Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-06-28
CONGRESS.
HOUSE, OF REPRESENTATIVES,
xX,vsn.v Iune Is.


Mr.. Webster day or two ago, ths
first of which was read in the following
words:
Resolved, That the President OF the
United States be requested to lniorm
this house, unless the public interest
should 10 his opision forbid such com
munication, when, by whom, ana "a
what manner the frs, Intelligence was
given to this government of the decree,
of the government Of France, bearing
date on the as,h of April, 1911, s par-
porting to BIS de6niriYc repeal OF the
DEGREES of Beriis and Milan.
MIR. Calhoun said he did not rise to
oppose the passage of this resolution on
account of its object; but ne objected
to the novelty OF the form OF the reso'
luton. Tue resolution went further
than merely asking tor information 1t
also asks, when and by whom tie intor-
nation in question was received. Such
form and particularly was unprecedent-
ed in such cases. He rose to ask the
precise object ofthe gentleman IN CIV
! ing this form TO his mo,ion. what use
was intended TO be made Of the lnsorma-'
ton called iOr
| MIR. Webster said, with respect to the
use to be made of the information 10 be
obtained, it would depend on what that
information should be. With respect
10 the form of the resolution, 1t had
been offered in this form because it was
on a Subject on which he wished for
par,icular information, of that nature
which was designated by its terms
Mr.. Rhea said it appeared that the
only object of the gentleman was, to
know when the repeal had been notified.
The existence of the repeating decree
was not questioned. I.was therefore
! imma,eri Nv hen and how twas commu.
nicated unless, BY the enquiry, some
thing can be discovered in which the
| government or the executive has not
done It's duty. AS no object could be
answered by the agreement to this mo-
ton, he moved to postpone the tufther
confederation thereof indefinitely.
On the question OF agreeing to this
melton, MIR. Hanson called Tor the yeas
and nays.
| Mr.. Calhoun said he hoped the gen
tiemaR from Tennessee would rot press
this motion. five advert to the traDs-
actions which have taken place since
! the declaration Of war, We shall Ind that
Oh many occasions taIs conversation has
bcca made handle of. :;nd that GER
tain degree of suspicion has been at
te,apted, TO be attached tc the chief ex.
ccutivc officer on this head. A resolu-
ton had been adopted at tae end OF the
| last session, which did not Include the
whole object OF the present resolution /;
and Mr. c. for his part had no indlspo-
sition to afford to gentlemen an oppor-
tunity of obtaining all the information
they could wish, if asked Tor in pro-
| per manner. He hoped, therefore, the
gentleman would withdraw his motion.
Mr.. Rhea said, although he was not
much 10 the habit of Withdrawing mo-
| tons which he had made, he would tor
the present withdraw his motion, with
the intention, however, to renew II, II
| in the course of the discussion 1t should
| seem to him expedient.
| MIR. Calhoun said he could not but
think that the gentleman from New
| Hampshire had rather eluded than an
swered his enquiries. asked, said MIR.
G.. the reason Of the novelty of the form.
The gentleman say. his object is parti-
GUAR information. If information only
be wanted, am willing to join gentle
nen in asking for every information they
may wish. But object to the novelty
of the form to the use of SO particular
terms. Mr. c. submittet to the good
Judgment ofgentlemen the prop'ie,y OF
varying the language Of the resolve:
Mr.. GroSvenor said, without entering
into the merits of the resolve, he would
state the impressions Of his mind as to
the form If it. The gentleman from
South Carolina had admitted that suspi-
cicn had attached to this government as
to tho decree in question. MIR. Calhoun
| said be did not admit the iact-but had
said that this matter had been so handled
as that il might have created suspicion
! a general resolution h,.l been adopted
q. the close of the last session Calling
Tor information on this subject. when
the President had transmitted to the
house the repeating decree, without af-
iording the information III respect to it
which was sought BY these resolves, the
object of which was, to sweep away en-
,irely the charge which had been made
asains, the goverument-to give the
executive a proper opportunity tor
transmitting to the house information on
tis subject which would completely
excalpste him. The particularly OF
the resolutions, objected to by the gen.
tleman, was essential to their object. as
describing what information was desired.
| If such information as was desired was
in the Office Of state, it required par
,icuIar call to elicit il, as the general