Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-01-26
CASE OF JoEN SNyrn.

= L he Senate were on Thursday almost ex-
clusive'y engaged III the 81 ttement of pre-
liminary points previous to the main enuui-
~. On these Incidental points we Shall con-
fine ourselves to AN abstract of the principal
arguments adduced.
The President having read the arpiica-
ton of Mr.. Smith for reasonable time and
proper means to obtain testimony, Mr.. A.
dams expressed his readiness to vote for a
ny reasonable proposition which Should de-
signate the time and means, but declared
himself uniriendiy To- such general propo-
sition as that before the Senate.
Mr.. Giles expressed a coincidence of SEN
timent with Mr. Adams, and suggested the
kind of resolution which he considered it
proper for the Senate 10 adopt. While he
was thus expressing himself, Mr.. Illusion
drew UP resolution, which Mr.. Giles Of
fered, and which, substantially, postponed
the further consideration of the report to the
day OF TO allow Mr.. Smith time
10 adduce testimony.
MIR. Bayard expressed similar ideas to
those of AIR. Giles, but thought the object
aimed ar would be better effected bv adopt-
ing reso ution % different form. He said
he had prepared two resolutions, one for
allowing time, and the other prescribing the
mode of obtaining testimony. He then read
the first, substantially as follows
Rcsoired, That John Smith of Ohio hav.
ing made affidavit TO the materiality of wit
nesses now absent, by whom he states that
he will be able To Gsprove the charges all
lodged agains: him, be allowed time until
the day OF next, to OBJ
tain any witnesses and to procure any e.
violence he may deem material to his de-
fence.
Mr.. Adams said ne did not perceive anv
objection to this proposition. Tin n snbse-
qucnt period of the debate he declared that
on y further consideration of it, he thought
there were serious objections to i'll
Mr.. Giles being inclined to think this pro-
position preferable 20 that offered by him
self, withdrew the latter.
A long discussion then ensured, in which
Messrs. Bayard and HiIIbouse supported :;
and Messrs Anderson, Moore, S Smith.
Gregg and Crawford opposed the foregoing
resolution.
During the course Of discussion, it was
moved to- commit the resolution to a select
committee. In the proprety Of this course
there was general acquiescence. Mr..
Crawford read a resolution, conformable TO
his ideas of propriety, which ia substance,
involved postponemcnt till the day
of next, ut which time the Senate
would hear such witnesses as should appear
for or against John Smith, whose testimony
had a tendency to support or destroy the teS-
timony Of Elias Glover, Peter Taylor, and
Col lanes Taylor.
The motion for commitment prevailed,
and all the resolutions offered, together with
the affidavit Of Mr.. Smith, were referred
20 p select committee.
IN this discussion all the speakers agreed
in the propriety of allowing some time, the
only question being as to the proper time.
Mr.. Gregg expressed himself i'm favor OF
allowing till the lst Of February, while Mr..
Bayard said he was not for allowing such
length of time as would preclude a de6ntive
decision during the present session.
Strong objections we're urged against pre-
cipitatiug a decision Of such vast import
ance to the sitting member, and the injus-
tice OF deciding without allowing him full
hearing, was painted in vivid colors. In
answer to this, the charge Of a spirit Of pre-
cipitation was denied, and il was said that
Mr. $. ought, as soon as he heard Of the
bills found AZ Richmond, to have prepared
himself for his defence that he ought par-
tlcularly 20 have taken these steps, as soon
as the report was made ON his expulsion ::
and that It WAS 10 be presumed that he had
made every preparation he could. To ibis
It was replied that the dispositions he hao
brought with him could not from their ma
tlre hao been Intended rs evidence on his
trial, but merely iatendcd TO show the