Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-11-25


the characters Of public agents. But am coni>
dent it is favorable truth, to suppress the
names of those who comment upon public events than
to substitute rSuaonS for facts even under names
the most distinguishes
Having thus occupied the ina siuation, Mr. Giles
proceeds oseuce thebette faculties of the understand
ing. In this attempt intellectual seduction, he insists
that there no constitutional inhibition OF conference
between the President and the Senate that the course
Of conduct adopted by the Senate upon nominations is
variable, and that the quality of ordination between
the President and Senate the very reason why free
conference is proper they being III that respect per-
fectly equal all which allegations may be quietly adj
mitted without the shest objection, for they do not
at all affect the point In dispute, which isthepode OF Con-
erence, and not the conference ITSELF This viii be
BY reference to the Presidents message TO the Sc
nate of the 9th of July. III that message he says, If
the Senate wish information previous to thcir nal de-
cisiou. the practice keeping view the constitutions
" al relation of the Senate and Executive, has been, ei
Their request tho Executive to furnish 1T, or to refer
" the subject committee OF their body to communi
cate, either formally or informally, with the head OF
" the proper department" have already shewn that
" Information" relates to ofIions well to facts
and that the President proposed, through committee
ON his part To meet the committee OF the Senate tor
the purpose conerring together and OF furnishing those
considerations respecting the nomination of MIR Russell
hch it the object of the Senate ascertain. In
tusng meet the Executive committee the committee
of the Senate voluntarily abandoned the pursuit OF that
knowledge which Mr.. Giles contends essential to
determine the senatorial votes and thereby asserted
equality between three members of the Senate and the
President of the United States, in relation TO appoint
mens tn Office. 10 prove this equally, the Critl-
cal abors with infinite minUeness, and endea>
persuade us, that there is difference between
the managers of conference and committee to ma
mage a conference. For myself am totally at loss
to comprehend where this ference lies a committee,
as understand the word. is Q more to whom
any business is conlnfed which business is, by such
committee. be managed, effected And managers
are, in like manner, persons who appointed to do
ny business assigned to them BY whatsoever name
they are called. their junction is the same There is,
therefore, inaccuracy whatever IN the Presidents
using the word committee, as is completely descriptive
of those whom it is applied But MIR. Giles is,
questionably, of exceedingly great powers Of dis
criEnaton; for find him, still adhering to his own
explanation OF the term information" accusing the
Executive ofGulness, in overlooking obvious differences
The President (says M g. not sufficiently to
have appreciated fhe - distinction, between confer
eRce, and CALL for information although the disnc
ton seems o6Uiot4S." Surely man of common sense
might here pause, widely open his eyes and wonder,
without the imputatiOn of ideOcy. Ii the cnH and the
confcreace have the end in view, to wit " bor-
rim; - what distinction is there between them, eX-
cept in Tie method of obtaining it, and this the PEesi~
ieut expressly ind Gates, inhis message ofJuy g. may
be- "either request the Executive to furnish it >;
which would be call by resolution " to refer the
subject committee of the Senaeto communicate, eli
Their formally Informally, with the head of the pro
per Department. which might be done by letter, or
by personal interview and conference. Indeed what
ever way Mr.. Giles pursues his argument he invaraa
bly, halts at the principal question at ISSUE namely
7vbeFer committee Of the Senate IS coordinate, OF e.
qwal,to tie President in conference, in me case faf-
Eoinfaents TO Ofce And, like Si:yphus, he works up
hill with huge absuTditW which, he gains the sum-
mt being unable fix escapes his grasp, and compels
him to renew the task ] candidiy confess that am
ashamed Of this verbal criticism but the honorable Se'
| nator compes to it.
To these frivolities. however, MIR. Giles adds some
thing Of boder cast. In the technical phiassoiogy
OF the law he pretends that the Senate cam quo "a hyc
or for NEGOTIATE purposes clothe committee o.
that body qDh all the attributes o1fhc SENATE ITSELF IL
prove this he quotes certain parts OF the journal OF the
! Senate of the United States and aedges custom IN
the legislature of Virginia, of adjournin5 whenever
conference is Carrying on between committees of its two
branches. Bnt will ask Mr.. Giles this Does no.
each house of Congress- and each house OF the Genera
Assembly of Virginia. always exercise over their com
mees, managers, the power Of accepting or reject
ing the reports which they make concerning such con
ferences9 This is evident in the case OF the Senaie
from whose journal Of proceedings be has pnbhshet
extracts by which it appears, thai the report OF h
managers, IL was " resolved hat the SeHate concur u
the report of the conferences" otherwise. h'
same course is uniformly followed By eac house OF th
General Assembly of Virginia. H. then, the SENATE e8
ercses as il will not be denied tlia il does, control
ling authority the prr ceedngs of such committees
managers how it be said they are. tor lncoha
purposes quo ad any thing. clothed with the entire
attributes of the Senate Iftey equal to the Senate
in any thing then IN thst thing the Senate cannot checl
them BECAUSE if il could it would be the Senate gro az
hoe checking the Senate which would be ridiculous
past all reason. We read g. Swits tale Of Tub of M
lord Peter wishing persuade Ills brethren that al
| kinds OF good meats contained in simple bread
but never before now, apprehend, did any one under
take to shew that Senatorial committee could be in
spired with the whole authority ~ the Senate itself to
anv object in which ordinate branch OF the govern
J ment was concerned. There could, in fact be no mod
ofinfusng such great power into COMMITTEE, unless
were by previous resolution Of the whole body Of ih
Senate specifying that the Senate would be bound b.
what the comuittee might might not do his, be
lieve is dcne aud certainly was not done 10 t
case before me.
Now, then, we come to the merits Of the question
I --~--
One night be induced suppose, from the style Of Nj
CHESS address, that he badbecn lately amusing se with "a
'Sohooi for Scandal The following brief that r
rua piece will show that he has refined upon The character
ldrs. Csndori
| " Lady Teasie. What's iho matter, Mrs. Candor
Mrs. Can9or Why ;hcy ecrsorous they wont ailo
our friend, Miss YcrTnilion, N be Handsome
lady SHeer. Oh surely she's apre,iy woman.
Grab. I'm glad you think