The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-02-09

Because il belonged nst TO the court is .e but
t'.c JotSe Gd,ocat 20 record the testimony OF.
ed and his character had never yet ben in,peacl
cd
II IL the'!etter which has been alluded to in hi
debate. w. intended 70 apply to himself, he de,
! pissed The insnuation which It contained II eN
cited his contempt alone and he could no. pei
| mt THIS opportunity to escape him without cN
pressing his indignation at such an attempt Nj
g. concluded with saying thai he had perfect col,
| hdence III the administration, bu, none in genera
! w.
Mr. St7'other observed that he had only ;
few remarks to offer. 1t was imposs ible fo
that House to blow hot and cold with tho
same breath. There were certain GREAT
principles which they must consult, and not
the varying illusions of caprice. Whcr
| this House SO lately addressed the Presiden,
OF the y. ). respecting the embargo, were
they not acting within their constitutional
sphere, and could they be said to depart from
1t on the present occasion He contended
that the legislature had right to revise the
conduct of the general government for if
they once abandoned that doctrine, they
would but reflect a censure on the leeisla-
lures who had gone before them.
was 1T come to this that we must either
fall down before the Golden Calf and wor-
shiplt, or we must be denounced as dere-
llct from the old creedl Are we bound TO
say that because the preceding administra-
tions have retained gen. w. in command.
he is free from impurities. One of those
Presidents, who has been called by one gen
tleman sacred and immortal and whose
bright character was not to be sullied, has
however been stamped with disgrace by a
majority of this nation. To say that John
Adams was entitled to SO much veneration,
would r>aJce Tho NJ Il M (,
in lis estimation.
He cared not whether he were called
tederalist or Randolphte. He did notex-
Pect that his character would be taken from
his own mouth. But if so humble an indiyi-
dual was worthy of notice, let him be Judged
by his deeds alone. He could be a RandolphIte
and he could be q patriot. Is any man pre-
pared 10 say, that MIR. Randolph is not the
most blazing patriot, the most independent
statesman in this countrys Amidst his viz
tues, he felt disposed To forget his errors
No matter, said Mr.. S. how may act, Ibe-
heve my friends TO be ardent patriots, dcvo-
TED to the Interests OF thei-.country they are
men whom l am proud TO call nv friends
shall not denounce John Randolph, in order
that my escape the denunciations of the
day. again repeat that most ardently adj
mire the administration. But shall / there
fore say, that they never commit any errors
For my own part, thinl, have seen errors
frequently, s take this opportunity of avow
ing my opinion, that they have in some cases
departed from the true policy of his country.
and compromised its dearest interests But
these are like spots OH the surface of the Sun.
Mr.. Semi!ic (from Will amsburg) said, that
he had seen nothing TO remove the impress
sions from his mind, which he had express
ed on a former occasion. If any man would
IN A tN, - l. r.
Congress or to the National IntellieencerS &
to inform him that he was either Randolph
lite or Federaiist, he was indifferent about
the aspersion. He would refer to the iourn
ais OF that House for his justification, and
certainly they would present nothing 20 sup
port such untounded suspicious. Mr. s. said
he was not disposed 20 retract the opinion
which he had expressed, that gen. w. had
not his confidence. He could lot say he had
lost 1t, because in fact he had never possess
ed it,
Mr.. .Smyth (of Wytbe) moved to strike
out the words "at this time" from the reso-
luton because he Thought it was at all times
improper to interfere in this affair.
DIR. EoUshee called for the previous cues
ton, that they might get clear of SO many
Ayes and Noes which had been called for
But after short time, this m otioa was with
drawn.
Mr.. Brocken5rongh QHanover) was OBJ
posed to Mr.. Smyth's amendment, because
tho 1t might be inexpedient at this time to
act on the. resolution, yet it might at some
time or other be necessary to examine the
conduct OF SO high an officer as Brigadier
General.
After some additional observations from
Messrs Murdaugh and Gholson, and some
desuitory debate OH the resolutions, Mr..
Smyth's amendment was carried, .Ayes II,
Mays 65.-0ther motions were then made
as stated in our last paper, and the debate was
finally terminated by Mr. Weddings motion
to Lay the resolution on the table; which was
carried.
rnNINHJ-NrIfN A