The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-01-15

said committee have power to send for per-
sons and papers.
Mr.. Calhoun said IL was good rule gem
erally in cases of this kind that enquiry be
granted, whereit is moved ir proper man
ner. On such motions very great liberali-
~ had usually prevailed in this hnuse,
which had been displayed in the vote Just
taken. But. as 70 the par ocular resolution
before us. IL is of that class which ought not
to- be Passed in the present. stage Of lis exis.
tence, 70 induce the house 10 pass this res1
luton, there ought 70 be three IN ngs stated.
lie need 20. suggest that this enquiry was Of
an unprecedented character. ard varying
from all usual calls on the Executive for
mtormation. To warrant the adoption, a
specific object eight to be first stated; Sc
condly, what was expected TO grow out of il
AND thirdly, that the. object was cf cha
racter TO warrant the investigation. Such
enquiries as that now proposed, without
these three prerequisites, would, he con-
ce'ved, violate the spirit of the constitution.
BY that instrument diplomacy was cohftied
wholly 70 tue Executive This house had
indeed the power TO require information, but
III was through the Executive department
that it ought to be sought for and MT thro'
inGuisitorial committees OF this house, o. on
such vague statements as had been made
The Unofficial mode Of enquiry now propos-
|
vince OF this body, To which he hoped the
| house would not acce6e.
Mr.. Hanson, of Md. said he had flattered
himself, when he had the honor to make a
statement few days ago on this subject to
the house, that his object would be distinct
" understood. AS to the proceeding which
| this house init wisdom might think praper
to ground>en this resolution, it was not for
MN to dictate. Certain it was. that if any
high and responsible officer had done any
| act for which he was amenable to the CON
st'tutional authority.it was the duty of this
Rouse to lay the foundation for an enquiry
he statement which he had made, vas OF
itself, he conceived, sufficient foundation
Tor the house To proceed upon. He enter
taineh no wish on his part to examine the
department OF State, the gentleman ap
Peared to suppose. or any officer of the GO
Vernment IN relation TO the object oe the en-
| curry On the contrary, he pledged himself
to be able to prove the statement he then
made, without resorting to any department
OF the government. He denied in toto the
princ7ple laid down by the gentlemen from
South Carolina on the subject # the grounds
necessary 20 authorize. enquiry. Do we not
know, said he, that it rs the practice in this
house, as well as in the British parliament.
that information given by any M mber ri
sing IN his place NAV be made the founda-
ton OF an enquiry! The gentleman had
said. Mr. II. observed, that cornmit,ee
ought not To be appointed on this matter !.
nat an enquiry ought not TO be g. anted in
inc prssen' state OF vague information. Now
Fhr. n. said, he information given had been
as precise and explicit as could be. Ii had
been stated IN this House, that letter of
most Insulting nature, recurring of this 90
vernrncnt the most degrading poll iceI sacri.
noes. letter striking at the honor Of the
government. had been transmitted by the
ffeuch minister TO the Secretary of State
and placed on the flies of that Department
And what constituted the file, of that offce !,
he asked If such a letter had been trans
mitt, d to the Department of State, and suf
ferea to remain in that office wa. il nor on
the files Of the department Was u neces-
saFy thatit should be recorded, to constitute
ITS admission 1t had remained in the
Office sufficiently long TO give il an NJ
hc;ai character. What was the nafure NJ
TINS dooumentS AS far back as the wear
iooS-and gentlemen would recoIlect the
state OF our foreign relations at that time :,
when minIster coming from England with
inii powers to negotiate treaty of ami,y
anu commerce was momently expelled
the French minister addresses 10 his o.
Vernment letter to be held as a 70 d in fer,
roreni Ii we presumed to neg ciate with
D' MS letter set forth certain pre-
tendea grievances. and required particular
political sacrifices of our government. ON the
presumption that 1t was going to make
treaty with Great Britain. IL aone,red
from that letter, Mr.. II. said, that France
SET torth certain disgraceful and dishoaora
Die conditions or which alone it would re-
main at annity with this government. Now.
can TINS q 'cument public or private. the
question Was--had il been received bv our
government The views and feelings of the
FRENCH government had been spread on pa
per, and cou d be as well known throuqh
private as through public document. s
20 the objection stated on former occasion.
tnat me letter was private letter address
ca TO the gentleman Who held the Office of
oecretsry OF State, but not III his Official ca
Facety, MT. ii. said that this objection was
perfectly frivolous. The letter was address
ed to Robert SIN til, Esq as Secretary If
otate 1t treated of nothing but public bust
ness and the Minister said he felt himself
mus called upon to explain to the Ameri- !
en- the views OF the French government.-
Not TO go fully into the sub. ct at this time
On. merely 10 show that this House was al
ready poses ed of sufficient information 10
act on TINS subject, it was enough o saw tina,
document OF immense importance 70 the
ea'ion had been concealed and suppressed
from pu'lIe view that whilst we nave zone
on 10 consider France as frisndlv poWer
yet, as Ter back as 1909 cur government
perfectly well knew that il had potLino 20