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

inspection of this EouSe Every inves,;,r.
tlon made has proved him incorrup,ib,e !. ID
honest As to the specie sent to Holland
is well known that the iuterest and some
part oil the principal OF the Du'ch deb, an-
nuaiiy becomes dac; and since cu,n;neice
mas been suspended, there have nccn ~ /, =
reefs OF cur merchants there; and il hrs
heen dithcult, II not impossible 20 purchase
biiiS on mat country. This fact IS notorious.
tiow then was the pubic debt to- be ra;d>
II biii> cnnid not be purchased, specie must
ne sent he mono, became dGe and If We
would. prcSe've ia.tcine our faith as every
nation ought, we must send specie ,htre-
Dne remak was droppe; ny The gentlemen
from New Work which, / confess, appeared
to me very singular. lie said that n ruhror
had gene abroad tha, this statement, derived
autnen;'cty h9in the sanction Of the Sccreta-
~ o: state Is il pcssible sir, TO suppose tina.
the Secretary of state would so far descend.
tha, he would degrade himself by circu!st
irg, in private and unde, hand manner,
SANDER against man who acted with him
IN Officer Whatever he might at any time
have tel,. he could not lend his sanction to n
private masked attack ON any mars cha.
racter. tits uuec!y Impossible that any OF.
tcer of the T. 5. could so far forget every
claim he had t" his own respect as to les-
cend osnch cantluct
- ''.e +''N!oG wire 90 ADOPT paragraphs
from the public prints and rumors of III.
day as grounds for charges against any off.
GERS OF the governments, how many men of
eminence would you find, whose characters
have not through these vehicles been i'm
Peached! have not cur papers sunk to that
degrading state that they charge the most
inCorruptible men with fraudulent specula-
tionss l could point out numerous instan-
ces ct men belonging to both Parties, who
are honest and incorruptible, who have been
Charged with toe most shameless peculation.
III we were to be Influenced by every ru-
nor which finds its way into the papers. in
stead of appointing a committee to examine
into the conduct of the Secretary of the
Treasury, we should have TO appoin, a COM
mittee which should embrace in the scoD.
Of its enquiry all the political characters Of
the country.
As to this piece which has appeared in 2
Virginia paper. it bears its contradiction ON
the face of it. 1t is one of those ANONYMOUS
papers, daily published, avowing with bold.
ness. without fearing contradiction the wri-
ter OF which is evidently ignorant of notori-
Gus facts, and unacquainted with Treasury
transactions.
l should myself be extremely sorry, that
rnmors ofthis kind should ever produce any
effect on those who are the subject of them.
do hope. that the Secretary of the Trea-
sury will, while he estimates properly The.
purity and dignity of his own character, alb
solve his colleague in Office from an imputa-
tica so odions as that attempted to be fixed
on him No man who has regard FOR his
own character, would suppose, that a gen.
tleman placed high in Office wonld attempt
in this ciandestine manner to destroy his re
rutation. lhave no doubt but AN enquiry,
if Instituted, would terminate in manner
highly honorable TO the Secretary of the.
Treasury; and there can be no question.
butt would he impossible to produce evil
dencc, that any officer in the government
has sesn SO far fnrgctful of himself and the
dignity of his station, as to conduct himself
in a manner which would disgrace him for
ever as man of honor. Mr.. r. concluded
by moving TO postpone the further consider
alton of the subject till tomorrow.
Mr.. Mkim was opposed TO DELAY OF a.
decision on the resolutions, He thought the
House would be disgraced by an enquiry OH
such grounds. it would be but Justice to
themselves to show the public, that the
Hause would not occupy IFS time with such
frivolous pursuits. Gentlemen talked often
about precedents. The adoption of this re
solution on the grounds stated by the mover.
would be one OF the most Injurious prece-
dents. There was not q man Conformation
in the nation who would not think it ridjcu-
lous. He hoped the resolutions would be
promptly decided on.
Mr.. GARDENER said, he did not himself
place great faith iva these charges but in =
case OF this kind, the House could moi be too
DESTROYS to satisfy the public mind An in
vestigaton into them, if false, would tend to
confirm the officer in the public confidence.
It was in the nature of all charges of this
sort, nomatter by whom propagated, to run
through the community, till there are many
whobeleve them. Mr.. G.. said MS princi-
pal object was to yindicate the Secretary of
the Treasury The only question was, whe-
Their the House would evince their disbelief
of the charges, by rejection of the resolu-
lions, or, whether, by an examination into
the subject, tho would refute them under
staDdingly. The rejection OF the resolutions
would be an evidence of the faith of the
House, in the integrity of the Secretary os
the Treasury but if an examination was
made, and the author was called before the
committee to substantiate his charges. the
result OF ,the investigation, if favorable,
would produce a conviction 10 every mind.
For himself, he thought the House could not
tc too careful, or too eager to prove the in
nocence of the Secretary of the Treasury.
He wished, of all things. to have It distinct
ly understood, that he did not move the en-
qniry under the impression, that it would re-
suit in the conviction of the Secretary of the
Treasury; but the manner and style in
which these charges had been announced,
made him wish that all the departments
should be clear of the imputations they con-
veycd.
Mr.. Ghoi8on saidhe was sorry, that any
base cnlunty which must he tlceriged Nv