Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-06-02


saw this, feel no hesitation in saying
that the nation will never be blessed
with such another administration as
the last. When man goes out of Of
fee, Notwithstanding the existence Of
the Committee of Ways and Means,
would appoint committee solely to
that object. 1t is a sort of ordeal which
every man ought to undergo. Some
nation, of which / have read, had a
law to try their chiefs after they were
dead. When man goes out Of Office
he Is politically dead and I would es-
tablish it as rule never to be depar-
ted from, that whenever a man went
outof Office, there should be an inves-
.tigat'on into the money transactions
conducted by him. Could INV thing
rebound more to the honor of former
chief magistrate, when he is again a
private citizen, than to have his money
transactions brought into view, and
for that branch of The legislature which
is particularly the guardian of public
money to saw, that he has deserved
well OF his country Aud should the
fact prove to be so, it would certainly
add more TO his reputation than any
thing which coald be done while he
was in Office. think ii custom
WHICH should never be departed from !;
l wish It was part of the national
constitution. There is no such thing
rs perfect man in creation. Every
man is liable to error; intention only
makes it criminal. Iwould have con.
duct scrutinized. But I cannot see
the propriety of referring this motion
to a committee in the frs, instance.
Mr.. Randolph varied his motion so
as to move concurrence in the second
resolution proposed by him, and re-
ference of the first to select commit
tee. with leave to report by bin or o.
therwise.
Mr.. Lyon said he wan opposed TO dis
Banding the arny. Though he had been
opposed to raising 50 large an army in the
FIRST instance, he was not for disbanding IL
at this moment. - The peoDle on the north
western frontiers, in the territory of IndI.
ana, were now alarmed for the safety of
that country and regiment at least was
necessary in that quarter. Should we then
now dishand the army He did not con-
eeive that our foreign affairs were oui-e
settled. Could they say that our southern
frontier was safe That there was no dam
ger there? 1t could not be said. He was
pleased with the present peaceable aspect
OF affairs but he had no idea that we ought
to lay down eur arms when the state of
the whole world was as it now is. Thus
much he would say 10 shew that he was
not to be carried away by peace mania a.
ny more than war mania.
Mr.. j. g. Jackson said it would be per.
eeived from the message of the President,
that he bad chilled the attention of Congress
to the very subject of the first resolution
offered by the gentleman from Virginia, in
these words "Jt will rest with the iude..
"ment Of Congress to decide how far the
"charge in our external prospects may
"suthorite any notifications of the laws
relating to the army and navy establish.
"ments" Inasmuch as committee would
be raised IN the message, and the House
were To have a report on this subject from
the War Department, without which they
could not act understandings, the motion
he conceived TO be premature. It narrow
ed the field of enquiry tho much. There
would be, If the motion we're agreed to, one
Committee appointed particularly to enquire
~ % the propriety of a reduction of the ar.
my, and another com nittee to enquire gen.
orally into the subject of the army. In re.
lation to the second resolution, he had no
objection tn IL, but that it proposed usurp-
ing powers already given to the Committee
Of Ways and Means.
Mr.. Randolph said that he possibly might
not ave understood the Presidents mes
sage; but unques'ioDably the President of
the United States had nor given any opini-
on on the subject of reduction of the nj.
Btary force. Now, suppose the House
were TO go into a committee Of the whole
House on the stare Of the Union, and the
message Of the President was dissected Sc
eundum artcm, Cut up into various business
for the committees. How much would be
refersed to the committee 70 whom - re-
ferred no much Of the nnessage of the Pre-
sident OF the UHted Stafesas relgtes To our
military and naval establishments -
Whas would be before them The Presi-
dents opinion that the army should Be aug.
preDud on diminished. OF kept upl No.
thing ~ that sort He had said thai he
left 1t to Congress 10 determine what should
be done with this matter. Where the Pre-.
sident recommended any measure to Con
gress, it might be referred to a committee.
Suppose the President had said something
OF this kind---N torbsar gentle men IN call