Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-03-02

The Congress sat here as The Guardians oil
law and liberty. Were we asked whether
we could not yield our confidence TO the tx |
ecutive1 He answered, No for that person
age was surrounded By Il multitude Of coun-
sellers, In whom there could not be wisdom
---lor, like lshmaetcs, the hand of each was
raised against his brother. He disclaned any
personal hostility To ANY o. the members OF
the cabinet-Of one of whom he knew moth
luz, and for others of them he entertained n
personal respect-but he repeated that, with
such competitions and DIVISIONS as existed
there, he would vote for no such reference.
MIR. WRIGur thought it was not proper to
refuse a reference vi subjects that cunstitu-
tionally belonged to the Executive Depart
met, on the ground ut the want of personal
confidence. He believed it was iucxpedicnt
To travel out Of the road, and get into a field
not our own, when we had SO much business
OF an ordinary character that required the inn.
mediate attention of the House. Mr.. w. ex-
pressed his decided appr ,bation of the con-
duct OF the late Governor of Florida, whose
conduct, he thought, entitled him to the
warmest gratitude and admiration Ofhis coun-
| try. He aso adverted to the delays that had
been interposed by the Spanish commanders
| IN surIendering that territory pursuant to
the treaty, and the various expedients
| that had been resorted TO, to create sediton
| and insurrection in that country, against
the authority of the United States--which
therefore rendered the performance of the
duty OF the Governor OF Florida III arduo,s.
critical and delicate task, and which required
prompiitude aud energy. lie thought it was
thereioreipropert that the papers should receive
the reference recommended.
| Mr. RuEA called for an explanation of the
subject before the House, and for reading of
the petitions after which he expressed his
| hope that the committee would b. discharp-
ed according To their request.
Some conversation took place on points of
order.
Mr.. CoNDIcT, to get clear of this subject.
and the debate, moved to proceed to the or
ders of the day which motion WAS negatived
-ays 65.
| Mr. GOLDEN addressed the House TO free
himself from amy imputatiun ofbeing act,lated
| by feeling ofhcstiity towards General Jack
| son, for Mr.. T.. remembered too well what
thus country owed to the gallantry of tina;
man IL feel any such sentiment. Mr. G.. pro-
cecded then 10 argue that the House could no,
dispense with inquiry in ANY case in which
complaint was made Ia it that, by the ducti-
inenls produced, enough was exhibited to es-
tabiish Il probability that violation Of person
al rights had taken place, and IL Justify an ex-
| C'>'SS ~ s'fS power O1 TIE tIUuSp.
He argued that these men had, by the treaty.
4 become Invested of their military character
that, if So, General Jackson had no right I'M
der the treaty To Danish them from the pro
vince Ii tney chose 10 remain in the terrific
~, tn select our institutions and soil and fore
so their military character, could the treaty
! receive such Il construction as to enable the
| Governor tn say to them, no, you shall moi
| become American citizens-you shall be ban
| ished hence? This proclamation was not JUS
tilted by any law, nor by the treaty; IL was
IN exercise of power without right But there
was another feature in the case, MIR c. said. so
gross that he should forfeit his characterize "A
| Representative of the people not to express
his dissent from it, both for himself and col
leagues. These banished men come back
they are imprisoned, and when they ask tn be
| liberated, the Acting Governor saws to them.
you ought to be librrated-if Governor Jack
son was here he would Hibernate you-but can
not-there IS no remedy for yOu Could this
be- the fact, asked Mr.. &. that there was no
remedy i"r case SD oppressive ? 1t seemed
that the Governor, in his parting orders TO Go
vernon Walton, says To him, You must obey
no laws and 10 orders other than those COM
Ins through me and delegated by me- How,
asked Mr.. &. could this junction be recon
crd with his character as acting Governor, by
winch all the powers of the principal deyolved
on him Mr. Z. put the question whether
these men were to be left in prison and the
House To say to them, there is 30 remedy for
You've leave you 10 your fate ? Was it sui-
iiclent To say they have their resort against
the officer, in the courts, and by the recovery
of damages There was no court there to
which they could appeal. The Governor claims
supreme judicial power, and would it not be
mockery To refer these men to the sub Go
"a. md. o,,.I. ~
dress could the President afford? He could
dismiss the officer, it was true--but any order
sent there by the President, we have the best
reason to believe, would not be obeyed by the
acting Governor, for Governor Jackson has
forbidden HIM to obey any that comes not
through him. Mr.. c. thought some express
sion of the opinion of The House ought to be
given. If these facts are violations of our own
feelings, our laws, and our principles-wc
ought to say to the world, this is not our act,
but is the authorized act of an individual
Mr.. WRIGHT replied 10 the gentleman from
New York, MR. Coldcn,l and contended that
the return OF the military officers of Spain
was violation Of the treaty that had been
made. And what security have we now for
the tranquility of that territory, if those mill
tary officers can be authorized to make shew
ofdepartln6 according to treaty, and then re-
turn, IN opposition to IFS spirit, and SOW the
seeds of sediiion aud revolt amoug the peo-
pie? When Gen. Jackson retired from the
government ofihc territory, the administra-
| ton gifts power reverted to the President of
the United States. The reference to the tx
| ecutlrc, therefore, was peculiarly proper
Mr.. WALwORTH believed that his respect
| for the liberty of the people was not less ihan
that of any other member of the House and
when proper occasion should occur, he trust
ed such a disposition would be made mani
| e. d., L.. Il.