The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-05-30

tor 1T is a lamentable fact that M.,i.S, 4 VAS
quoting the Journal a few minu;es ago, (
could scarcely see to read IL. A. o;ny par
ticular instance of maivcrsation Of cubic mo-
ney, do not pretend to say thtt k,irsp Of
none, because at the last session reco iect
that brought some such matters before the
mouse. Icertainy SUSPECT others. Aud tho
! might act as an humble assistant to A conn
mittee to point their inquiries tina, way or
the other, it would be impossible for me to
undertake business where much writing was
involved. and more especially where figures
were necessary.
Mr.. Ehtes said he was sorry on this sub.
lject to occupy the time Of the House. He had
only performed duty in saying what had
already fallen from HIM. The gentle nan
mad stated the fact correctly, but he should
have recollected that it was long liter tie a
dopsion of Mr. Ncllolson's resolution, taat
TINS duty had been especially assiruvd to
the committee of Ways and Means ii was
not I'LL after afte: that famous inves iaa.ins.
committee had made their report AS a any
imPutation or indirect attack On the mnsiyeS
OF the gentleman from Virginia. am above
IT. SAID Mr.. Eppes. In my Conduct in public
ana private life, 1t is always my wish, is al
ways has been and ever will be nv wi.,h Ia
extend to every one that civility which org
gentleman owes to another. And nsvsr
nave in these walls wounded tho Feelings OF
am man except circumstancesju stiii Il Is n =
ever will
Mr.. Rendoihh said he well recoilee,ed
the time at which the alteration had Seer.
mace IN the rule for appoin,inga co.nTaistcc
Oh ways and Means. But he asked, whe-
Their the rule was not before sufficient, br, ad
to have enabled the committee of WAYS and
Means to go into every research which the
investigating motion pointed to, Butagain:
Does the gentleman from Virginia rcmem-
1 St,..t -
very rule was quused at the ti,ue ne made
ms motion, lie did pertinactousiy pers;s, in
support ut 1t as the journals / believe will
shew! 1t is equally my desire, with the
gentleman from Virginia or any other, 10 a.
void hurting the feelings of those with whom,
nave always the honor and sometimes the
pleasure to act. Bat it will be recoiiectca
10y my colleague (Mr Eppes) that the state
OF things to which he alludes. was materially
different from the present. i'hc committee
OF investigation, our IF wh:..h this new rule
for the committee OF Wej aad Means grew,
nae mace their report. Tie examination
INTO ihe state Of the Departments was finish-
Ied-the AugcaM stable was in a manner
cieansed, and the task remainneto be per-
iormed was more within the compass of the
ipowers OF the Committee Of WAYS Sc Means.
iburshened as 1t is with other important BUSH
ness. Another thing l may he permitte4 to
name without wounding the feelings OF the
gentleman from Virginia Certainly without
intending to dose. The person who flied the
caalr OF the con! nitiee of Ways and Means
AZ thae time, was not y person whom any
considerations of deicacv could affect I
was hot IN the House this morning when the
journal was read, but conceive the worthy
gentleman from Virginia (Mr Eppes) to be
me Chairman of the present Committee of
| WAYS ana Means, because 1 saw a paper
! handed from the clerk to him. would ask
"'h'' SIR, II am not acting towards him with
peculiar delicacy in raising another com nit
zee 10 investigate the transactions of am adj
ministration, with whom that gentleman was
SO intimately and 50 dsicately connected.
| a motion having been made to refer these
resolutions toa committee If the whole
Mr. Maeon said he could not see the OBJ
tJect OF referring the first motion at all
! w mere was The propriety of referring a mo-
tion Tor epquiriDg into a particular subject
! he was in favor of the object of the motion
thinking 1T good rule to- establish, that,
whenever President went out of office, a
committee should be appointed to investigate
me money transactions of his administration.
| When General Washington went out of office.
there was no such committee appointed
ana indeed 1T might be admitted as truth
tha' Gen. Washington was considered as an
exception. No single individual thought af
a scrutiny into his conduct he was consider
ed man OF all parties. When Mr. AdVms
went out, committee was appointed to
examine into the money transactions Of his
administration. The time, he said, was
come, when najortv, holding the same
principles as the administration whose term
OF service was just expired should enquire
INTO ITS money transactions. Shall we not,
SAID he, do to ourselves that which we did
to others! think itright in all cases to in
! vesti5ate: and when I say this, ] feel no he
STATION IN saying, that the NATION will never
oc blessed with such another administration
as the last. When a man goes cut of office,
Notwithstanding the existence Of the Com
mittee or Ways and Means, / would appoint
committee solely to that object. 1t is a sort
OF ordeal which every man ought to UNDER
CO. oome nation of which / have read, had
law to try their chiefs after they were dead.
"hen man goes out of Office, he is politi-
caity dead; and would establish il as a rule
never to be departed from, that whenever
man went out of Office, there should be an
investigation into The money transactions
conductedby him. Could any THU 2 rebound
more to the honor of former chief magis-
tra'e' when he is again a private citizen, than
10 nave MS money transactions brought into
view, and for tina, branch of the legislature
winch is particularly the guardian Of public
money to say. tha: he has deserved well Of
his Country? AID should the fact prove to-
De SO 1t would certainly add nore 70 his re.
putatlon than any thing which could be done
while he was in Office. think it custom