Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-03-02
T1a IL Gents Singlxl

| ss'SSos = All thoIc SITOnR4V-iff-
! duced to demand the present inyessi-
Igation, because, hearing, az all do. ~.
Ivoice of public .rxmor, I have ,h,.era
\ (and so frequently as,to induce me ia
say that the report is current thronoh
the nation9 that the publication from
(which have read ansextrart. f,a6 IL.
torigin in the department. OF state. ana
That It coflaes, to the world win. tbe
knowledge of the head of that depart-
ment. L do not say such isshe fact
l merely state that such runor Ia %.
float and will spread shrough the NATL
on. And the source to which ,the
publication is ascribed will tend to
place the reputation OF this high efscer
before the nation In such a light thar.
|ifinnocent, great injustice WILDE Sons.
to him. i hope therefore an invest
cation will be made to ascertain .be
truth. 1 enter into the enquiry with
no prejudice against the Secretary of
the Treasury. III have any,particular
impression, as i would suppose every
man innocent till found him guilty..
| am under the opinion that the char.
ges are not well founded. Yet thoS
this is my impression, must confese
that cannot bear TO have these char
ges circulating in this way and not de-
sire an Investigation in some wav
which shall support their truth orp.oye
them baseless calumnies. With this
view 1 aave prepared several resoiuti-
ons, which submit to the House:
" Resolved, That committee be
appointed to enquire generally into the
official conduct of the present Secreta-
~ OF the Treasury, and particularly
whether the said Secretary has ut any
time, and when, and in what manner.
and to what amount speculated in the
public funds.
And whether the said Secre tary-
ias become proprietor of any and whax :
'racts OF land said by the IL. States
and If so, how the sales thereof hao.
,een conducted.
"And also, in what manner remit.
ances either Of principal or Interest
u foreign debt have been made. and
whether IN any and what cases contra.
y to the inclination of the President.
either as to the amount or manner,
And that the said committee
lave power to send for persons and
,apers."
Mf. 9. said, as he did not wish to
axe the House by surprise, he would
hot now ask the consideratioa of the
esolutions.
Mr.. M'Kim moved that the Houss
low consider them.
The motion for now taking them ma
vas agreed to by alarge maIority.
Mr.. Burweh said be was confident
rom the evidence which presented
tseH on the very face of the paper
which had been quoted, that nothing
:oaid be more groundless than the
charges insinuated against the S ecrs-
AIRY OF the Treasury. How was ,it
sossible that he could speculate ON the
public lands, the prices OF which are
hxed by law, and the patents for
which pass through several o6icess
It was utterly impossible that he could
iefrsud the United States of an acra.
AS to the accumulation of fortune
'f zoe, 600 dollars, in what way could
ne have done it by the aid of public
Eunds.s Are there.Hot, (said Mr.. bur
weiL annual reports from the Treaau-
ry department, open totffe ins,.etio.
ofthis Housed Every investigate.
made has proved him incorruptible &,
honest. As to the specie sent to HoI.
laud, 1t AS wellknown that the Interest
and some part, of the principal of the
Butch debt annually becomes due
and since commerce has been suspen-
ded there have been no effects of O -
merchants there audit has been d..
hcult, 1t not impossible to ,.nrcbaz,.
bills on chat country. This actis M.
torious. How then was the ruBlie
debt to'be paidi If bile could poth.
purchased, specie must be sent. Thr
money became due, aud, If we wouig
preserve iDyioIate our faith az everv
nation ought, we must send soeg;s
there's One remark was droppSd b..
the gentleman from New-York voic5.
| confesa, appeared to mevery alpe,-.
lar. He said that rumor had oSaa
abroad that this statement derived
authentieity from tina sanction of the
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