01-sJ
Broom was taken up.
Ar. FsIioS spoke in favor of the commit
meat Of the resolution to the committee OF the
whole.
Mr.. Sloan The gentleman who has Just
sat down, says that il the constitution must
fall, hs viii stand by the pillars and tall with
its sublime ruins. lapprehend the gent enan
alluded, as he often does, to one OF the ancl-
ents--ne must haye meant Sampson--oainp-
saa was biind--shc gentleman begins to DOUBT
the correctness Of the administration, proof
that ne is growing dim at least sampson iost
all his hair-thc. gentleman, s cannot be much
grown.
FANNY as much prudence as the editors OF pub
lie napers they forbear discussing any sub
;ect that NAV be in suit--we ought not to act
IN This business now, as the commander In
chief viii probably have a legal investigator
81 b;s conduct. He considered thc conduct
. Of General Wilkinson as highly laudable; he
would saw to him, we'll done good and faithful
servant. YOU nave deserved well OF your soun-s
try. Ii
Mr. R.ndolDa. This is a motion 20 refer
why. deoase the merits OF the resolution; yet
fyhe ooiect be discussion, at IS OF iittle lna-
r,ort now this OBJECT is protlueed---he could
visa Il had taken different course GA account
oestae shortness of the remaining part OF the
session. One objection to this resolution has
s been. the Quarter whence in calae--lf those
who are now the highest in Office neglect their
duty. can they blame their adversaries for tax
ir,p:sthe Ground they may have Abandoned
whoever supports the constitution and he
rights ofthe people shall have my support QUO
ad that measure.
Another; objection is the time. ne CUES
ton of parliamentary reform has been agSltat-
ed these thirty years, yet the proper time mas.
not arrived--no time can be improper.
Another objection is want OF information
have You not the evidence of the message OF
the president that the constitution has been VI
olated-without a direlietion of duty, viola
tioa of yoursown oaths, you cannot refuse re
act.
tits not intended, while we would SECURE
this invaluable privileges, that any bill made In
consequence Of this resolution, shall have q
retroactive elFect--such was provision IN the
bilIto suspend the privileges of this writ; to
throw the lnantls Of the law on the most daring
violation of the constitution; for general VIII
kinson might as we'll have shot-tAo5e persons
atsonse, and plead TIE salus populi--the con
stitution once violated, he becomes unlimited.
Ii is objected that the subject IS now Sub Ju-
dici. Is this a reason sior our not providing a.
Ygainst future cases Ehe Romans had no law
to punish paricide, It'll the crime was eo.n-
nitted.
Hints have been throwA out, to try the pulse,
that the,com1nander should be lrdennl1acl--
bills Of indemnify are unknown to our oonste
tuition. Ifithe government indemnify the Vi
olatc.s of the constitution, the time will have
come when our constitution shall beosl Its last
crisis.
Ii has been said that a case may be where 1t
would be meritorlouS to transSress the constle
: tuition such doctrine deserves the most
prompt and full Reproduction.
1t has been said that al army is an evil
granted buff he wished to increase the ar
my, it was to oppose a, fos, not to be turReda-
gainst our own citizens. What IS cur army {
A terror and foe to unarmed citizens, ant
the scott of other nations.
1t is to be hoped that ample provision will
be made in the bill for the punishment OF the
infractions of the constitution inthis respect.
6 Unusual punishments shall not be Inffct-
ed" 1t was intended by this provision ehat
such punishments should not be inflicted after,
trial Yet here are heavy punishments inaict-
ed before trial, imprisonment, sc.
Many were alarmed that the constitution
provided for this miserable spot OF ten miles
square; twas not then expected to become a
court of kings benefit was not expected
that we were all to be brought here for trial.
Declaration of Independence transported
beyond sea for trial. Was it ever expected
that such a case would occur here
Whether the parties proceeded against are
traitors or not, is immaterial to the present
question