Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-04-12

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an intention to follow II up with such
punishment Of the offender as you choose
TO inf1ict? Where Is your power TO
punish the offenderl Where is your
righi to inquire respecting him, if you
have not the right TO punish him Is
an officer OF This government to shield
himself from an investigation Of his con-
duct oy the exercise OF such a power as
T this ? And is he who dares TO step for
ward in defence OF his rights and the Ii
berries of his country, to blast the hopes
or prospec, Of any aspiring individual,
TO be brought 10 punishment by The III
quisitorial power of this house? Such
power would be worse than the power
Of The Spanish inquisilion, and if such
proceedings were 10 be carried on here,
said he, we would like Cromwell's
parliament, be kicked out Of this hous Sc,
not by all usurper, bat by the people.
The people Of this country will not con-
sent that any individual shall be shelter
ed from investigation of his conduct or
claims, at The peril of the sergeant at
arms Of this house. The people will
no, submit to it. They have had trial
OF il in milder form, in the form oil
law, and with an unanimous feeling Of
indignation they refused their sanction
to ii. What did gentlemen mean TO do
with this individual, when they detected
him One had said he would brin
him to condign punishment" VIVA
punishment. is 1t he would ipflict! Thr
is taking rather rank ground: II is shift
ing our ground the times OF ninely-
cigh. are gone by, and worse times ar
coming, brought on, too, by those whe
were the first to denounce the times d
ninety-eight. And is this the object of gen:
tlenen! | know what would be my
\ situation, sir, in case of an attempt 10
violate my tights in the manner sug-
gesied by gentlemen. l would meet
your rigors with contempt. We have,
in this attempt, specimen OF what we
may conceive the ulterior operations, il
the measures are taken which are desired
by some in this country. The people
will see that an attempt is making u
surround, by buwark which canno,
be passed, the individuals who are to
administer this government. The peo-
pie of this country will feel this attempt
to sheher he conduct of a public officer
from investigation. The people will
see and appreciate this attempt to pro-
strate the freedom of the press. The
pr IS is only dangerous to tyrants, and to
men who are undeserving OF public con-
fiience. Blu, if this impossible iortiiica-
ton is to be placed around any indvidu
al, the freedom of The press is gone, and
liberty is deprived. Of its greatest de-
fender, free and unshackled press.
The people OF this country will rebel
against these attempts to put down the
freedom of the press they have done
SC before, and they will do SO again.
Mr.. WRIGHT said the remarks
whleh the gentleman had made respect
ing tire proposed inquiry for the author
OF A. B. were not Of that aspect which
be ssould wish the conduct of every
honorable remit Der oflhis house to wear.
the liberty of the press had been de-
ciarcd 10 be in danger. What had the
liberty Of the press 10 do with marking
that letter? H thought the committee
had acted wrong in allowing the gentle
man from Illinois, and others, TO decline
answering questions put to them If he
had been on the committee, he would
no. rave taken the testimony of any nan
who would not communicate the whole
truth, The suggestion that commune
cations made to Witnesses were confiden-
tial, should not have availed to shield
them from disc Iosure. There ought
to have been no restriction to the testi-
mony but Of thtIprinciple of law, which
saws ira, no man shall criminate HIM
self What was, in effect, the question
pu, q the gentleman, before the COM
niltee! d yn know the author OF
the Letter? YES, know ,he author,
b. annot or will not tell who he is.
belive, if you read the oath admin
isterec to the Witnesses about to testify,
you will find no such exception as will
authorize them to Withhold any part OF
the ruth He said that he himself felt
thai ne Was implicated by the report oil
the former committee. Itappeared, by
the report, no one Of those who had the
papers before The papers came to the
horse. or after they had gone from it 10
the printers, did make this particular
erssnre. Who did NJ axe it then! The
m.rlsst did mt make themsplvec