Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-03-12

The money in this case is paid out OF
the contingent fund. The Secretary dis
burscs it at his discretion. Does it not call
for the watchful jealousy of this house
But it seems that it is tlisrespectful to call
on the Secretary twice for this informa-
ton. Ii he has neglected to give the in
formation in his power, he had no ground
of comp LIANT. But is it uncommon to
call on the departments for information
twice, when the first is unsatisfactory
1t has been frequently done in this house.
He had been charged with alleging COR
ruption. We had not said corruption;
he had sand the conduct was wrong. lie
did not use the word corruption.
Mr.. GILMER said this was pro-
ceedlng Of an extraordinary character,
and he scarcely knew what to think of it.
Public spirit was the motive by which the
gentleman from Illinois protested to be
actuatea. lie seemed to think that the
Treasury was his peculiar charge. Go
vernment was not supported by public
spirit and patriotism, without mixture
of other motives. Accusations and in
quiries of this sort were generally origi-
mated by one oftwo classes. There were
men who really and sincerely aim to
serve the people.--Thcre were others
whose aim it was to serve themselves, or
their party. Such men however were
useful and perhaps necessary in a govern
ment like ours. What was evilly intend
cd by them might result in good TO the
public. Abuses, and enormous ones
too, might escape detection, and punish.
ment, il there was not eyes sharpened by
ambition and sslf-interest to spy into
them. The gentleman had said that he
prayed to God that the officer against
whom he had brought this charge might
be found innocent. Mr.. G. hoped tina, il
was not TO his God that he prayed. He
had said tina, it would give him consam-
mate happiness should it turn cut so.--
He never heard the word consummate
SO coupled. 1t was not SO in his vocabu-
larry. 1t was generally applied to the
opposite; but he would leave him to
settle this. Du,y to the people at home
had moved the gentleman in this bust
ness. lie believed it was en- account OF
the people; there lay the rub /; but if he
had looked at the law lie would have dis
covered that this was not the place to a2i-
tate such a question. 4 charge on this
floor against an executive officer; what
was it but a charge against the President !!
No executive officer can act uncons,itu-
tionally. What says the constitution ?
+" No Senator or Representative shall,
during the time for which he was elected,
be appointed TO any civil Office under the
authority Of the United States, which
shall have been created, or the emolu-
ments whereof shall have been increased,
during such time; and no person hold
ing an Office under the United States
shall be member Of either House dur
ing his continuance in Office" Ii the
services performed in :his case constitute
an Office within the meaning ofthe consti-
| tntion> the member u no performed them
may lose his seat, and the officer who APP
pointed him has committed breach OF
privilege bnt it is for the Senate, Of
which the gentleman implicated is a
House has nothing TO do in the affair. II
the charge be true, (and he was bound 10
believe the facts which the gentleman
had stately it ought to have been trough,
forward sooner. Suppose he was govern
ed by high sense of duty; how would
he have acted BY q law enacted in 1908
I, is provided that il any member shall
accept an office, or enter into contract
under the executive authority, he shall
be brought before court and adjudged
guilty OF a high misdemeanor; and
amerccd in the sum of S300o.I There
are courts in Illinois; why did not the
Gentleman prosecute there Does he
consider this body as court; or does he
wish to employ us in collecting evidence
20 be nsed elsewhere lie should vote
or the information, not because he en-
er,ained doubts of the integrity Of the
gentleman accused, but because he wish
ed to have the suspicion which it had
been attempted to excite, quieted.-hn
"fficer Of long service and high standing
has delicacy Of reputation, which will
not brook even the breath OF suspicion.
He thought these was confidence due TO
a man who had sustained important Of
ices for many years, and discharged the
duties of them with fidelity and ability
The propriety of such mans conduct
should not be questioned without mani
fest and sufficient cause. lie was, how
ever, in favor of giving every facility for
inquiry on this and on every occasion.-
That was olten,imes the rcadiest way to
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