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

private and underhand manner, Sian
der against a man who acted with him
in Office Whatever he might at any
time have felt, he coult not lend his
sanction to private masked attack on
any mans character. 1t Is utterly inn
possible that any officer of the United
States could so far forget every claim
he had to mis- own respect as to des-I
.cend to such conduct. If the House.
were'to adopt paragraphs from the
public prints and rumors Of the day
as grounds. for charges against any of
ficers of the government, how maay
men of e<iinence would you find
whose characters have not through
these vehicles been impeached? Have
not our papers sunk to that degrading
statethat they charge the most incor-
ruptible men with fraudulent specala-
tions : I could point out nur,erous
instances of men belonging to both
parties, who are honest and incorrupti-
bic, who have been charged with the
most shameless peculation. IF we
were to be Influenced by every rumor
which finds its way into the papers,
instead of appointing committee to
examine into the conduct of the Sec
rotary ofSthe Treasury, we should
have TO appoint committee which
should embrace IN the scope of its en-
qiiry allthe political characters of the.
country.
As to this piece which has appear
ed in a Virginia paper, it bears its
,contradiction on the face of it. It is
one of those anonymous papers, daily
published, avowiug with boldness,
without fearing. contradiction the
writer of which is evidently ignorant
OF netorious facts, and unacquainted
with treasury transactions.
I should myseHbe extremely sorry.
that rumours of this kind should ever
produce any .lfect on those who are
the subject of them. 4 do hope that
the secretary ofthe treasury will, while
he estimates properly the purity and
dignity Of his own character, absoIve
his colleague IN, Office from an impu-
tation so odicus as that ate mp,ed Il
be fixed on him. No man who has a
regard for his own character, would
suppose thai a gentle man placed high
IN Office would attempt in this clandes-
tine manner to destroy his reputation.
l have no doubt bet an enquiry ii
Instituted, would terminate in man
ner highly honorable to the secretary
of the treasury; and there can be NO
question BUTT would be iinpossihle,to
( produce evidence that any officer in
the government has been so far for
getiul of himself, and the dignity oil
his station, as to conduct himse,f'in a
manner which would disgrace him for
ever 30 man ofhopor. Mr.. B. SON
cluded by noving to postpone the fur
thea consideration of the subject till
to morrow.
Mr.. MsKim was opposed to delay
of q Adhesion On. the resolutions. He
thoughtthe House would be disgraeed
by an enqeiTy on such grounds. Il
would DC but justice to themselves to
shew the tIsiic that the House would
not occupy ms time with such frivol-
oas pursuits. Geutlemea talked. Of
ten aboat precedents. The adoption
of tlris.xesoluiion on the grounds sta
ted BY the mover, would be one OF
the ostipjdrious precedents. There
was not a man OF information, in the
nasion fao would not think il ridicu-
lous. He hoped the resolution would
be promptly decided on.
Mr.. Gardenier.said, he didnot him
selhpiace great faith in these charges (;
bu, in case of this kind the House.
could not be too desirous TO SATISFY
the public 1niiid. An Investigation
INTO them, if ialse. would tend to con-
6rmthe officer in the public confidence.
1t was IN the nature Of ell charges Il
this sort, no matter by whom propa-
gstesdi, 70 ran through the community,
TIL there are nany who believe them.
Mr.. O. said MS principal object was,
to vipdicate the secretary Of the tre&s
suTy. The only question was whe-
ther the House would evince theii.
disbelief Ufshc charges, by a rejScs i'm
OF he resolutions, OF, whether, by an
examination iuso the subject, they
would reflHe them UNDERGRADUATE.
THE. reiecttari ~ the. res,,l0ft iona ,,y,,,,if