Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-03-29
Gollrfycg9.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
MoNpAY, March 81.

MoNpAY, March 81.
Mr. Rowan held in his hand resolution
for An enquiry into the conduct of Harry
Is41s. Fic observed in preface, that il
was of'thc cti:os- Importance in our gov
tiiinent, which depends upon will, to ami
IradVert with the utmost severity upon a
d Walton from n correct course of any one
Of its functionaries. Whatever excuse
might be found in the weakness Of human
nature for any errors in judgment, vet for
a deviation from the allegianc,-, which he
owes to his government, as a child to IT'S
father, no excuse could be found in the
we kness of his frame or the Incompetent
cy Of Judgment. Ii then 1t were found ,hat
any Judge had violated his duty i'm that res
pect, the good at the u"ion, the perpc tuity
OF the government, and s"und policy requ-
cd that he should experience the utmost
severity of animadversion He therefore
offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That committee be app0in-
ted 20 enquire into the conduct fHarry In
mes, dist,: Judgeo t the L. States for the
district CT Kentucky, relative to his having
whilst in the tenure of ms cftice aforesaid
been party or privy to a project on the
part of Spain or her subjccta to dismember
these United States or 10 the seduction Of
the state of Kentucky from this Union; or
during the time aforesaid 10 a project Of
France heror citizens, TO em5rOil these u
States in war with Spain; or relative to
his having illicitly corrcSpondcd with bath
or either at the governments aforesaid on
their subjects or citizens upon one or both
the projects aforesaid; or relative to his ha-
wing known and concealed from this GOV.
ernmant one or both the said projects and
that the said committee have power to send
for persons, papers and records, and that
they report wheeler in their opinion the
said Harry lnnes hath 81 ac:ed relative to
all or either of the subjects aforesaid as 70
rsquire the interpretation of the constitute
oral power OF this house
Mr. K. said he would observe that the state
OF Kentucky had felt impressed with the
importance of the subject, and the legsla-
tlre OF Che state had adopted this resolve
[Mr. r. then read the Kentucky rcscluJi-
on directing Us &c resentativcs to request
the enquiry ] There Md also been trans
nitted certified copy otthe rcpor; of the
enquiry INFO the conduct ofJudge Sebastian,
with certain eXhih's On which this reSou-
tion Of the legislature Of Kentucky is pre-.
dicated, all Of which he submitted to the
ilcuSe.
Mr. St.:.fnrh observed that the subject of
the Western conspiracy was one of the most
interesting Which had ever beer presented
70 the g"ncrai government If the public
prints cogil be credited, this comprehenGcd
but che o. AZ least three attempts 10 seduce
the Westcrn country from It's allegiance.
The present proposition coming from, a
western state, IN al imposing manner &C.
the house, was ore IS the best pledges that
The slnSc itself did not participate in the
disaaection. The subject was so general
y important, that he thought the people
should have general information on IL; for
his own par; he thought this resolution ra-
ther limited aud that it siiould te so modi-
fed as toau;korise an enquiry into the gen
eral extent Of these in;gigues. To pro-
mote deliberate course on this sub
ject, he moved that the resolution lie on the
table.
Mr. Burweil seconded the motion Of the
gentleman from North Carolina, but with
different views than lie had expressed. lie
had nc.'i9cctinn II, carrying IN an enquiry |
against distr;c; Judge Of X entucky but as
he presumed the gentleman who introduced |
It contemplated removal il would be i'm |
proper TO blend with IL IN enquiry into all |
the transactions in the western Country. !
which might involve every one who had or (
might be supposed TO haye been engaged in |
them. II the legislature Of Kentucky or a.
my OF her Representatives thought proper |
to institute an enquiry into thc Conduct oil
a judge, he was ceposed to favor their Oh
jet; but he wished the rrsoIuicn to lie !
on the table To aGpi an opportunity to do
justice t0 the character OF che person i'm
plicatcd, and not, by institatiug an ouaniry
without due proof that it was rcsify ncccs-
sary, to prejudice the public mind against
this character. II was iogthis reason that 4
he had seconded the motion Tor 1t, laying
On the table, au3 net with any intention 10 y
at The enquiry 50 as 20 incul1c
an enquiry into the conduct Of any other
person than the person towhom il expires S.
y applied.
MIR Rowan observed that he was satis-
red 'hat there ought tole an enquiry, & be-
eyed IA his own niJd that il ought e. tor.
piuate in Impeachment and removal. Ills