The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-06-13
CONGRESS.
FROM THE NATIONAL INrELLIGENcER
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,.
:. =. FRIDAY, May &c.
D e Is ATE

~NAOSN ~-'y ~
- - y e Is TIE
| On Mr.. RandoLhh's motion for ahh-ovirs
the late conduet Of the President eji the
u. &ates-Conti',ued.
Mr.. HOLLAND said, he had no doubt that
the President had done his duty in the case
referred to in the proposition under consider
alton; and as he had entertained no doubt
but the President would on this and every
other occasion do his duty, he said he feltno
excessive JOY on the occasion, 1t, was only
an ordinary act of duty well performed, and
therefore he was not willing to distinguish
it from those numerous acts which he trust
ed would be, as they had heretofore been, per-
formed by the executive. Were he the au-
thor OF the propositions, he should have felt
many scruples as to the propriety of Offering
such alone. Were the precedent to be set
by the passage of this resolution, the House
might hereafter witness struggle on the
floor to determine who should be hrstto come
forward with a proposition expressiveof app
probation. The human mind might be SO o.
perated upon, that the Executive might feel
himself under an obligation to promote the
person bringing forward such a notion, /,
<said Mr.. H. would be one OF the last to IN
troduce such a motion, were / friend to the
President; and if / we're not friend to the
President, would not bring it forward lest
it should be thought that was counting ia
vor in his eyes. But why, sir, should this
house give an expression OF appreciation OF
the Presidents Because we are told, it may
| be guide to him hereafter. Let this House
be careful how it acts, and attend to its own
duties. The President does not stand in need
of this kind Of support. = never willtstep
forward, as member Of this House, to ex-
cite him to his duty by vote of this kind.
/ believe he possesses an attachment to his
duty sufficient to induce him to perform it.
! / believe that the voice of the people of the
| u. States is such in relation to the present
Sc late president, that they believe they were
well disposed to DO their duty, and that they
have done their duty; but it does not follow
that we ought to express our appreciation as
to any particular actf The gentleman him
self says that the President has only done his
duty. Is it not surprising then. that we are
called upon to give him the appreciation OF
this house? Wifat would be inferred from
this procedure Why, that it is so seldom our
Presidents have done their duty, that in the
very first instance in which they have done
lit, the House Of Representatives. had disco
Ivered and applauded it. If the gentleman
thinks SO, Iwholly Disagree with him. i
our officers do their duty properly, they will
receive the thanks of the nation-and where
is tile propriety of singing out for approba
ton or disapprobarion this particular act I?
see none. 1t is asked, will you leave the pre-
sident of the United States to grope in the
dark and net let him know whether he ha:
received our appreciation or not? And is the
President 10 judge from the thanks of the
House, that he has done his duty e-How is
he to know that they have expressed their
sense of his conduct from proper motives
Would he not be right to suspect those who
vote for and more especially those who bring
forward such proposition, of improper mo-
itives> He would be left still worse to grope
in the dark. 1t has been said that former
presidents have been deceived in consequence
of votes of APPRECIATION; and the same woult
again occur. On every ground am opposed
to the passing such resolutions on principle
and shall therefore vote for indefinite post.
| ponement
Mr.. j. G.. Jackson observed that the reso
luton offered by the gentleman from Virgi
MIA was, that the prompitude and franknes:
with which the president of the U. s. has met
the overtures of the government of G. Britain
towards restoration of harmony and a tree
commercial intercourse between the two ma
lions, received the Appreciation OF this house
and that the amendment of the gentleman
| from Massachusetts declared that it fur
nshed an additional proof of the spirit o
| accommodation OH the part of the govern
ment of the United States, which has at nc
time been intermitted. do not hesitate tc
Adeclare my firm conviction (sad Mr.. J.) thai
| the propositions contained lin the motion ant
amendment are true that If it be necessary
or proper for this house as a part of their du
ty to express an opinion on them, they ought
| to be adopted. If direct vote must be Ia
ken, shall be in the affirmative but hotwith
standing my belief that the facts alledged are
irrefragable, am opposed 20 deviation from
what conceive to be the duty, and becom.
ing the dignity of this house, by expressing
them. 1t is true, sir, that the assertion con
tanned in the amendment has been denied II
some of the partisan newspapers of this coun-
try but hitherto had understood * believed
that it was, as far as respected the opinions
of members on this floor, unqucstionable &
! it is not without some surprise that have
just heard the gentleman from Virginia dc
nying it in the most unequivocal manner
| 1t is not because fear the result of vote
ON the amendment that / am unwilling t
| have it taken my objections are of a differ.
ent character--I think the house have nobleI
duties to perform than passing abstract re
| solutions, out of which no legislative act i,
contemplated, merely for the purpose of pour
| ing the oil of adulation upon the head of the
chief magistrate and according to my con
ception, the gentleman from Virginia ha
made an attack on the principles he profes
scs, and upon the independence of this house
which will, as a precedent, be productive o
lasting injury. If the course, he proposes, b.
a correct one, and we are to pass votes o
4 l.. n