Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-02-13

iiouse, ahu ne question being stated OH
concnrring with The committee of III.
whole in their disagreement, Ia The resolu-
lion reported by the military committee
MIR. I'oindfrfer moved that The whole
subject be indefinitely postponed. TWAS
1 taken on The resolutions in The committee
ofthe whole, and he wished the House TO
pronounce no opinion in case Viii, Il he
believed 10 be not within It's jurisdiction.
MIR. p. recapiiulated briefly one oriwo ar
gumcnis which he had used in The debate !;
contending, tina, The officers OF The army
were responsible to The Executive alone
mot Ia. Congress, aud much less 10 one
| branch only of Cnngress-ihe only pow
er delegated to this House, singly, was 10
Judge of the election of lis members. He
wished 10 avoid ii course thai &c consid-
cred so Improper, and which would ope-
rate as precedent in future; aud there
fore hoped the matter would be indefi-
Ditply postponed.
MIR. Lomndes offered few remarks 10
shew that MIR. Poimdexter Was mistaken
IN The effect which he experimentation
vote on the resolution. Mr.. l.. believed
there was noauthority vested III The House
more unquestionabe or real than thai
which entitled il 10 express an opinion
OH tlie'case now before it. twas strictly
within the powers Of the House, as the
agents of the people, appointed TO ihves
tigaie all public matters. He Should
vote for The indefinite posiponemeni, but
1t was not because he believed The House
incompetent 10 express its opinion OF the
matter IN question: and he wished that
no such construction might be given 10
the vote
Alter some conversation on the proprl-
ely OF the coarse proposed, Mr.. Poinder-
Ter sad, as gentlemen appeared ,.ispOsed.
TO vote on the resolution directly, he
would withdraw his motion for posipone-
| ment. 49,
MIR. Spencer renewed his motion. He
did moi think this subject properly with
IN the jurisdiction OF The House, nor was
IT one OF those great occasions on which
1t ought to transcend lis powers. Ii was
not proceeding which was 10 lead TO
impeachment, nor 10 any practical legis-
flation, and he hoped the House wouldnoi
pronounce an opinion IN the case. Ii The
members wish to express their opinions
as individuals, said Mr.. S. LET us adjourn
to Davis's hotel, and there, as citizens,
give our opinions, but not here, in our
legislative capacity, pronounce decisi-
OH 10 which we are not cOmpetent-out
|
MIR. Holmes thought the postponement
of the resolution might operate as all in
direct censure on General Jackson. The
subject had been much tiscussed-the
matter at issue had been the conduct of
General Jackson, and ii was due TO him,
and 10 members on both sides, that the
question should be now met and fairly
decided.
MIR. Taylor said lie should vote against
lie postponement He wished TO meet
The resolution directly, and expressed his
dissent from the doctrine advanced by
his colleague, (AIr. SpenceG) 1t might
become necessary often for The House TO
express It's opinion on tie conduct of the
military officers, and he hoped gentlemen
would agree 10 vote in tie spirit of the
proposition reported by tie military COM
mittee, reject the motion for postpone
mtnt, and give lis opinion directly or the
resolution.
Mr.. Cobb opposed the postponement,
and asked il as favor OF the House
TO be allowed to record his vote on the
resolution which he had submitted in
committee, for which there would be no
opportunity ifihis motion prevailed. Mr..
G. illen made some remaks OH The OpiDi
on advanced that u was mol competent
this case, which he conIroveried, and
commended that il was a power unques,i-
onably vested in the House, and one
which he hoped il would never resign.
Mr.. QuaricS WAS III favor OF the indie
finite postpOnement, because il accorded
with his opinion of the incOmpetency of
r. the House TO act OH the subject. lie
had thought throughout The debate, that
IL was acting against The constitution of
The country. Whenever a proposition
was presented to him, which he approx
ed, he would give his opinion. regardless
of The frowns of any man but it was
strongly impressed on his mind that this
course was trenchiDg on The constitution
and laws of the country, which ii would
be a dereliction of duty 10 sanction.
Whence did the House derive lis power 10
proceed in this ex-parie manner TO pro
nounce on the coDdUcf of an officer Z!
Congress could make rules and regula-
lions for the government OF the army,
but this was ease not within the Iurls-
dIctl0n of the House, and an eDcroach-
meat OH the prerogativPs OF The Execu-
tive. II General Jackson had acted I'M
properly, he could be tried any time with
III two years after Tie commission of tbe
OifcUce but, as the constitution bad mol
given to- this House the power OF Try
ing him, but had pointed out the mode,
10 that mode il was proper 10 leave him.
A vote Of this house would have "a power
full effect on court Of enquiry, if such
a court were 10 he convened, and it would
for that reason be improper 10 express an
opinion. Mr.. Quarles was aVerse 10 IN
terfering with the powers OF other de-
paTiments of The goVernmsni, and this
was case under the exclusive jurisdiction
of the Executive, &c.
MIR. KheG was moi now, after this case
had been argued eighteen days, for giving
| il The 90 by Ihe nnesilnn onght now