The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-01-09

nasty view he had taken of the subject. II
had appeared sufficient motive for making
the request to the President, as expressed ~
the resolution; but from the ideas expressed
from different parts OF the House, he had
been led TO consider the proposed measure in
new and different point OF view. The gen
tieman frotn Virginia had given the House
Certain information, and on that information
had founded his resolutions. II was true that
TINS resolution contained nothing. which would
impeach any other person than the General
but gentlemen had called on the delegate
from Orleans for information corroboratinr
the statement of facts he had given: and
the delegate had stated that he had at divers
times given information TO the Executive, 8,
at other times endeayored TO give it to the
Executive, but that department had turned
a GEAR ear to his communications or the sub
Ject The resolution then after this asserti-
on, that the executive had turned a deaf car
TO the subject, assumed Il new character;
amounted TO this that as you have not here
! toiore done yorr DUTY. we the representa-
ttVcs OF the people now request You to do it.
was the Hoase prepared thus to publish to
the nation their want of confidence in the ex-
ecutlve, upon the exparte testimony which
is now before theme Were they prepared
now TO interfere thus with department of the
F.: government, which in this instance thew had
not consututionaliy right 60 control-and to
say, as that department had not done its du
W, they would assume 20 themselves the i'm
portant charge OF taking care that the re-
puohc shall suffer no injurys fc hoped not.
ne hoped that neither the important crisis
alluded by gentlemen, nor the necessity os
=, the case itself, or their sense of Justice to-
wards the gentleman accused, could draw
them INTO such a commitment of then-elves
In opposition too, to the declared sentiments
OF a great majority Of the nation, who had
recently declared that this Executive had
deserved well of its country.
'en' w. might be guilty or he might be
innocert Mr.. L. had his own opinions, pcr-
haps preWdices on this subject When the
lconsututon or the mandate of a tribnnal
which had competent authority to comnrI
nun, should demand of him publication of
| those opinions he should give them: but like
the delegate from Orleans, he would not vo
lupteer the affirmative vote OF this House fo1.
II such vote should be taken it would be yo
liunteeIing; he should not vote with then,
he believed that che Department of State
was by the constitution free o. their control
IN respect tothe proposed measure They
might, and ne hoped would send the papers
or documents, IN the hands of the mover, 10
the executive, without any resolution ON the
subject WheHthey had given the inforna-
tion, they had iaihiied their duty. But, as re
Ispected the Gen. himself, would he stand the
same chance OF acquittal 10y court of en-
curry or courtmartial, or by executive scr
tiny, when the poise and weight OF an accu
sation from this House was set against him ;
He was for giving this officer fair piay and
the advantages OF a fair and impartial tri
al.
Mr.. Ra'sdoihh said the gentleman last IN
was mistaken in surprising that the evidence
which ne had laid before the House had been
loffered TO the President of the u s. and re-
lJected Norwas this at all a question Of con-
tldence or otherwise in the Executive. and
he was astonished that any gentleman should
attempt to convert it into a question of that
SORT. 1t was no such questions. A member
IN his place had offered to the House a.co,,v
OF an order of Spanish governor (or rather
a transiationsot which the original could he
produced) TO pay 964o dollars to general Jas.
wilkinson; he had also offered copy of a
letter, certified by the governor of Natchez
ana immediately aftergovernoro Louisiana.
| which, unless possibly forged, established he
Iyond doubt the fact of the guilt of this COM
mandant, not under the drtic .es of war. for II
mao been this day suggested to Mr.. r. that an
oihcer was not amenable to military law for
Sh oiience committed so long ago-nor did
ne say under the common law on statute law
but chat sort of offence which incapacitated
that ofhcer from the situation which he now
held ana nom winch the President of the IT
. alone vas competent to remove him. What
! did they ask the President of the u. S. TODD
| D. passing this resolution? Toenquirc they
ieft the mode OF conducting that enquiry to
| MS discretion. 1t was to enquire merely. and
sure 1t was strange doctrine to saw that
asking the President 10 enquire respecting the
! osHduct OF persons iii high office under him.
! vas an expression of dfiidence in the Fxe.
cuuve Far from it: if any thing it would
shew confidence in the executive. express
ing Conviction that lie would INST tnte an en-
curry, and upon the result OF that enquiry do
what was proper to be done. And what had
tins to do with diiiidencc in the executive
aey would make aqYestion of adjournment
before long question of confidence or on
every question which came before die fmse
would sound this tocsin, this whoop of want OF
confidence. The gentleman from New-Or-
leans did not say That he had given evidence
! tothe President of the o. S aud that the Pre-
sldent had rejected il, if he understood him
ariSht he thought the gentleman said, that
hliln6 as he did an Office of trust under the.
! government OF the u. S. he had gwen thar
department Of government with which he
! colFeSponded TO understand that he possesscd
information OK an Important kind touching
TINS Character, and that be had received no
intimatlon from that department of wish
to receive 1t, ana had therefore been 6iscor,-
ragged from communicating the inform -inr,