Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-06-21
CONGRESS.
HouSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
MONDAY, nay 20.
On M. Randolph's motion for approving
The late conduct Of the president ct the 2.
TcoNTINUED.l


Mr.. MsKEE said, that after the lengthy
discussion which, had taken place on TINS
subject, he did not rise to enter at large into
an examination of it butthere were one OF
two remarks which he would offer to the
house. The question, when first submltted
30 the house, had appeared to him to be OF
no importance, to be one that could excite
! no interest, whether decided in the negative
or affirmative but by lying on the table tor
day or two, iehad increased in magnitude.
Why SO much importance was attached TO
1t he could not see. am (said he) opposed
TO the adoption of the resolution and IN ia
vor Of indefinite postponement, because
cannot see any good consequences which
can possibly result from the adoption OF 1t.
] consider it more proper for the legislature
cfthe nation to apply its time and resources
90 objects of utility, than to descend to use
/ less debate on a subject which can be OF no
! importance. What is the object OF the re-
solution? Is it to communicate information
which shall regulate the conduct OF the pre-
sident of the United States in the detail OF
the negotiation, the basis OF which IS form
ed? If so, the president can obtain 1t from
: a proper source. Holding, as the president
s Of the United States certainly does, an ex-
tensive patronage, which is to be distributed
60 individuals who may meet his aPproba-
s+ion, a suspicion must arise that the mover,
or perhaps advocates of such a resolution
as this, were candidates for the loaves and
fishes. And does the house possess the IN
formation on our foreign relations which the
president must possess! Or do we possess
that knowledge of the sentiments OF our
constituents which would warrant US in vot-
ing for the motion, if it were expedient SO
to do We do not, sir. can speak tor
myself and the delegation from Kentucky
that we do not know the sense OF the peo-
pie on this subject, and our votes will be
but individual votes, and not expressive OF
the will of the people / see no good, and
do see apostolic mischief which may arise
from the adoption of the motion. Why
should expressions of Joy be uttered? What
great victory has been achieved? What
great good has the executive obtained? Is
it any thing more than an acknowledgment
of our rights presume not and our Joy
can only be similar to that which an indivi-
dual feels when he has obtained flom an un-
Just debtor his right. There is not cause
for more of exultation and the same course
of conduct whichfproduces an effect on In
dividuals, will produce the same effect on
nations. If joy be loudly proclaimed may
1t not have. a tendencyto create difficulties
an the detail of the negotiation Itcertain-
Aly may produces that effect. I therefore
draw the conclusion that it is not good po-
icy to adopt the resolution, and | conceive
1t to be, withoutSa precedent in the history
~of this. country, at least in the history OF
the last administration.
The gentleman from Virginia has pro-
duced a case which he is willing to draw
into precedent. I think that an examination
will shew. that it is essentially different
from the present. case, and predicated upon
the same principle as that nauseous stun
which the gentleman dislikes and winch
was offered up to the executive by the ie-
Rislatures prior to the commencement o. e,io
late administration. 1t will be founo 20 oe
an address to president Washington, winch
recognized his conduct in issuing the Pro-
clamation of neutrality in 1898. - nat case
was very dissi1nilar to the late actor FTesi !,
dent Madison, which was but duty-Wnicf
he was expected to perform. Heshas done
1t with ability and integrity, and there WAS
s not cit;zrn of the United States but ex-
spected it of him. President Washington
) had done an act which he was not directed
to do by the legislature; ne mad issued
proclamation on his own mere motion.
mention with great difidence that It was
questioned Wheshsr This measure Was nos