The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-02-09
MONDAY, Jan. II.

NA9h eou.hiIi6 VIC NoiiUeSt VI general w lihlh-
son.
Mr.. Roaun proposed the following resolu-
ton, MIR. Randolph having withdrawn his re-
solution to make way for it. e..
RESOLVED, That a special committee be
appointed tocnquire into the conduct of Bril-
gadier general Wilkinson, in relation to his
having at any time whilst in the service of
the United States. corruptly received money
from the government of Spain or its agents
and that the said committee have power to
send for persons ard papers, and compel their
attendance and production. that they
report the result of their enquiry to this
house. -
Mr.. RrndoIah said, if the gentleman Just
sat down, (Mr Bacon,1 had not given his
hasty impressions, but left his good under
standinRfree to operate, his objections to the
resolution would have vanished. The great
mistake made by every gentleman who OPP
posed this measure on constitutional grounds
was this: that they locked upon an enquiry
made by this House Through the organ of one
OF its committees as leading to the punish
ment OF the individual implicated, and that
where this House was not competent to infict
punishment, it was incompetent to make en-
quIry-this was the great stumbling-block
which had impeded their apprehension
But he would ask the gentleman from Mas
sachusetts whether this House was not COM
petent to make an enquiry for its own icgis-
lative guidance, Was il not competent, as
we'll in its capacity of supervisor OF the pub
lie peace, as to obtain guide for Us own ac-
tons, to enquire into this matter, Was not
the House clothed with the power of disband-
ing the army Now, suppose committee
of the House upon enquiry were TO report per-
haps that not only the commander in chief,
but the whole mass of the army were tainted
with foreign corruption, or were abettors or
domestic trcason-could any man assign to
himself a stronger reason than this for break
ing an army on the spot? Did not the gen
tleman know. or rather did he not feel that
this House had the right of refusing the SUP
plies necessary for the army-and could
stronger reason be given for a refusal to pass
the military appropriation bill, than that
they were nouriShing an institution which
threatened our existence a free and happy
people? Let me, said MIR. Il. if it is in order,
ask the gentleman from Massachusetts to
turn his attention to the proceeding of which
we have official notice in another branch of
the National Legislaturc--an enquiry into
the conduct Of one of its own members. Did
they not all know that that mans offence was
punishable by a civil tribunal But the en-
quirY was not there made with view to
trial, not to usprp the powers of the Judiciary,
but to direct that body in the exercise of its
acknowledged legislative functions. Inas-
much as they possessed the power to eXpel
one of their own members, to ,amputate the
diseased Limb, they possessed the power and
exercised If to make an enquiry. Now the
gentleman from Kentucky had just as much
right to institute an enquiry WHICH might
lead to the exercise of the legislative powers
of this House, which might cause the dis
r,,ftI -
another or the refusal of supplics--as to in
stitute an enquiry into the conduct of a men,
Der with "a view TO his expulsion, or of an
Executive officer with view to impeach him
before the Senate.
Mr. X. therefore presumed that any en-
curry which this House might chuse to make
into the conduct OF any officer, civil or mill
tary, was not an interference with the pow
ers OF any Of the Coordinate branches of 60
vernment; they were left free to move it,
their own orbits. If crime had been COM
United against the statute law OF the United
States by such officer, the judiciary we're as
free to punish it, as it was free to punish 4,
member of this House into whose conduct,
upon suspicion of treason or misdemcanor, en-
quiry had been made with u view TO his eX-
puison. The Executive likewise was LEFT
free 70 exercise his discretion: lie was left
nc w NiSilSS llilS ollICei, 10 enquire INTO MS
conduct himself, either with his own ewes Oh.
cars, or by a military Court-to applaud or
censure.
Did they take possession Of the body Of this
officer by an enquiry into his conduct? Did
they Interfere with the court of enquiry nov
ON foot, but totally incompetent to the object ,
Gentlemen indeed had said that if that court
did not possess the power Of compelling the
attendance OF witnesses, we might clothe it
with that power. In expressing this opinion
the gentleman from Massachusetts had not
been more considerable than in expressing his
first opinion. Could any one conceive more
dreadful or terrible instrument Of persecution
than military court clothed with the power
to coerce the evidence and the production of
papers of private citizensf Clothe them
with this power, said Mr.. X and there is nat
man in the United States who NAV not be
compelled to goat whatsoever season to the
rCnotest garrison on whatsoever trifijng &C
casion at the will Of a court martial. or a
court ofcnquiry leading to the establishment
cf court martial.
In the course Of the present year, Mr.. r.
sald, 1t bad been his Is, to receive, from no
DUBIOUS or suspicious source, information
touching--not to be sure the immediate sub
ject on which an enquiry had been moved
oy the gentleman from Kentucky, but one
Intimately aud closely connected with it.
lie meant The project, thro' the instrument
taiity OF the army of the u. ). to dismem-
Der the union and he had 10 hesitation in