Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-03-02
jprartment. should be clear Of the impu-

MIR. Gnoi>Cn SalQ he was sorry tnat
any base caldNnv, which must be de 4
spised by every honest, yirtuoes and
enlightened man in the commonly,
should. in the estimation of the gen
tleman from New York, be dee med of
SO much importance as to merit an ex-
animation by this House. ahesreso-1
LUTON he. had offered was very extra
ordinary in itself, putting out of view
the improf1abiiisy of the facts into.
which it proposed to enquire. How
was an enqniry to be made in.the pug
chase of land by the Secretary of the
Treasury, or intot the amount or nature
of his private property? Countenanc-
ing theiresolution so far as to permit it
to lie on the table would be materially
affecting the reputation of the enligh-
tened officer who presiies over the
treasury department.. Wouldsit be
presumed by the people abroad that
that the House of Representatives
would-in any case whatever ins,i ute an
into che conduct of one of the
highest officers of the government, an
less they themselves believed there
was something like doubt as to his in
|tegrity I? To express any thing like
doubt of the character of man ISL
essentially TO injure him. 1 ask III
there be, any map in the House who
|even doubts on the subject. AS to the
Iolicialreports of this : 6cer, the last
annual report of the Secretary of the
Treasury is one of the clearest, ablest
and most explicit state papers that
graces the annals of the,country., The
circumstance ola deficiency of the rev.
enue is easily accounted FOR without
attaching any blame to him, when it
| is considered that for one half the year
| the embargo cut off our revenue. The
gentleman who moved the resolutions
must himselfbe convinced of the.in
lproprieiy eff institusing an enquiry on
a ground in which no one can cenide.
Whilst there is enlightened COM
mittee of Ways and Means IN this
House to superintend the operations
OF the treasury department, there can
be no probability of any misconduct in
the department. escaping inquiry.
| Whilst L believe that the Secretary of
THE Treasury would be- uniniured by
any enquiry, Icannot without reason,
consent 60 institute aa enquiry. Ifthe
House investigate such charges, they
may sit whole year and do nothing
else for net a day passes but some
newspaper brings a new SANDER on
the officers of government.
Mr.. Burwefl withdrew his motion
to, postpone the question.
Mr. Taylor asked what these reso-
lutions were--anJ, according to- the
scope Of operation which they were
to take, what did they involve! The
high attribute, ,vindictive preroga-
tive of the House, of impeaching pub
lie officers. Should subject of that
magnitude be trifled with Should
they for newspaper scraps make use
of it There is. said Mr. t. prin-
ciple which, it appears to me, ought
IN this case to govern every gentleman
on this floor, viz. that such al endui-
ry ought not to be sanctioned unless
there be an impression, that that en-
quify ought to be made for the pur-
pose OF furnishing the officer in ques.
ton. 1 confess, whenthe motion first
was made, the high opinion / enter
tain Of the individu Involved in it,
ny impression of his being immacu
late, would have induced me to vote
tor il, for a reason different from its
object, butsthat it was course whichI
never would adopt, bnt at the request
|ofrhe party concerned. at frstwas
inclined 70 vote for'it, because / knew
it weulds eventuate in clearing the
character denounced an the paper,
from all improper inputations. That
is not the purpose OF suclrresoletiotis.
Ills 10 probe guilt, aud bring it to pun
ishment. We are not here by legis-
la,ivc acts, TO plaster up CHI ,racters,
IL isnor our business, unless the ofic r
feeling the denuncia.ions
made forest so heavily on him, that
ne could not perform the duties Of his
ofice with advantage to his country,
should apply to the House for an ia
|vestigation. 1 viii not exercise this
attribute to. clear the character Of any
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