The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-01-26

mind, and whic.i he ,i.i;i s.atett Cha *lTiser
day was ,hat the Hpacc has. - ,}:s 70 act
on the subject CT il 5'@sS ., come npta,ed
an enquiry which was exclusively of iSxecn-
| tive coeni2--ie. he could not therefore ocn-
sent ~ tsivc the enquiry in the legislative h.
| s!y, Il fern and inotle of procedure, which
| would amount 20 u recognition OF their right
q ,ct on it. That If gentlemen who stated
| they had Information relative to certain
military character, which il was important
should be known. chose To comply, with the
request made the m by the resolution under
consideration, he was willing to receive it,
and transmit it at once to the proper de-
| partment authorised, to judge o. the propri-
| CIV OF insdtuting an enquiry but he did not
want It ON oath. that ifon oath, it would have
no greater effect with him, than on the hon
| or of any gentleman OF the House, who in anv
case uttered an assertion; neither mode
would offer any testimony, which could in
his opinion bc noticed in that House: & that
| in either way it would alike afford the ncces-
| sary clue to the proper tribunal to come at
the evidence if any existed. To that tribu-
nal which alone was competent to act he
would offer the means of acting, if indeed
they had such means; where both parties
could be heard, and the question could be
| brought to an ultimate and efficient termina-
| ton; where the Prosecuted would enjoy the
cd with his accuscrs, of cross-examinins the
witnesses introduced against him, ofproduc-
ing testimony iii his favor, and Of an impair
tlal trial. Let genticemn then make n state
| ment of any know ledge they may have on
| the subject OF the resolution, and let that be
conveyed TO the proper department, and if
those gentlemen who say they possess this
! information do not attend, where they shall
I've called on to give it, and where, if anv
L
be on themselves. This House he hoped
would throw no impeachment in the wav of an
investigation, which shall have fair result,
but he deprecated the mode which was at
! tempted TO be pursued OF an cIJidrtc hear
ing and decision.
Gentlemen who have advocated the origin
al resolution, had called the legislative body
of the nation, n grand inquest for his part,
he said, he knew but one kind OF grand in
questi it was that which was summoned &
| cmpanneiled to aid in the administration Of
the laws; which was attendant OH the courts
properly constituted for the trial of offences;
but the legislative body could not be supposed
to be grand inquest of that sort it more
reSembled, in the powers the mover of the
original resolution would have il exercise
a court which once had an existence in
country said 10 have e.iioyett 4 considerable
share of freedom, but even there, that court
had long been abolished. The court of Star
Chamber, in England, Mr. L. said he allud-
ed to, which while it had an existence, was
said to possess kind Of equitable criminal
jurisdiction, deciding on the guilt or limo
cencc of parties, according toits own consci-
ence. 1t had been said, and with truth, that
this was but request, to be made to the Pre-
sldent ot the u, >. but where, said MIR. L.
is the right given to the House of Represent
tatiVes to make this request, and so far To
undertake tojudge of the proper concerns Of
another department Of the government The
right OF requesting the impeachment Of a
civil officer. was expressly given this body,
by the c Institution, bmt the military officers
are not within this description, and can only
be brNght to trial for a military offence be-
fore such a tribunal, or for civil offence be-
tore court OF Justice, and by due process
! or law: Mr. L. Said. he would be Tor receiv-
ing any statements gentlemen had to make !;
and TOR transmitting them, by a simple or
der, without a request of any Kind to the an
thoifty which properly had jurisdiction of
the subject
| (OebCte 10 he continued. J