The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-01-09

Mr.. Tracy moved to amend the Resolution,
by adding thereto the following words :-"spe-
cifying the times when, the persons to whom,
and the particular purposes for which, the ex-
pendltureS were made"
The amendment was agrsed to, and the
Resolution adopted.
The Speaker presented communication
from the Navy Department, estimating the adj
ditional expense of examining the different har-
bours belonging to the United States in the Pa
click Ocean, and Transporting $50 tons weight
Of artillery to the mouth of the Columbia river
at 5 %, 600.
On motion of Mr.. Floyd, the said commune
cation was referred to the select committee APP
pointed on the subject of occupying military
post at the mouth Of Columbia river.
Mr.. Smith, OF Maryland, moved that when
the House do adjourn, it adjourn to meet on
"Wednesday next. Carried.
The House then adjourned.
Transactions al Pensacola.
WEDNESDAY,, JAN. 2.-Mr. Whitman called
for the consideration Of the Resolution he had
submitted in the early part of the session, re-
guessing information from the President of the
United States, relative to any misunderstand-
ing which may have existed between Gen.
jackson aud Judge Fromentin, III the territory
of Florida, sc.
Mr. W. remarked that he deemed the i'm
quiry of the first Importance and if he had
fully understood the reasons that had occa-
stoned the previous postponement, they were
founded upon an expected communication from
the Executive in relation to that subject, with
out a call from the House. But he (Mr. Wy
had information on which he relied, that such
| was not the intention of the President, and, of
1 ro,,rsa II c,1Id nnf he indornrons N adopt Tho
Resolution.
MIR. Cannon moved to strike ont all that part
Of the Resolution which related to the suppos-
ed misunderstanding between GOVERNOR Jack
son and Judge Fromen;in. Mr.. C. could per-
ceve no good consequences likely to grow out
| of the proposed inquiry. 1t was not calculat-
ed, in his opinion, 10 lead to any beneficial re-
suit. 1t might protract debate, and excite a
! ferment but for any national purposes it was
worse than useless. It related to supposed
! misunderstanding between two subordinate Of
| icers.
| Mr.. Whitman regarded this inquiry as of
more consequence than the gentleman from
| Tennessee (AIr. Cannon) seemed to appre-
| bend. 1t did not relate to quarrel between
one Executive officer and another; but it was
/ between al Executive and judicial officer,
! both clothed with high powers, aud both exc
| cutting important functions. That a difficulty
had existed, no one seemed to question. But
/ little of the merits OF the case had TRANSFERRED,
except what could be gathered from rumour
and newspaper information. Ii those reports
were true, the Governour had not only re-
strained the liberty of an individual, but when
the constitutional remedy by habeas corpus
was applied, was about to lay his hand upon
the Judge himself. He thought It was dam
gerous precedent to sanction and if allowed in
one. case, it might be in another. 1t was the
duty Of the House to watch over the hberties
of the people-to guard against the approach
;. of tyranny under whatever form it may appear.
/ If the Governors of territory had unjustifa-
, bly, nterfered with the judicial authorities, it
| ought to be known, and articles OF impeach-
ment preferred against him.
MIR. Smith, of Maryland, observed, that il
this Resolution should pass, (and he hoped it
] would not in any shape whateVer0 it would
n introduce a discussion in which vast deal Of
! time would be unnecessarily consumed, and
perhaps enable other powers to put our Gov
: eminent in the wrong.
Mr.. Randolph, who next spoke, said he did
not mean to express any opinion as to the con-
duct of any of the parties implicated in the III.
/
Maine. That opinion, If any he had, he SAID
he should reserve until an occasion, at leas
more proper than the present, arose for its ex
preston. But he must be permitted to say
that this was the first time that, in delbera
tive assembly, he had ever heard the doctrine
that, in a case Of alleged misconduct on the
part Of publick functionaries, inquiry was i'm
proper, because ultimately these publick func
: tionaries, or some one of them, might be prov
i ed to haye-betn in the wrong. He recollect
!. ed, he said, hundreds Of cases-he had almos
y said thousands--in which motions had beer
7 made in the British House of Commons, b,
. MIR. Fox, for the purpose of putti~s in th
I wrong-whom? The CountFy9 No--the Min
istry. The Ministry was one thing, the coun
! try another. In England he knew that to b.
2 the case, and he hoped it might yet be tn
case here. It's proper, if we are in the wrong
said Mr.. R. that it be told to the American
people. But suppose that we should choos
to cover up this thing--to put our light unde
E a bushei--is there any obligation on the par
Of spain to do the sane9 VIII not her diplo
mists endeavour to put us in the wrong? Is i
: not our duty to spread this matter before thu
4 country in its true light? And God grant Il
all concerned a safe deliverance, MFR. said
! was his prayer from the bottom of his heart
There was another view Of this subject, whicl
q he wished to present. Standing here, utterl
q Indifferent, not as between his country an
> Spain, but as between the individuals who's
= conduct is embraced by this inquiry, in tn
: capacity OF Representative Of the America
people, he was DESTROYS Of having this matte
= inquired into, and to have all the information
u which the pubick safety and interest do nc
: forbid, laid before the American people an