Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1808-01-06
SENATE 81 the United States.

ed 10 enquire whether u be esmpatibie
with the honor and privileges Of shis
house tha, John Smith, senator from
the s,atc Of Ohio, agaiost whom bills Of
indic,men. were found at the circuit
cour,of Yrainis, held a, Richmond, in
Augcs, last, for treason and Eaisdemea,
nor, shall be permitted any longer to
have stat tserein. and 10 enquire into
all the facts regarding the conduct OF Mr..
Smi4h as an aiiedged associate otsAaFon
Burr. ADD fepor, the same 10 the senate,
submit the following
REPORTS:
Your committee are of opinion that
the nspiracy OF Aaron BUR- and his as
socia,es against the peace, union and kber,
ties OF these states, is of such characs-r,
and that lis existence is established ~
such "a mass of concurring and muFt&ily
corscboYasise testimony, hiatt is incous
pa.ible DOT only with the honor aud priv
Sleges Of this house, bat with the deepest
qintereg.s OF this nation, that any person en-.
gagged ia il should be permitted to hold a
sea, in these of the q. S,
Whether he facts, ef which the com.
rnittee submit herewith such esileacs, as
under st,e oyder of the senate. they have
been able to collect, are sufficient 70 SUD
s.ansiareshr participation of Mr.. Smith 10
thai conspiracy, or cot, wliremalnfor the
senate 90 decide.
The committee Submit also 20 The coz.
sideration Of the seoate the correspond
euce between MIR. Sgi,l1 & them through
their cbairnan in he course Of their meet
ings. Tho coElmilsse have never conceiv.
ed shemselses invested with authority to
try Mr.. Smith Their charge was 10 re,
port 40 opinion relstingso The hooar and
privileges Of the senate, and the facts re-,
la,ing 10 the conduct of M. Snita. Their
opinion indeed cannot be expressed in re.
lasion to the privileges OF the senate, with.
out relating at the came ulae TO Mr..
Smiths right Of holding seas iu this be-
dy; but IN tina. respecl the authority Of
the commitsee'sxlends only 10 proposal,
and %, 90 decision bu, as he manfss,ed
a great s.!;ci.uda 70 he heard 0eforS9,hes<a,
they obtained permission from the seos1e
70 admishis ssendanee, communicated 30
him ,he~eyidence ia their possession, by
which he was iNcuipated; fernished him
10 writing with the que-sioas arising from
il, which appeared to !hem material, and
received from him ,he information and sx.
plana,ioDs herewith submitted as part ct
lhe facts reported, Bot Mr.. Smith has
claimed as right to be heard 10 his de.
fence by counsel, to have compulsory pro-
cesa for witnesses, and to be confronted
with his sccnsers, aa if she committee had
before the seuaFe itself that ycur commit.
tee conceived il just and proper hat Mr..
Smiths defsncc OF himself should be heard;
nor have they conceived the ,lseises bound
in iiis enquiry by any other rules than
those OF neutral justice aud equity due TO
brother senator on HE one part, aad totheir
country 90 the Other.
Mr. Smith represents himself On this
enquiry as solitary, frieodless AID unsk;ll
ed, contending for righ's which he in.i.
mates are denied him, aud the defender
of senatorial privileges, which he seems
sppreheusive will be refused him by sens-
tors, liable solopg as they hold their ofic
es 10 have his case madet their own. The
committee are not unaware that ia the vi.
cissisudes OF human events, no me urber OF
this body can be sure that his conduct
will never be made subjecs of enquiry
aud decision before the assembly to which
he belongs. They are aware tha, ia the
course ofproceeding, which the senate may
now sanction, its members are marking oct
q precedent which n,ay hereafter apply to
themselves: they are sensible tina, the
principles upon which they haye acted,
ought 10 have the sans operation upon their