Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-01-22

high responsibility, that ii was now the
DULY pracic in the army, directly III
the face of the law, to punish soldiers
corhoraify for offences. He hoped that
the resolution would pass, and that the
house would obtain information on the
subject.
Mr.. 3frother, of Virginia, said he,
too, hoped the resolution would pass,
not that he apprehended that the facts
would be obtained on which gentlemen
seemed to calculate--but because, when
a statement is presented to this house
involving the conduct of any department
of the government, it becomes its duty
to examine it fully and impartially..
Mr.. Storrs, of New York, rose prin-
cipally to state fact, in confederation of
what had fallen from others. He had
himself seen, in the cantonment at Sack
ett's Harbor, punishments inflicted on
soldiers by stripes; and, when it had
been a subject of conversation among
the officers, it had been justified on the
ground of the absolute necessity of re-
sorting to it. There were, he doubted
not, repeated instances, like this, in
which, under the eyes of the officers, the
articles OF war were openly violated
The soldier, SO far from preferring
charges against those who violated these
rules to his injury, dared not even muir
muir. 1t was very proper now, Mr.. ).
said, to ascertain, whether any orders
from the War Department authorized
these proceedings, and, if not, it was
desirable to know why proper measures
had not been taken to prevent their re-
currence.
Mr.. LogonaeS said, that altho' enough
had been said to convince him that an
inquiry into this matter by the Execu-
tive was already on foot; yet he consider
ed it sufficient to justify this house, in
making call on the Executive for in
formation, that any member of the
house declared that he desired that in
formation. He was therefore in favor Of
the resolution. Mr.. L. made some
other remarks.
Mr.. Smith, of Md. said, it struck him,
at first view, that the resolution might
be taken to imply censure ON the Ex-
ecutiye, by imputlng to it knowledge
Of violations of the law, without taking
measures to redress them. After what
had been said, however, he should not
further object to the inquiry.
MIR. Cobb rose only to say, that, as far
as his information went, the punishments
he had referred to had been inflicted not
only without the knowledge of the Ex-
ecutive and War Department, but con-
trary to their known wishes and injunc-
tons.
Mr.. Wilfams said, with regard to
censure of the Executive, it was no part
of the object of his motion, nor of the
motives which led him to make it.
Mr.. Taylor, of New-York, wished
the resolution to lie on the table. He
had no objection to the inquiry, but to
the generality of the terms Of the mo-
ton. To avoid complication in the
inquiry by making it too extensive, Mr..
I said he was DESTROYS that the object
of the inquiry should be more particu~
larly defined.
Mr.. Floyd, of Virginia, was for having
the proceedings ofthe house stayed, un-
til the result OF the court martial should
be made known to them by the Presi-
dent.
Mr.. Trim6le, of KY. next spoke. IF
the facts were as stated, in favor of tho
resolution, (he sadly was it not due to the
country that an inquiry should be made
by this house, and law passed for the
prevention of such abuses Of power for
the future A reason why this proposal
to inquire into it should not be laid on
the table, was, that, if the facts should be
confirmed, there was other and higher
duties than those of inquiry merely
which this house would be called on to
perform. 1t would be found, on an ex-
animation of the rules and articles of
war, that after conDiction by eourt
martial, commanding officer may APP
prove a sentence of death; but, in
peace, no military execution could le-
gally take place, but by appreciation and
authority of the President of the United
States. Now here was case stated, in
which death had been inflicted, not only
without the authority of the President,
but without trial by court martial. IF
the law is not strong enough to prevent
such excuses, said Mr. L. we must try
some different mode.
Mr.. Mercer, Of Virginia, said it APP
peared to him that, upon the information
which had been given to it, it had now
become the imperious duty Of the house
to prosecute this inquiry-not only for