Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-01-12
HOUSE OF REPREsENrdT1KbAy
TsURsDAr, Dec. 81.

L
TEUR SDAT, Dec. 81.
Mr.. Thomas moved that the resolution
moved by MIR. Randolph should lie on me
table.
But motion made to consider, was d.
greed to.
Mr. Randolph said as il appeared 5y .He
declaration Of the gentleman from New
I Orleans, that he did possess information,
and as the House had right TO IT, he " SD :
ed the speaker or some other genuensn
! - inform him of the manner IN which is
might be obtained.
! No order was taken on this point
Mr.. Fay Tor moved that The resolution he
committed TO a Committee Of the whole.
not on to-day or tomorrow, but at a dis
tant day, that time m ght be afforded Tor
consideration.
After debate, Mr. Taylor Withdrew his
motion.
Mr.. Gard rnier moved that it be refer
red to Sc ect committee With power TO
send FIR pei sons, papers, &c.
Mr. vi rtin moved 60 strike out than part
OF this motion giving power to seiecs
Committee 20 send for persons, papers, sc.
MI. Nelson made motion TO adjouThs
which was negauyed.
Mr. Smile moved to postpone farther
proceedings On this subject till Monday sri
which motion the yeas and nays being GALE
led for by Mr. Randolph, were So 20 20
On the foregoing motions very lengthy
and somewhat desnltorY debate enSued OK
a5oat hours. The de aIe turned ON MAJ
ny Incidental questions, amongst which,
whether Congress had a Constitutional
rightto request the President to cause the
proposed enquiry % be made 10 his it
was answered that Congress mad as much
right 70 make this request as to request
the President to lay before them pGblc pa~
pers, either of which requests he might
refuse. 1t was also said, that in making
this request. the House could not coIu-
mand more attention than was due to a
respectable individual
1t was doubted whether a member could
be called upon TO We Information IN his
seat, or at the bar o. the II use In an
sYer pre- edents we're produced Of casey
in which members o the House had been
interrcgated a The bar.
1t WIS also conterded, that if delivered
IN his place, the COMMUNE .toD would be
liable to commehtary or reply by any gem
ueman who might think proper TO discuss
IL IN the same manner IS any other speech.
il was made 4 question whether this ~
formation could be more PRO- c w rece, d
! by a committee of he whole, or a self a.
committee, or by the House J, WAS So L
on this that it had heretofore b, en- he
course OF procedure to empower chairmen
of committees IN such cases TO administer
oaths !; that in the House a member could
be compelled to give information if The
| House thought fit, but ~ committee of lhe
whole he could not be conpt He'd; that ig
information or evidence were TO be recc;4
Ived in the House, It world perplex heir
pr ceediugs, by loading the table and Jour
Inais with interropafories Be-
| TWAS questioned whether it were proper
to DECIDE 1t now, to refer Il, or u postpone
1T On these points there appeafed be a
j great diversity Of opinion, some thinking
that the evidence which they had received
was irsufhc ent to induce them to pass the
resolution without further consideration,
lberfg mere request to the President 20 en-
quire others wished farther time and more
Ievidence previous to giving their vote on
1.-THE subject, considering it of great inn
9ortance; others were in favor of a refer
fence 70 committee, TO consider a ! the
forego NJ points as well Tie propriety Of
the main resolution some wished tn com-
mittee tOhave power TO send for persons and
papers, to report to the house Their opinion
N the subject, together with evidence, be.
liieving that positive and satisfactory evil
ldence should be produced before they a.
ldopted this resolution, and il was impossi-
lie to understand precisely the evidence
lnow p.cduced from the mere read ny Of it
ther gentlemen wished il referred 70 a
ommittee without power 20 send for per@
sons, papers, &c. as they conceived the
mouse did not possess power 10 enforce their
lorders IN such case, general Wilkinson be-
ling military and not q civil officer, whom
1.-THE President alone had power to remove.
None Of these points we're decided either
ldireetly or by implication.
In the course OF this devious discussioH
he succeeding observations on the mails
subject wers made by different gentle~
men.