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

HARM that 2 Till;iuspn has ever done hrs court,
--bnt only suspicicns that he once rned:ta,ed
pl;u, With Burri ut even admitting, said M
Pope, that General Wilkinson once chtc.t.mc.
views inimical TO his country, and may have bcr
mis!ed by intrigucrs. Still ifhe .epented hjrse
and turned backte God and his country, nor.
his country will have the goodness and beneyo
, lence to forgive him
Mr., Haiter did not intend by the motion
which lie had made, to express any opini,,,
on the resolution before the House. He has
not yet sufficient documents befo,e him. {,
express conclusive opinion OH this subject
but if he had supposed that his motion hac
expressed any appreciation of general W..
conduct, he should not have made it. Asi
might however have that effect, he would
withdraw it, and acquiesce in the resolution
OF the gentleman from Culpepper.
Mr.. Moore (of Orange) renewed the mo.
ton for postponement.
MIR. Nnr'iough County of Norfolk) OBJ
| served, that when this resolution had been o.
riginally before the House, he had taken
the liberty of expressing his opinions upen
it, 1t had been said, perhaps by some grace
less minion of authority, that none but Fedora
lists and Bankruptcies had been in favor OF
it on that occasion. But as far as it respect
ed himself, he disclaimed the idea. Prece-
dents had already been set with regard to
L
general subjects as were now before them.
He held 1t to be their sacred duty to ex-
press their opinions on this great question.
If any investigation was to ensue OH this sub-
Ject, he thought he could produce some
proof in support of his opinions He had
seen something like treason, battening on the
spoils OF a magnanimous nation! He had
seen the cloke of friendship assumed bv a
traitor, the better to strike dagger at the
bosom of brother traitor Feeling these
| impressions, he should vote against a post
Ponemcnt OF this resolution. For his own
part, he considered the court OF enquiry TO
whom this affair is said to have been Submit
ted, as one of the pettleSt and most con-
tcmptible farces which had ever been played
in the face of digniiied nation. Who COM
posed that court Men who were officers
| under the grand culprit himself; bound TO
him by friendship and interested in his sue.
| cess.
Mr. Smith (King &c Queen) had hoped
| that this resolution would have died natu-
| raj death, but he was astonishcd to find tina,
| 1t still retained some sparks of life He should
content himself with briefly stating the rea-
sons, which would influence his vote on this
| occasion. In the first place, he conceived
that this was question in which this House
had nothing to do; not that he thought that
the state legislatures had no right to inter
tere with the affairs of the General Govern
inent.. But general Wilkinson is con6den
tlal oihcer OF the executive department. and
| 1t was not becoming the dignity of the state
| sovcreignties to diminish their influence bv
/ so frequent and unnecessary an exercise of il.
On this occasion, what was the speaker of
| this House, He was degraded from the cha
racter OF the speaker of the Legislature of
Virginia, to the humble President of pet
ty court OF enquiry.-Again: This resoluti-
on charges gen. w. with treason at home and
trcchacry abroad. Ifthis meant any thing. it
charged him with being guilty OF treason at
home and treason abroad But WHY sup
| pose that he had been guilty. of treason 1T
home! Wherew was the proof of it, Was not
the conduct OF this officer investigated be-
lore the grand jury and yet so far were they
from lndictmS him for treason, that they did
not think 1T necessary to indict him Cor mis-
prision of treason.-VVhat evidence has ever
been exhibited of his treason abroad? Was
1t In the pension which he is said to have re-
ceived! But what foundation is there for this
susplclons is 1t from the evidence of Power
who utters different stories on different DAYS !?
who tells any story to effect any object? Is it
on such testimony that they must condemn
gen. w. And besides is it not improper for
this house to act on the resolution at this
time! Gentlemen may, if they please, call
the court ofenquiry burlesque & farce. For
his own part, he had thought it was some
thing more substantial Do gentlemen know
what is the punishment which their in yesti-
cation may ultimately bring upon gen. w /?
do they know, that he may be eashiered.
or that he may be shots For his own part,
Mr.. 5. believed it improper to cast the weipht
OF the Virginia Legislature into the scale a
gainst him. Believing therefore that there
was no evidence before the house to convict
gen. w. OF the charges conveyed by this re-
solution; believing that it was improper Tor
the Virginia Legislature to interfere OIL such
an occasion; and believing that thisresolu-
tion expresses an understandable mistrust of
the President of the u. S. he should vote a.
gainst 1t. That illustrIous man had all the
documents on this subject before him. We
! can only judge from Newspaper reports and
from the documents furnishedby his enemies.
And yet the President has still retained this
officer in his command.
| Or. FeRshee (Henrico) had hoped, chat this
paper, which had got accidentally out of the DOW
| or OF the House, would not have been revived
I The worthy member has said, that lie had been r.
ritated by anewpaper publication but if such
was & sufficient ground for this interference, the
House might be eternally engaged in discuss
Ons.-It has been well asked why should this
House interfere With this business This reso
luton goes to fix stigma upon man. whose
name DR. F. trusted, would descend with honor
to posterity.-It fixes even stigma on the illus.
trious Washington himself Were not the charg.
es made to Washington, and yet were they moi
dIsregarded by him He has ba,n retained =,