The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-01-23

&C "a By the most scrious clyf5p,racs Jbr
nation had been convu:scd oy q plot, whos;.1
machintti"s were extended ard ramihed
lptQ tue remotcSt CORNER of the country The
despicaolc wfetshcs who had reared this de-
testable fabric. who &c:Srved, and he hoped
had received the detestatim and execration
IF every honest inaia attached to his country.
and capable OF estimating the value of those
liberties which were threatened with des-
truction, had notwithstanding received fair
trial, they had passed through all the pro-
cess OF an Investigation, in the slow pace of
the common law. He thought ii certainly
not less just ami incumbent to give fair OBJ
pOrtunity co the commander of our army TO
meet the charges exhibited against him, and
TO dspel the suspicious which clouded his re-
putation, by an Investigation, if he was re-
ally innocent. Mr.. z. said he had no hesta
ton in saving, that the officer in question
should invite himself the most thorough ex-
| animation ; this was the only eXpediienr to
remove the obloquy under which lie abored :
and this course ought to be equally desirable
to gentlemen, whether Friendly or inimical.
But said Mr.. Is. there is consideration SUI
perior to those OF personal nature, the de-
licate state OF our affairs the possibility of
contest with foreign nations, and the indis-
pensible necessity to give efficacy to our ar
my, and quiet to the nation: whose jealousy
was admitted on all sides to be great, and
could only be quieted in this manner A gen.
| tleman from New-York (Mr. Gardcniep) had
spoken of the events at Orleans and
the violation OF the, constitution by tile COM
| manser in chief. Mr.. b said, he certainly
condemned, and would readily punish every
| intraction OF that isstrumcn. BY the military !;
but he would ask gentlemen if thev really
possessed correct knowledge upon that sub
| lect, and suggest the improDrietv of pro-
neuncing upon the guilt of man from rlrnor
OF the most contradictory Kind. He advised
| gentlemen to be thoroughly and min.telv &C
qusinted with the occurrences in the western
| country, before they pronounced that pen. w.
| had not contributed essentially TO the Dreser-
walton of tranquility in that quarter of the
y. ,. Mr. Is. said he thought whenever n
member ct the House in his place gave infor-
nation relative to the conduct Of a public of
hccr, the House could do nothing less than
make a proper disposition of it; and Whence
yer he demanded an enquiry to be made.
that request ought to DC granted. TWAS due
! to members whobelieved enquiry necessary.
They became themselves responsible for the
| correctness OF their Information, and became
pledged for the proprictv of &c ting upon it.
The House must certainly recoiicct, a few
years since an enquiry was demanded into
the official conduct Of the Postmaster Ger
er"i' anu ii WASH ms opinion very properly
granted.
| Mr.. + said he should protest against being.
| Implicated in all the sentiments which might
be expressed by those who intended 70 vote,
IN the same way he should himself; MOI,
should fear OF that sort ever induce him TO
abandon the course his judgment approx ed
and his conscience sanctioned. He thoupht
however, that the mover of the resolution
ought to have laid on the table all the papers
which he had read in his place they might
have been examined, and estimated with
more correctness by the different members.
(Oe6aks 70 BE- tonkinucdl