Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-06-02
[12 1-2 Gents Singled

slbie for me to- undertake business
where mach writing was involved and
more espe cially where figures were ne
cessary.
Mr.. Eppes said he was sorry on this
subject TO occupy the time OF the
House. He had only performed a
duty in saying what had already fallen
from him. The gentleman had stated
the tact correctly, but he should have
Irecollected that 1t was long after the
adoption OF Mr.. Nicholson's resoluti-
on that this duty had been especially
assigned TO the committee of WAYS &
Means ; il was not till after that famous
investigating committee had made
their report. AS to any imputation
or indirect attack on the motives Of
the gentleman from Virginia, am a.
Dove it, said Mr.. Eppes In my con-
duct in public and private life, it is al
ways my wish, it always has been and
ever will be my wish to extend to eve
ry one that civility which one gentle
man owes to another. And l never
nave IN these walls wounded the feel
ihgs OF any man except circumstances
justified it, nor ever will.
Mr.. Randolph said he we'll recollec-
ted the time at which the alt ration
had been made in the rule for appoint
ing a committee of Was and Means.
But he asked whether the rule was
not before sufficiently broad to have
enabled the committee of WAYS and
Means to go into every research which
the investigating motion pointed to ?
But again Does the gentleman from
Virginia RENE mper (said Mr.. r. that
notwith standing that very rule was
quoted at the time he made his motif
on, he did pertinaciousIv persist in
support of it as the Journals l believe
will shew 1t is equally my desire,
with the gentleman from Virginia or
any other, to avoid hurting the feelings
OF those with whom have always the
honor and sometimes the pleasure to
sct.-But it will be recollected by my
colleague { Nh. Eppes) that the state Of
things to which he aliudes .Fas mate
rally different from the present. The
committee of investigation, out of
which this new rule for the committee
OF Ways and Means grew, had made
their report. The examination into
the state of the Departments was 6n-
ished--.he Augean stable was in a
manner cleansed, and the task remain
ing to be performed was more within
the compass of the powers of the COM
mittee of Ways and Means, buythen-
ed as 1t is with other important busi-
ness. Another thing may be per-
united to name without woundiug the
feelings OF the gentle nan FROM Virgil
MA, certainly without intending to do
so. The person who filed the chair of
the committee of Ways and Means at
that time was not a person whom any
considerations of delicacy could affect.
was not IN the House this morning.
when the Journal was read, but l con-
celve the worthy gentleman from Vir-
glnia, Mr.. Eppes) to be- the chairman
OF the present committee of Ways and
Means, because l saw paper handed
from the clerk to him. [ would ask
him sir, If am not acting towards
him with peculiar delicacy IN raising
another committee tn investigate the
transactions of an administration nth
whom that gentleman was SO intimate
ly and so delicately connected?
A motion having been made to re-
fer these resolutions to committee of
the whole
Mr.. Macon said he could not see
the object cf referring the first motion
at all. Where was the prcprjety ofre-
ferring motion for enquiring into a
particular subject I? He was in favor of
she object of the motion, thinking it q
good rule to establish, that, whenever
a President went out Of Office, COM
mittee should be appointed to inves-
tigate the money transactions of his
administration. When Gen. Wash
ington went out Of Office there was no
such committee appointed and indeed
it might be admitted as truth that Gen.
Washington was considered as an ex-
ception. No single individual thought
of scrutiny into his conduct nc was
considered man of all par,ies When