Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1814-01-27

enauiry he sffeetna!. If there be pu-
ri,s in the Executive, let that purity
bs made more apparent if the re-
verse, ii ought distinctly to appear
r. the American people. Either let
this question be treated as frivolous
and disregarded entirely. or let it
he treated according to its Importance.
in the manner which will lead to the
most satisfactory result.-Whilst ne
was in favor of an enquiry which
would expose the wlloie truth to the
peopole, he should never consent to
rhode of enquiry. which instead OF
disclosing al the facts, would sme-
Their them for ever.
Mr.. Barnett of Georgia. said the
only real question before the house
these two days, was, whether the
house should 40 in at the door, or
climb over tho walls OF the public
eiScas to get at the necessary inior.
nation. Mr.. B. was for the first
course aad il gen.ienon on the o.
Their side, said he, are determined to
20 over the wall, let them receive
ti.at deauaeistion which it is snid
those stall Bave who SO over the
wall.
hEr. Webster moved to amend the
resolution so as to souiiBe the inGui-
ny to committee of the house.
Mr.. VI. said, that gentlemen had
attempted to diminish the impor-
taace OF this inquiry. and east a cha
racter Of lightness and Indifference
On the snbject. The force of ridi-
cu'e had beer tried ; but that weap-
on must be used by rare: talents, Il
"a more powerful hand, than this oc.
casion tas called into exercise, be-
fore it eau affect the iatrinsieA i'm
porsanee Of this subject. 1.-THE pre-.
serva,ion Of national character and
national spirit--if the cherishiag of
manly. independent, end elevated
sentiments in the government and in
the couatry, are matters OF any mo.
ment-then this inquiry is important.
1t was not, however, his intention
TO &c into tho subject generally, but
to confine i,:s remarks TO the amend
meut proPosed. Tire present ques-
ton is, as to the manner oil nyestl-
gaiiay the business. Tue resolution
proposes m inquiry efthe executive.
TIE amendment proposes 10 inquire
by\e committee Of tic house, with
directions 10 report tbs evidence.
What are the circumstances when
call for inguiry1 a membero oil Inc
house states, in his place, that he
has evidence, which induces him to
behave, that a letter, af!rontiye ard
insulent in lis object and character
was written by the Fren.h minister
to the Department Of Stair that the
government received that letter, and
ins,sad Of repcsling the rss"ont with
bess miag spirit and dignity, under
took to solicit 4 suppliea'f the anthor,
that he would take il hsek--t':at he
dseisiveIy refused TO Dc SO; saying.
that he had written the letter with
great de!iberation /; t,at it was re-
yistered 10 the recerds of the egsbas.
sy /; that copy had been despatch
| ed to his government and that the
letter could not he rejected. That
afterwards. when certSin pcIitica!
purposes we're supposed to be an.
swered, this letter, in son,N way or a
nsther, was withdrawn isom the Of
fee Of state, and that no traces Of il
nav remain there. The gentleman
even produces the letter. as trans
lated in the Office, and offers it to the
view Of The house. Ofthe facts here
stated, the honorable gentleman de-
eiares his readiness to procure evil
denee, and wishes the house 10 OBJ
lain it, through committee, clothed
with proper powers.
The mover Of the present resolu-
ism, manifssting by his resolution,
his sense of The Importance OF some
inquiry, speaks with emphasis ofthe
necessity ofaseertainins the manner
in which this letter was obtained
from the Department Of State. lie
speaks of il as purioined paper.
| lie does not Indeed intimate, that
| the gentleman from MARYLAND did
| not come into possession of il, in a
| a,aaner altogether correct and no.
hsrabie; but he seems to suppose
that it must have escaped from the
.ifice orsiate. originally. in some un-
iustifiable manner. by improper dis
1