Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-03-14

| The Speaker also laid before the
House a letter from William Sim
lmons, Iaie accountant OF the War
department, stating certain deial-
Ications and inisapplicalions ofpubIie
monies BY colonel James Thomas,
late q quarter master general in the
Iarmy |; also certain alleged impro.
lper reductions by the treasury Off
lcePs, of the amount due by col. T.
Ito the government; and q belief that
laH YVES not fair. which had pre-.
vented the prompt communication OF
1.-THE information called for by the
House from the President on the
hOth ult.
| Mr.. M Kee moved that the letter
he referred to = select committee,
with power to send for persons and
papers.
This motion produced debate OF
considerable scope and duration.
IMr. Forsyth moved that the letter
lbe laid on the table. 10 which be was
supported by Messrs. Wright, Smith
!of Md. ard Alexander and opposed
Iby Messrs. M'Kee, Shelly. Stan
ford, Grosvenor, Pitkis and HUI
bert.
The debate was coniised chiefly to
1.-The character and motives OF Mr..
ISimmOns, the character Of colonel
Thomas. etc. 1t was argued, ia
favor OF iaylng the letter on the ia
bile, thai information on this subject
HAD already been called for from the
Eproper department by resolution
Iof this House, which was hourly ex,
loected and then could be properly
Iacted on that the letter itself was
leouched in indecorous and insolent
terms, and was not entitled TO any
respect that it was improper to
leountenance individuals in bringing
their private quarrels and venting
their spleen before Congress; that
from the character of the writer his
statement ought not 10 he received
las true on his single evidence; and
1.-The reference to committee of such
statements so introduced would in.
lvite repetition Of such communion
liens: and that the power TO send
flor persons and papers was Too great
Ito be lightly granted, etc.
| In favor Of referring the letter to
la select committee, for the purpose
lof enquiry, it was argued-that every
jperson whe came before the House
Jon a.public concero, was entitled to
a hearing that an enquiry at a for
Imersession had disclosed frand in the
individual accused by Mr.. Simmons,
and gave color TO the charges now
tmade in the letter, that every thing
calculated 10 awaken the attention
|of the house to a subject so impor-
liant was salutary and ought TO be
,IIistencd to !; that the letter contain
led netting offensive to decorum
THAT the character Of Mr.. Simmons
Inherited no disrespeet, and that the
character of colonel Thomas himself
Required the reference, &c. etc.
| On these points the debate was
livery diffnse, and after it had cont
Inued about two hours.
On motion of Mr.. M'Kee, a reso
Luton was agreed to, creating Il Gem
,Imittee Of FIVE members to enquire
YIinto the state Of the accounts render
led and settled by James : homas
LATE a deputy quarter.mastef, ant
Ialso to examine all accounts connect
ed Herewith, and that said com
mittee have power 10 send tor per
sons and papers.
| The speaker laid before the HOUSE
1.-Two communications from the pre-
,lsident OF the United States. ont
transmitting the amount of exreuce'
Incurred for public buildings, &c
lin Washington; and the other {
rs;atement Of the militia of the C.
estates, according TO the latest re
turns at the war department.
| The bill from the senate for tht
relief Of IS. E. Verjon and Rober
is. Stobie, was read the third time
land passed.