Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-07-07

On Mr.. WRssrER's RESOLUTIONS.

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Mr.. SpEAkRR-My slight acquaint-
ance with the rules OF the house, does net
enable mero determine, whether the mo-.
ton Just made by the honorable gentle
man from South. Carolina (Mr. Farrow)
to postpone indefinitely the considera.
ton Of the resolutions now before us, SO
far supercedes the motion yesterday
made by his honorable colleague, MIR.
Calhoun) to amend the first OF these re-
solutions, as to render it improper for
me in this stage of the debate, to reply to
the observations of the latter gentleman
in support of his amendment. If | am
in order in pursuing this course, shall
venture to call the attention OF the house
in the first instance, to the nature Of the
amendment, and its effect on the resolu-
tons under discussion.
The gentleman from South -Carolina,
in proposing this amendment, preiesscs,
and no doubt with great sincerity, will
linsness to afford all the information
which is desired On the subjects en-
braced by these resolutions but he
seemed to think that the terms OF the
resolution, which he wishes TO amend,
are too particular to cumport with the
respect due from this house to the chief
magistrate, as they appear to afford the
ground Of an Inference, that 10 call Tor
information in a more general shape, he
might be disposed to make an unsatis-
factory or eyasive answer. The gentle.
NTH seemed also to think that the OBJ
jects intended to be obtained by the
word. which he proposes to strike out
are substantially included in the second
aud third reselutlons-snd he further
objects, that although all the Information
in the possession OF the government, as
to the time at which the first intelligence
of the dscree of the French government
Of the 2slh April 1911, was received.
may properly be demanded by this house
still it would be unprecedented and
improper, to enquire as to the manner
in which such intelligence was obtained
or the agents through whom it was
communicated, or at all events that these
things ought to be the subject OF dis
tinct and future enquiry, if the answer
of the executive to the resolution IL It's
general form should render such an e.
quiry important.
am unable, sir, to discern in what
point of view, this resolution can be cen-
sidered as disrespectful to the execu-
tive. Ifparticular information is requir-
ed, particular enquiries must nccessari-
ly be made. 1t will be reeollected by
tie house, that the resolution adopted
near the close of the last session, on the
motion of the honorable gentleman from
Maryland, behind me, (Mr. Goldsbo-
roughly and Ia reply to which the house
received the information now In their
possession. relative to the French de-
cree IL question-was in more congo
NAL torn than that now under consider
auon. 1t is to be presumed, that the
executive, in answer to that resolution,
gave the house all the facts, which he
considered as coming properly within
it. scope and meaning, and yet it most
be perceived that his answer is wholly
nnsaiislact tory, and that the necessity Tor
the present resolutions has grown ont OF
the defective information then given to
the house. 1t is proper, therefore, tina!
this call should be precise In Its terms,
and that the attention OF the executive
should be particularly directed to the
points. ON which information is deemed
important.
Nor, sir, can agree with the honora-
ole gentleman from South Carolina, that
the second and third resolutions are cal
calated to produce the effect intended
by the words, which he proposes 10
strike out of the first. The object of the
second resolution, Is to ascertain whe-
Their MIR. Russell has ever admitted or
denied to his government the truth OF
the declaration of the Duke OF Bassano,
to Nr. Barlow. 1t will be acknowledge
ed, that to complete vindicatien OF the
charac ser of the administration, an expil.
cit denial by Mr.: Russell of the truth OF
that declaration, is absolutely essential.
And, sir. as to the third resolution, 1t is
equally important, that it should be ex-
plicitiy known, whether the minister OF
France has ever made any communica-
zion to this government, on the subject
of that decree. But it will be perceived,
that the terms of the first resolution may
be fully complied with by the executive
without explicitly saying to this house,
whether such denial on the one hand,
or such communication on the other,
has ever been made. Frcts, so inpor-
tan, as these, ought not to rest on mat
ter of inference from any general an
swer of the executive-but they oushtto
be established BY direct and positive
declaration.
Neither, sir, can agree with the ho-
norable gentleman, that 1t Is unprece-