Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1808-02-08

the exercise OF all the wisdom, ana all
the patriotism, and all the purity, and
he would add, Of all the indchendence Of
that house.
The principal resolution, that offered
by the gentleman from Virginia, (Mr.
Randolph had been met by an obiec-
ton at the threshold. An objection
the more surprising, as it proceeded
from those who had hitherto affected an
almost exclusive, a sort Of hysteric zeal
ousy Of executive power. Though he
would allow, in candor, that that jealou-
sy had appeared only when the power
was in other hands. An objection Che
contended) the more absurd, as it de-
plived those of the right Of inqzHrlng
into the conduct Of military officer,
who have that power Of imheaching the
President himself. If they had power
| over the master, was it not ridiculous
to say, they had no power over his ser
want He could never reprobate in
terms Of adequate severity the position
which had been assumed thatthat house
was the only Legislative body in the u
| nted States which could not lay a re-
! Guest before the President. When it
vas known that the President had re-
ceived addresses from the Legislature of
several states, entreating him to bless
us with his benign and parental care for
, another constitutional term when it
was known that those addresses had
been most graciously received, and as
graciousIy answered could it be sup
posed that the President would deny
the right of that house to lay a request
before him This was a point upon
which he would not condescend to rea-
son. It was too plain, it was palpable
almost to the sense-there could De no
doubt, except with those who wished to
doubt. It remained for the house to
say, after the public voice had called on
the Executive, SO repeatedly, and SC
emphatiCally, and SO much in vain af-
ter deaf ear had been turned to this
business at the palace F; whether venal-
ity and corruption should be suffered to
run the gauntlet unhurt through the hall
Of the repre- sentatiyes Of the people.
He hoped never to see that day.
IF the documents which have been
read were genuine if any thing like
what they contained were true, he
should haveno hesitation in saying, that
Gen. Wilkinson's continuance at the
head Of the army was not only disgrace
full to the nation, but utterly ihconsist-
ant with its safety. If il was true that
the gentleman from Orleans was able
to give evidence still more satisfactory,
and he had no reason TO doubt it in
deed he had much reason to believe he
could and if that gentleman adhered
| to the declaration be had made on this
subject with The same scrupulous eX-
aCness he had always on other occa-
SONS done that he would not commu-
nicate what he knew unless compelled
to do it, it was evident that the court Of
enquiry which had been spoken Of be-
ing unable TO compel the attendance of
any but military men, with whatever
views it had been instituted, must end in
smoke. That court had not the power,
allowing them the disposition, to push
the inquiry to satisfactory termination.
They could not compel The gentleman
from Orleans, or any other person not
belonging TO the military, to give bis
testimony before them They might
summon them indeed-they might call
them-but it would be CALLING STIR
ITS FROM THE Vastly DEEP-wh0
would not come when they did call for
them. The institution Of such a tribu-
nal might amuse-it might dcclive-it
might serve AID cAPTANDUM vULGUs.
But that was all it could do. But this
house can institute an inquiry which
will be cfTactual-which III it did not
satisfy the president, might, he hoped,
satisfy The American people and II
THEY were awake 10 their danger, j,
would in the end be impossible toIbeiray
them.
The house ought TO ascertain with
unerring certainty whether general
Wilkinson was guilty or not--and j:
was evident the enquiry which they
were told, but not ofIicialIy,had been in
stituted, could not reach to the bottonl
Of the transaction. The prcsidcrl
could not, il lie desired it, clottc that
tribunal with sufficient power to coc1cc
the attendance of Witnesses. How
then was eyidenceto be obtained flow
otherwise than by exercising the great
| constitutional powers Of The house
We must furnish him with evidence
| Teoid Nj, = Op Ia CO.., ,,,r,or. ,lta;r