Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-08-01

! of the nation, where the advice OF the house
was first asked by his majesty and upon
whose decision the sovereign, the govern
ment, and The country, would see what was
hest TO he done for the yindcation OF truth,
the dignity OF the throne, and the assertion
! IT innocence and honor. That was all that
was required by his majesty's gracious mes
s,ge; he only asked the house TO do that
which would prove best for the ends o! JUS
tice. and the support of the honor and Dig
nily of the crown. The present question was
one of great anxiety, and be depIored twas
! too like some cases inquired into by parlla-
ment before but i, did not follow, because
Of its being case of great and deep anxiety,
that there existed no way o!settling it, il not
with satisfaction to all parties, at all events
! with becoming regard to the Interests OF
Justice. What the house would ultimately
do, upon the report OF the committee being
brought up, he could venture no opinion;
| but he was sure that the committee would
give the subject that strict and careful inves-
LEGATION which the magnitude of the subject
so imperiously demanded 1t would ultl'
mately, however, remain for the house to say
whether upon the information before them,
thew would refer the matter TO the high court
| of parliament, TO the ordinary courts of aw,
or to any other tribunal or course of proceed
ing which in their judgment they might think
requisite.
The committee would alsoShase 10 inquire
whether any, and if any. whether they were
! of sufficient foundation on which TO ground
any proceeding whatsoever, In proposing
this to the house, he felt it his duty TO state,
! that the papers should in the first instance be
referred TO secret committee. On the face
Of her majesty's message, an erroneous sug'
gestion appeared, in which it was alleged,
that the committee would come 10 decision
on the case. But no such thing was contem-
plated. The committee would have little
other operation would have no other charge
devolved upon them, than what devolved
usually upon grand jury. (Cres of hear,
hear Certainly the result of the decision
OF the committee would not tend to prove Ell
Their the crimnality or the non-criminality OF
that iIlustrious parsonage. The duty of the
committee would be that OF examination, and
then reporting to the house with such obser-
vations as the nature OF the circumstances
disclosed TO them might warrant. The duty
of the house would be to refer those papers
to committee, for which there exists seve.
raj precedents. The mode of forming the
committee was an essential ingredient on o
grave and important question, aud he now
should arrive 10 that stage OF the business,
to nominate the committee, and declare on
what principles he should proceed in doing
so. He meant it TO be composed OF persons
most competent TO enter into such an eXami-
nation; men of real abilities and impartlality
& most capable OF advising on so great sub.
ject. AT the same time he wished TO guard
against the idea that the decision OF the COM
mitiee should in the least involve The merits
OF the case itself 1t would no more do that
than the decision of grand jury. (Hear,
hear, from the opposition He repeated
that be hid moi consider that on tine determi-
ton OF the committee the guilt or innocence
of the ilu.trious individual should in the
least depend. They would only examine
the information, and report on its nature to
The house, with their observations with res
pect to the preceGents and the course OF pro-
ceedings to b. adopted. II would at the
same time be The duty of the house to guard
thai investigation with all the most solemn
forms OF inquiry As to the mode of choos-
ing the committee be had not been able to
find that the house had proceeded to choose
secret committee, as IL the case oil Sit
Thomas Rumbold, where the inquiry Incl
IDENTITY led TO the charge, otherHise than by
ballot. But as he considered that the torma-
ton of the committee would be an important
feature in this transaction, he should now
give notice, that when the opportunity
SHOULD have arrived, he should feel it his du.
ty to propose to the house to nominate COM
mittee, IN order to allow greater facility for
discussing the formation of that committee.
and that it should be composed of the MEM
bers most capable of advising the house on