Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-01-22

| House To pernll It's attention 10 DeuFdNu
OH from f!lc case nj John Anderson 10 an
entirely different subject. Enoush had
already trallspired, with some lntinationS
IA, had heard, and indeed had seen III Tie
public prints, 10 determine him, II no 9th
er mcmber did, 10 subnIii u proposition
Tor enquuy into this subject. he there
fore took this occasion 10 say 10 this
House that, When III order, he " ould offer
resolution 10 that eiiecr: and suggested
that the House should now proceed in
| the trial OF John Anderson.
| HE Spscher said, the only point for the
! House 10 decide was, Whether the House
should or should not proceed in tie sxa-
mlnation of the Witness before them.
MIR. CObt did not wish TO be understood,
IN the few observations he had made, 10
desire 10 preclude any inve s,igaiion OF the
conduct al tie officers OF government OF
any grade; which, II proposed, he was
aS wlihng as any one 10 support. But
wi.it earthly relation, he asked, could
there he between the facts The Witness
WAS about 10 develope, and the case uf
John Anderson Surprising the fact es-
tablIslicd that Clerks mtle public Offices
had been III the habit OF taking brib S, he
e!ld nUt see how that fact would make
John Anderson more innocent or moe
guilty. He objected To this procedure,
moreover, of holding up the characters of
our officers Improperly before The public.
Those officers are not here 10 speak for
themselves aud very iitle thing, spo-
ken III this way, might 20 TO the destruc-
ton otiheir character. In proper man
ner, he added, none would more cheerful
~ second amy motion tor enquiry into
these matters.
Mr.. Holmes, of Mass. said he was well
aware that, when under the influence of
any particular excitement, there is danger
That we may act wrongly. We we're ia "a
little danger, said be, the other day, and
should take caution from experience.
W hen the question WAS first put 10 the
witness, and he lieSilated 10 answer MIR.
II. confessed he had iclt his curiosity eX-
cned, and he wished 10 hear his answer
Dui, when tAe suggestion was made that
The answer otthe witness might operate 10
lnIurc lie character OF one who was en-
lreiy innocent, he said, he had paused.
Enough had occurred TO convince him
that an enquiry should be made, and he
was about to put Il motion to that effect
Oh paper. But, on more mature couSid-
GRAFTON, he thought that the House would
be more cool III The morning, and better
adjourn.
Aud The motion was agreed TO.
FRIDAY, JANUARY Is.
MIR. Robertson, fLou. madea report on
the petition of George Pearson, accom-
panied by bill for his relief which was
twice read and committed.
Mr. Robertson also reported a bill for
the relief of john Jones which was twice
read and committed.
MIR. Hugh Nelson, from the committee
on Tie judiciary, reported bill 10 provide
for The publication of the laws of the u.
States and for other purposes; which was
twice read and committed
The following Message, received from
the President of the United States, was
read, as follows, viz:
To the Senate and House Of Representatives Of
tie United States:
The claims OF the representatives of Caron
de Beaumarchais, having been recommended
TO the favorable consideration oil the Legisla-
ture by my predecessor, in his message TO
Congress OF The 3lst OF January last; and con-
curing in the sentiments therein expressed,
now transmit copies of ID representation rela-
tive to IL, received by the Secretary of State
from the Minister of France and of corrasuou-
dence oil the subject between the Minister of
the United States at Paris and the Duke of
ilchelieu, enclosed with that representations
JAMES MONROE.
Washington. January IL, 1918.
This Message, together with the petit
lions of ]. A. Chevallie, attorney for
the heirs OF CarOn de Beaumarchais, and
the documents on file i'll the clerks office
relating thereto, were referred TO the
committee of ways and means.
THE PUBLIC OFFICES.
The Speaker laid before the House the
fol -.I l,s, l,oI
from Joseph Watson, the witness " no was
yesterday interrogated on tie subjectre-
ferred to i'll the letier:
WASHINGTON. 6h IAN. 1918.
SIR comply with the injunction OF the
House, III placing al lis disposal the letter allIt.
ded tom the answer givenby me yesterday to "A
question which was unexpectedly propOunded
Although the letter will speak for itself yet III
reference tomyseif, should observe that al the
time the question was answered, my impression
was that the letter particularly mentioned that
the person therein named was attached to the
Office of the Secretary OfWar hdtinpresSion
must have originated at the time of reading the
letter, from the similarity OF names.
beg leave, sir, TO avail myself OF this oppor-
tunity TO explain the cause OF my iestatin- to
answer the question above alluded 10. then
considered it as irrelevant To the sHbject about
which had been sworn TO testify, and hesitated
fer the purpose OF Cauvassng my right To re-
fuse an answer, aud the eXpedieucy OF subject
ing myself to The Implications which would
have been the COncOmiiauts of that refusal
Unwilling TO he dragged before the eye of
tue pub!ck, on question To which, (advcrtiug
10 my pursuits so much deiicdcy is attached,
trust IL will not derOsate rom the high respect
entertain for the honorable body over which
you, sir, have the honor TO preside, that would
state That the information which | have been
called upon to afford may be officially obtained
from the Ireasurer's warrant book and tie re.
porioi the Secretary OF War, which was some
time since called for by the House. will add,
however, that, regardless Of the consequences,
| shall eudeayOr Ia acquIt myself OF any duty
which the Injunction OF tile honorable House
OF Representatives may require from me.
cannot refrain TO express my belief that there