The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-01-29
the petitioner have leave to withdraw hi. petit.

the petitioner have leave to withdraw his ne,;,;
| on.
! Mr.. Shefey was opposed to the amendment
ne san" I. stated what WAS not true in fact
| What were the allegations on which this memo
rial was founded. Peculaton in the publi., ,rra
sure was alleged. And would the pentlemar
| say the House had not authority to enquire into
1t Had not the House, in opposition to all such
arguments, pronounced determination to en-
qu,e into the conduct of an officer whom thew
Il! couid not Impeach Mr. S. said /, was not cor
rect to say that this House had not q right 10 en-
quire into the frauds on the public treasury in,
to the p'iferings Of the hard earnings of the peo
pie whilst he believed this to be a proper cop
s'ruct'on ofthe authority of the House, he never
would interfere to enquire intothe improper con.
duct OF any officer of the government on his own
| mere motion He hoped the House would on
.n's OCCASION do what was necessary and proper,
and would not travel out of the record TO pass an
abstract resolution He hoped the amendment
would no be agreed to, because it would he I'm.
necessary ant untrue in point of fact The House
mad already settled the principle that it had a
right to enquire
Mr.. Love asked if it was not agreed on all
hands that this matter was improper for the
house TO enquire into, If so, what objection
could there be to pu ting it on record What
was there - abstract" in this proposition If
there was, it was merely whether Congress. a
body OF representatives met to legislate on pub
tic business had right to entertain the COM
pants ofpcttY officers, to notice all the SLAM
ders which found their way into news papers,
II thls resolution were passed, it would prevent
waste OF time on future similar applications
Inc gentleman had asked whether Congress-
nao not power o enquire into fraui or pecula-
tIon' Mr.. l.. doubted much whether they had a
power to enquire by bringing the officer before
Them. Were they to be occupied in considering
the complaints OF every petty officer, as low as
COrDOral h.. -. 4. =
men was the proper nrgan for reforming abuses
and he was. amenable to Congress.
MIR. Pcknian said it would not be proper to a.
dopt the amendment proposed, without laying the
whole m mortal on the journals which w as I'm.
usual Different reasons had been urged by diff
terent gentlemen for not acting on the subject
and 1t would be most proper & most consistent
with the usual course Of proceeding, simply TO
give leave tn withdraw the petition.
Mr.. II ICON SAID the gentleman from Virginia,
Mr.. Love- would accomplish great point in
deed, if he could at this short notice induce .he
House to reverse decision they had SO lately
made. Mr.. B. contended it was lawful for Q
House to investigate such matters but il did
not follow that Il was always expedient to do : .
In cases of great public concern, as in the cas-.
OF general Wilkinson, it might he proper, but II
did not follow that the malversation of every pet
ty ofhcer was to become subject OF enquiry
There was no occasion 10 assign on the jour
nails any reason why the petition should be with.
drawn, and he therefore against the amend
ment.
Mr. Nerpton said that the House had settled it
as principle that it was grand court Of inque.i
for this nation and wheneverthey though pre-
per to exercise this power over any officer, they
had righ' so to do, and he hoped in God they
| always would do it. But if hey commenced en-
curry INTO the conduct OF every navy agent, &c.
there would never be an end tn business Of this
sort. They could neither do the nation or the
! individuals justice. He hoped they would act,
by agreeing to the amendment, deny the const,
| tu.ional power of the House, but would give the
| petitioner leave to Withdraw his papel,!
Mr.. M'Kins said he was decidedly IN favor of
inserting the words proposed ~ an amendme,t
viz. that the memorial contained matter not
proper to be enquired into by the House 1t was
the most appropriate expression tsat could have
| been employed. What vas the object of the
| memorialists! A justification of his own private
| reputation which is alledged to have been ira.
dnred in newspaper, and by private characters
| Mr. NIX asked, are not the laws open to him
| Why not resort to them Why bring the sub
| lect before the National Legislature, when he
| has so good remedy before another tribunal
| IN fact Mr.. M'kim said he was disposed to have
general enquiry into this subject, but he doubt
| ed the expedency of Of commencing it at this
| perod OF the session. But, above all, he was
opposed to founding any enquiry on petition Of
this nature
| Mr. Love said he found his amendment in q
very singular position that some Of his frierds
were very much in favor Of it, but embarrassed
| by decision they bad already made on the case
OF Gen. Wilkinson. To relieve them from this
| awkward dilemma, he withdrew his proposed a.
| mendment.
| 1t twas then resolved, tina. the memorials,
\ have leave to withdraw his memorial