The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-02-09
no. ST..

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thcr found they wNcrc 70 re deprived of it.
f'cy c,Anged tseiF; .pl.toAe-cxciuSivc Of
TINS, and thatthc con&pirators were re, eived
at Nassac a I'd the ot:iNr forts below, and OF
their tiIe,c getting artNs and stores, there.
was something i'll this Suppression of words
in the letter that spoke to\his mind more for
cibly than Nolumcs of eyitleNcc the implica-
uon OF man. who, had ht, been innoc en-
would have given all the evidence in anv let
ter he protested To interpret. This sup
preston did certainly convey to- the mind OF
MI Il an impression, which he had never
attempted to conc cal, OF the guilt. not only OF
the principal but OF many of the inferior Of
hcers OF the army. But guilt is always short
sighted and infatuated. Not conteAt with
that dubious sort of faith which it Nmighu
sometimes acquire when not brought tS, the
trial, it had attempted not only to occSiay
the middle ground of doubt and suspicion.
but to clothe itself with the reputation &c
the faircst characters in the country, and i'm
so doing, had torn the last shred of concesl-A
mcnt from its own deformity. 1t stood now
exposed to the whole people Of the u States ;.
and he left the House to sav, whether thew
would shut tieir eyes and ears, as they lad
been almost invited to do, against CONVICT
on.
Mr.. Smile wishe to know oe the gentle
man from Virginia whether there WAS lot ..
DClOIS thc Jury TO DUG a Dill.
against general Wilkinson?
Mr.. RondoitM said he had introduced this
subject in order to suggest TO the gentleman
from Kentucky the proprietv Of modifyingor
amending his resolution. He would now give
he Information required By the gentleman
from Pennsylvania and hoped he Should not
he considered as intrutiing on the time Of the
House in SO doing.
There was before the grand jury motion
TO present general Wilkinson for misprision
Of treason. This motion was overrued up-
IN this ground that the reasonable fovertl
act having leen alledged to be committed
in the state OF Ohio, and general Wiikinson's
,ettcr to the President OF the u. 5. having
been dated, although bat very short time,
prior to that act, ttis person had the benefit
OF what lawyers would Call legal exception,
or fraud. But, said MIR. II. | will inform
the gentleman, that did not hear a Single
member OF the grand jury express any other
opinion thar that which l myself expressed
OF the moral (not Ct the kgai) guils of the
party.
Mir. LDve said, shat although the form of
the question had been varied, br the resolu-
ton of the gentleman from Kentucky, (AIr.
Rowan) yet the principles OF decision re-
NAMED nearly the same as on the original re-
solution; the same object. rs applied, as to
the subject embraced by the present form,
and so long as it thas remained, those objec-
tons would Continue to influence his deterrni-
nation. -
These grounds Of difficulty had been at
tempted to be removed by the gentleman from
Virginia, (Mr Randolph) by arguing, that
the investigation of the subject might lead
to measures, which no one would doibt, il
was competent to the house to act on pur-
sIingthe enquiry, it was said 1t mi sht be found
that 1t wuold De ezpedient to disbaDd the ar
my, or Withhold its necessary Supplies thts
SAID Mr.. l.. is begging the question; thu
terms OF the resolution i'll their present shape,
can not possibly conduct committee to any
such enquiry: 1t is confined to a single object;
1t is whether the present commander of the
army has been guilty OF corruptiy receiving
money from Spain; the charge allnded to Il:
understood to be CT ancient date it is not
suggested by any one that the army is tainted
with this crime specially set forth in the reso-
mton: the charge, if proven, could not then
be cau,e ton diabanding the army, OF with
holding the necessary supplies: if an obeics
o! this kind IS contemplated let it be so sta
ted, and an enquiry INTO the grounds of such
proposition, however strange iii idea would
only pc the exercise OF a constitutional right.
The resolution, Mr.. L. repeated, called
the abortion Of the II ,usc t. a single fact,
It exhibited charge already made penal,
both by tae military and civil code: 1t res
poets Character over whom we have no con-
itntional control BY impeachment or other
wise If an linpr per character is commissi-
once to the command Of orr armies, and
Continues 50, lei the responsibility fall where.
he constitution has placed it., o., the Exccu-.
i've; the attention OF the legislature must
D. c..icd to ether things than Judging of tho,
merits on crimes Of the sod;ery. But it is
2oicctca that e., military tribunal appoint
ed 20 make an enquiry on the demand of the
cr,jn accused, and which the II Juse under
stood vas now engaged in the performance.
Ut that duty, has no power to compel the at.
tendance Q! witnesses, or the production Of,
papers he would not for moment So far
impeach the patriotism Of those gentl men.
who have declared themselves p.s 4essed Of
knowledge on the subject of the charge, as.
to suppose they would not attend the respect
iul summons Of tribunal erected by our ow IA
avs, for the investigation OF crimes which,
they admit are ofinpOrtancc o their country
Those gentlemen surely too well understands
the rights of the others 10 object TO a cross ex-
animation; but If a military court is net Dos
sessed OF power sufficient 10 compel if-it
should be necessary, the attendance of wit
nesses, the common judicial tribunals are 50 :.
the civil, as the martial code, has cognizaDcef
OF such offences as arc suggested the same
clio, as IL respects military officer, would.
follow tliC cstabIS hmCnt of eruilt bal,,re. T.; -