The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-01-21


+ o6iectiea could be made S
I While gentlemen were so extremely care
. iul toguard the constitution from violation
/ he begged thcy would not .rcspass on it them
selves; while they complained of a supposed
breach of trust by a public officer, he hoped
not to see it realized in this House The con-
lstitution had confined the power of the House
within a certain limit and when they ex-
fceeded that limit, they violated the constitu-
ton. -
The gentleman from New-York had told
the House chat he hoped what had been de-
med in the palace would not he refused here
I, Mr.. r. asked what had been denied in the
palace. The gentleman from New Or
LEANS had told them that the evidence di,, not
relate to the subject, and that it was not s,s-
hcient Tor conviction of any person. The
gentleman, from New-York had also stated
that II the House transmitted this evidence
to the President without referring it to a
committee, they would be left in the same
situation as they were now, because the yen-
teman from New-Orleans would keen his
word az he always did. The gentleman from
New-Oreans might consider this as a com
pnment; Mr.. +. was willing all the hrnorin
tended should attach to him, but he did not
lhelieye that gentleman was possessed of such
principles he did not believe any pentle-
man was so lost to the honor Of his counrry
as To sutier private piqus TO seal his lips
when called upon to give evidence BY any an
thorlty whose duty it was to enquire. Would
the gentleman indeed decline in such. . case
Il was impossible that he could. MIR. r. could
not have 50 contemplate an opinion Of an;.
gentleman Whatever rs TO suppose that his
love OF country would not triumph over or;
vate luminosity.
| The same gentleman from Ncw-York b,l
very emphatically asked when w ,u,d t}ei
cup of guilt be full |? Mr.. +. said. when er.,-
tiemen came forward to justify treason. We,
theg attempted to paraiiac all the EXERT M
mace to arrest such 'c..rious plans rs those
oi tie iasc conspiracy.--ehen would the cup
be full; then would the distraction of the
country be complete.
| But, the House were tod. this Office. L,s
violated the constitution How had he v;o-
lated the constitution Tn arreatjDg traitors
| And should traitors alone en;ov III tn, con-
stimt;onal rights Mr. F. said tI,:s MAJ olso
had rights. Let him have q fair end,,;,.,r
Why influence the public mind ard biiyan
nus guilt u guilty. from this source JS-hv
hau hot tnc prosecution been pnrsusd in she
courts ct Justice? Why had not this info
nation been given to the Presidents Nhv
was 1t brought,to this House I,eta;t he
brought forward prcperlv.' He believed
when the evidence ar'dlcei was examined ;t
| would not bear the light. -.
4
Mr. T. ' ID no doubt that Barr and oil ~
friends would rejoice that ai the eyidenc. -
galnst them should be arrested in any way
and Whatever were the guilt or innocence az
zen. w. 1t would be proper that the thine
4 should pursue the usual course. He co,,I9
not see why this had been brought ;ctS fi,.
| House, or why it was pursued and ;ne;etad
on while an enquiry was progressing. i, fhe
proper way. bcleFing this enquiry not 10 be
withntheir constitutional power, and no nc
ceSsity 10 exist fer it, if it were, he should
| business.
Mr. ~. -liston said it was II ct hi; .;n.o,t;-
on TO detain the House one rnomcnt: he rose
but with view to state l.. tie II use tb.t
| factS hGd 6een strangely misr presented
/ When the gentleman from Newt rleanshaJ
risen few days ago, he had told the Honse
that the information which he had meant -
communicate, and which had been djs,eps ,d-
ed year after year, did not relate to this s,,b-
Ject. AND what was the language which had
this day been held forth on the s,,h;cc4p Z.
tteaf ear had been turned to the subiect in II,
Palace In order that he might be assi,,e,
thal this was an egregrious error Mr. 4
SAD he had asked the gentleman from Or
leans II he did not understand him tosav
SAD MIR. A. that his information did nof So
ncualiy relate TO this subject and r ,,y,tle,- a
stood him correctly: wisl, it TO he e,r,l;ri,-
| ly so stated to the Hou;c and 20 the ration
Tentlcmen who heard the ohscrvaf;ops
THIS day made world attribute TO then, tl,,.H
credit which theV deserved. When was i
that general Wilkinson became So ol,do,t;o,,s
TO particular part of the community. Net
TIL his exections had saved the counf,y from
rnir--not til he had raised his hands ao,in.+
Burr and his associates. Look tn bi.
lpclHtmeGt To ofuce come time 600 and r.
those who supported him revert to the I'm
giagc they used at that day, and listen 70
ther Genunciation now" Wilkinson hal
violated the conctitution-the executive held
MIN by the hand-his Conduct was not enoui.
red into--the representatives Of the nation
were therefore called upon to do that duty
winch the executive had Heglected''-tb;s
was now the language of those who once
cherished him. What could cause this won
dertul change OF sentiment.
The present question presented itself .,
every mopent in very different shane ff
the object OF 1T were merely to give to the
executive information which it did not now
possess, no one would object oit. The pen
tIeman from Connecticut EMr. Dana1 had
told the House that the evidence OF tbc oer-
teman from y. Orleans ought tn be com
manded, and II could not lie done but bv tI,,
H2use--that the gentleman possessed all thu
privileges OF member OF this House, and
be doubted much whether his evidence couId
De procured in any other way. Would the
evidence OF the gentleman be taken down &, |
fIeslr s.aflf Il -