Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-01-20
DOMESTIC.

prevented, " Tue leDgln az the troccett-
n.ss of Tie Colonization society had not,
The pu%licatlon III detail Of the Proceed
ings Of Congress of Yesterday which is
therefore Reluctantly deferred until our
next
The SENATE did not transact any ipi-
poriant public business.
The Proceedings of the House OF RE-
PERSONALITIES were, however, far from
being unin,eresting. They came 10
decision onthe case of Col. Anderson, SO
far as, passing by direct vote respect
ing their own power TO refuse TO disc barge
him, by IA majority of 10 To AZ, and bl "A
like majority io direct him 10 he brought
forthwith To The bar. lie was according
ly brought to the bar; and being inter
rogated, acknowledged his name and the
delivery ct the letter, &c. When ques-
toned whether he had any thing TO offer
in defence, he intimafed that he had de-
fence in writing, which he wished 10 Of
fer to the House.
A mn her OF witnesses were then cali
ed and examined, touching the charac-
ter heretofore sustained by Col Ander-
son; ofwhicb they testified, as far as their
knowledge extended, in very high terms.
Among these witnesses were Two mem
bers of the House, Gen. Harrison and
Col. Johnson.)
A question put to one of the witnesses
towards the close of the examination.
bore away The attention of the House from
the enquiry before them, respecting the
conduct OF John Anderson, TO one very
different namely, whether, in the per
sonal knowledge or general belief of the
witness, money was, IN any case, receive
Ell by any of the officers the government,
of any grade, for fastening claims, or for
"A! a +
| such things, but personally knew nothing.
How had he heard of them, and by
whom received, was the next question
| The witness was about 80 state what he
had heard on the subject, when debate
arose on the propriely OF thus going INTO
an examination; improper now, il was
said, because irrelative 10 1.-THE question
before the House, and because leading 10
| impiicate, on the authority of mere ru-
NOR, those who might be very lust and
Upright officers.
These circumstances excited conside-
| rable agitation; the short debate of the
moment resulted i'll Adjournment, in or
| der to consider more cooily on the course
proper TO be pursued.
| The course that will be pursued OF this
| subject, we have no doubt, will be, to
| appoint committee, With power to send
and report TO the House such facts rela-
| tive to it, as they may be able TO ascer-
| tam.
| 1t would perhaps not be proper to dis
| miss this general statement, without adj
| ding our impression that the practices re-
| ferred TO are not of that criminal nature
! which, at the first blush, and without en-
| quiry, might be attached To them. The
only instance particularized by the wit
| ness, was the case of clerk receiving
| i've dollars from claimant for obtaining
| for him land warrant. OF the heinous-
ness of this offence, the reader will Judge
for himself. We will only add, that il is
| fact as notorious RS the advertisements
of newspaper, that clerks have done a.
gency business, as they do also pursue
mercantile or other business, and even
exercise professions, when disengaged
| from the ordinary routine of public du-
ties. Whether this be criminal or not,
whether II be right or wrong, we say not;
but the fact is unques,ionable, and has
existed as long as the government.
We have omitted mentioning the name
of the witness, because in our next we
shall give full statement of the whole
occurrence, as we shall of the result Of
the enquiry when concluded.
! JANUARY l7.-The House Of Repre-
sentatiyes has at length finished The fri
al of John Anderson ioTa contempt Of its
privileges. He was yesterday solemnly
reprimamded by the Speaker, and dis
charged. This punishment, connected
with lis confinement for more than a
week, whilst il vindicates the Injured
feeling OF the House, appears TO us not
to have been TOO lenient, considering
all the circumstances under which, this
\ II
heretofore sustained BY Col. Anderson
his sufferlngs, sacrifices, and servic IS
during the war; his solemn declarations
OF having offered The money merely as
a compensation for extra services TO one
who, as chairman of committee, has
most laborlous duty TO perform; bis
entire submission to the authority oi
the House, not having taken any legal
exceptions TO tie course pursued by u.
together with the explanation he gave Oi
his motives, combine 10 inspire com
Hiseration for luis situation, rather than
any Vindictiye sentiment towards him.
With respect TO the legality of ilit
proceedings, the luminous views afforded
By the Debate, now IN aprogrcss of pub
liraiiou, have induced lis to be silent
Whilst, OF the one hand, to permit at
tcinpfs OIL its integrity 10 be made viii
impunily, would tend 10 lessen tie res
pect Of the people for that body which !,
The peculiar guardian Of Their poperi,
aud rights; on the other, 10 admit tia
the House, IN the exercise of an unlimited
discretion, can, at will, drag from ihei
home citizens removed even thousaut
miles from Tie place of It's sitting, woul,
be to establish power too despotic fOi
the nature of our Institutions. These, i
may be said, are extreme cases, but tile7