Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-01-15
TUESDAY,, january s.

into the conducs of GENERAL WILKIN-
SON.
TUESDAY, January 5.
Mr. RANDOLPH said he was afraid tina
the motion which he made n few days ago
and which he wished yesterday to ,havs
considered, was not intended to be deci
ded upon. When he had first made ths
motion, a very prevalent opinion seemed Il
exist, and it was expressed by one gentle.
man particularly, that he hoped it would
be forthwith and unanimously agreed to
the same gentleman on the same day had
mored TO postpone its further consderati
an till yesterday; and yesterday its consi-
Iteration was evaded Mr.. r. asked the
Speaker and the House whether this could
be considered as candid treatment? He
knew that it had been said upon the floor
that the right of the Honse to make such
enquiry and enter upon such matters at
all was extremely questionable. But did
not the constitution OF the United States
enoin upon its citizens that they should
not accept of any title or nobility from any
foreign prince or power! Aad did not the
same constitution enjoin that the persons
holding authority under this government
should not accept OF any present, even of "A
complimentary nature, from any foreign
prince or power without the consent of Con-
gress! And if persons holding high autho-
rity under this government we're found to
be. or if there were reasonable ground on
which 10 believe they were in the habit a!
receiving money unconstitutionally from fo-
reign states, he would ask the House where
was this matter 20 be taken up?
rrhe Speaker here interrupted Mr.. K.
declaring that he was nut of order as the
subject was not yet before the House
The House now agreeing TO take up the
resolution for consideration, the Speaker
stated that when the subject was last con-
sidered, motion had bcea made (by hIr
.Gardenier) to referit to Select Commit
tee gvih HOVER 10 sepd for hsrSoas, ha-
tiers, &c. That molten had also been
made (by Mr.. Marion) and WIS now under
consideration, to strike out the clause OF
the preceding motion which is in Italic, on
which the yeas and nays had been requir-
ed.
Mr. LYON said that he was among the
first who thought it proper To send the in
formation presented to this House by the
gentleman from Virginia, (Mr. Randolph
on this subject to the President of the Uni
ted States. He felt at that time neither de-
licacy nor repugnance in calling on the cx-
ecutiye to investigate the conduct Of Gen.
Wilkinson, he then considered that n GER
tain duty attached to him, which duty he
was anxious to perform promptly and with
our delay. 1t had been said that the gen
tleman from Virginia ought to have sent
the Information he had given to the House
to the President as socn rs u cume TO his
knowledge but he had chosen to give this
House the information. and to send il thro'
that chanuel IN the President, with the o.
pinion of this House, of the necessity of-ar
investigation. felt, said Mr. L. that the
same duty attached 70 me and to every
member of this House, Immediately on re-
ceiving this information which some gen.
tlemen seemed tn consider 90 be the dat,
of the gentleman from Virciniu to send the
information to the President was not Al
that time so anxio us as TO the manner o
doing the thing az to act promptly. Thi'
business had been protracted by what he
had considered unnecessary debate.
He had yesterday received authentic in
formation that General Wilkinson applied
TO the Executive for an enquiry INFO hi
Official conduct IN general terms, when ht
first arrived at the seat Of government
that he had repeated that application with
in fe DAYS, and g court of enquiry wa
appointed 10 sit in few days, who wcr,
empowered to examine and enquire int
kuc NDuuuCL IT tile commander ID C1'CI n
the army on as general principles as coul,
be wished for. Be was confident that il
the directing and appointing this court
the Executive Of this country had done it
duty. He had confidence in the Ulcers APP
pointed. The Information and the paper
which had been read nv the gen.lcnat
from Virginia, IL Ne condescended to la,
them on the clerks table, could be sent {,
that court no doubt the court would cal
for this and every information aud tcsti
mony in the power Of that House, as vel
as from every o'her quarter
an that be wished AZ the outset Of thi
business was ike 70 be Effected without th
original resolution or my of the su5seqpen
motions; hc should therefore vote agains
the whole he could not answer 1t 10 him
self TO call on the President Of the Unite
States TO do dutv which he knew he hs,
done. lie wished therefore TO ret rid &
this resolution altogether. The Executiv
were proceeding in tic course of their du
ties. The House had business of the high
est Importance 20 the nation to attend t.
legislative business Let us, cad he, pro
estd with our du,ies whi,r The Executiv
arr proceeding in theirs; IN this way "
viii be best able 70 ansge r for orr own con
duct % our constituents.
NGr THOMAS hoped the gentleman VIII
made the motion nov under consideration
would withdraw IL, in order IN save tim,