The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-02-27

even of pia,isiblty
mr. Ross confessed he had some doubts AS 10
he course proper tn be pursued. 1.-THE political
trends OF the Secretary of the Treasury had
brought forward the motion, he should lave no
hesitation what course to pursue /; bat when the
political euemies of a man undertook tn be the
guardians OF his reputation, the course proper to
be pursued was rendered much more doGbtful
Nothing could sooner destroy the reputation of
man with his party than for his enemies to be.
come the guardians of it. He had seen in papers
protesting democratic principles, publications.
against tins man-and would it not be asked BY
the people, the course proposed was pursued,
n the Secretary ct the Treasury has not changed
ms Priucp pies, whilst his political enemies are so
careful of his reputation-why are they not e.
quaily careful Of the reputation OF the Secretary
oil state, who has been equally abused by the
writers under the signature Of Phlo-I.sos or
Mucius. Mr.. X made further observations CO.
ingto shew. that if enquiry was made IN one case,
1t ought in the other. He was opposed to th.
passage of the resolutions
Mr.. Helms moved to reject the resolutions,
bit The motion was declared to be out of order
Mr.. Macon said, that as to himself, he felt sa-
hsiied that nose of these very serious charges
could be supported against the Secretary of the
Treasury. This belief was founded upon the
opinion he entertained Of the moral character of
the man. He believed the investigation could
only tend to raise the reputation of that man in
the nation. Under this belief he would have no
hesitation in voting for the enquiry. But isaid
Mr. NJ 1t contrary to my sincere belief he
should be guilty OF the charges ailcdged against
him, let him share the fate OF the guilty. i was
not I'm the House when the resolution was NOV
et., and do not therefore know the ground of the
motion, but it is sufficient for me that the gentle.
man who made the motion thinks him self autho.
rised to do 1t. No matter on what information lac
deemed it his duty TO make the motion, for one
am willing he should be gra,i,ied. Honesty and
plan dealing have nothing to fear An honest
man may be illuminated, but time vii, put down
tine calumny IL was impossible that some of the
charges could have foundation i'll fact but he
was willing to enquire into them. II the Secre.
tary OF the treasury was his own brother, If he
were his father, and enquiry was asked into
his conduct, ne would grant IT, When the Sc
cond Secretary OF the Treasury went out OF of.
lice, he asked an enquiry into his conduct, which
was granted Passing these resolutions would
only be doing the same in relation to the present
Secretary OF the Treasury as was done in relation
to the former Could any thing be greater tri-
amph to a man placed in the situation of the Sc
cretary OF the Treasury than for those opposed
to him to declare him innocent, He hoped the
motion would be agreed 10 and had no doubt
such would be the result of the enquiry
Mr. B:bb regretted exceedingly the determi-
nation OF the gentleman from North Carolina had
expressed to vote in favor of the resolutions, and
ne was confident the gentleman would not have
come to the same determination If he had heard
the remarks which preceded and followed the
motion twas not charge made by member
ot the House; on the contrary the member ma
king the motion declared his disbelief of the
charge. What said Mr. B. would be the conse-
quence. in relation to the public mind, of pursu-
ing the enquiry under these circumstances Do
we not every day see the basest calumnies in the
public prints only against the heads of depart
ments but against this bouse Has not the !, e.
gislature of a state Massachusetts declared
that the measures OLA majority OF this House
are adopted IN subservience to Napoleon! Is il
not as important that the Representatives. Of the
people should stand fair before this house F, Do
we not every day see charges made i'm the public
prints against individuals i'm the government
without institutng enquiries into them Now
ask, II we institute an enquiry in this case and
not IN Others, whether we shall not be giving at
least presumptive evidence against the Secretary
ct the Treasury 1t appears to me that the best
way to indicate the character of this officer
IRON the aspersons leyelled ut it, is to give as
strong vote as we can against the motion
mr.. Holland said there was no testimony be.
iore the mouse to induce them to raise commit
tee on this subject. lfany member would pro-
duce any, or state that he had grounds to believe
he could, In support OF the charges, then and
then only should committee be appointed
mr. 2SMncy SAID that mere rurnor or ne wspa-
per paragraphs he did not deem fit ground for
enquiry by me mouse, unless they came in such
shape as to raise reasonable ground of suspicion
For this reason tie WAS Ting to pass the resp
iutioh. AT the same time he suggested that
whatever was done, It should not be done under
the influence OF instant passions and thought, if
the Secretary himself were OH the floor, he
would wish decision DELAYED.
Mr.. stanford declared that lie should vote for
the motion on the general principle Of making an
enquiry wherever wished for by a member He
quoted the Journals to shew instances of cases
which he deemed similar. He thought a most
Pcnement OF the decision on the motion would
give further time for reflection, and therefore
moved a postPonement of ii TIL to morrow.
ihe motion Tor postponement was ncgatyed by
large majority.
mr.. Dana said that if tie question had been
put Tor the rejection of the motion, he should GER
fanny nave voted against it but the question Of
adoption was essentially different He did not
CO ceivc an anonymous publication in a news.
paper sufficient ground for an enquiry bV the
h'use and, that being AL the ground assigned
Tor the resolution, lie would vote against 1t.
Afr. Ro1dG- Mr.. Somhayd also spoke against
the motion
mr. GARDENER again spoke in support Of the r..
solutions '!e could not say tina, he believed the
charges, hut he could Tot conceive that cbarpes
SO sPecinchiiy stated, and by SO able a writer.
were the result ofpronigacy and wholly witbou,
io"hca''on. An enquiry could do no harm and
the charges might be we'll founded WHO would
nave suspected the great Bacon, or who Lord
MeiV"'e, before their population was proved }
II the House did not now investigate it. he tho't
thcy would oe soon called upon 10 do it. The
smoke would not appear in 50 many different pIa.
CES tDlretPr. les fi.ro