Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-05-21

| w S''V Ot'IsuftuNUy TtWy.
| Mr.. Cooke rose in reply, and explained
ONE If he "bser, atoms h. had before made
went into farther examination 0f the ac-
count OF the late COL Lane, and 0f his tran
sac'ons With The President, aud persisted In
maintaining that the report ought ~ have
< nr farther than il did, in the investigation
ef thes.. particulars.
Mr.. A. Stevenson DIVA. said, that il wa.
due neither to the character ofthp distinguish
ed individual concerned, nor to the duty aud
dignity Of the House, TO reply to the ohserva-
ilnns just made. lie observed, that, when the
Chief Magistrate now in office should retire,
he would retire poor, and that no man would
have il in his power to detect the public mo-
ney In his hand, and that il would be- found
that that officer had acted in the affair advert
ed Ia, and all Othens Of a pecunary nature
not only with purity but with Iberality.
Mr.. kreuer at Penn. expressed his hope
hat the motion to lay the resolution on the TIA
BILE would never be renewed that the inves-
fisation should be made aud fairly met, and
the opinion Of the Honse expressed by yeas
and nays. that IL might be seen who they were
who had assailtd man grown grey with no
nor in bis country's service.
| Nir. Mercer rose To explain, why he should
not renew the motion he had made, to Law the
subject on the table. He stated what had
iren done in the select committee {; and ury-
ed the unreasonabeness and impracticabiljty
OF endeavoring Ia obtain, in the few remain
ing days at the session. information which nine
weeks had been insufficient time TO procure.
econcurred with his coea que, in the opinion
that The President, instead of having appro-
pi'ated improperly any part Of the public mo-
ney, was, and would be found, creditor, ra-
ther than debtor of the nation. He gave n
testimony to the purity and honor Of Mr..
| af r. aru md
hope that, by Yeas and Nays, the House would
mark ITS sentiments of what had passed in re-
lation To this subject.
| The Yeas and Nays were ordered.
Mr. h0sS expressed determination 10 vote
Tor the recommitmeni. He entertained the
highest respect fur the chief magistrate, but
thought, on the principles of a Republican go
vernment, that officer, as well AS any 9th
er, should he held tn strict account for pub
lie moneys entrusted 10 his hands. Ho should
not feelany greater delicacy from the fact o. his
being Virginian, which had been alluded to
ny Mr. Sievcnson,) than il he was from Ohio,
or Michigan, &c. and he thought the in, esti-
Baiion was due TO the President himself
MT: Stevenson explained. In auding 10
Mr. Monroe's being Virginian, he only meant
10 STATE one of The reasons why he felt il his
| duty TO vindicate his good name.
Mr.. Buchanan Of Pennsylvania expressed
ms surprlze atthe course Of the debate. The
evidence On which the grovelling and unwor
thy charge of prculation was now atfpmpt.d
to he brought against the first officer of the r..
pubhc had been in the possession Of a COM
mitfee OF this House ever since last winter
| lie expressed "a high sentiment of respect for
the character of Mr.. Monroe. and thought that
ne was the very last person against " HON the
charge OF an avaricious love of money. and
has" collision with n subordinate officer.
would ever b. brought, or could ever bp sub
Stimulated. He trusted the House. at this late
period, would not enter into another invesii-
CATION, probably of groundless charges.
hlr. Cooke then rose. and stated, that. since
mere seemed much objection to the motion,
IN point of time, he would consent to with
draw IL TIL the next session.
| The question then recurring on concurrino
win the committee in the resolution reported
by them -
Mr. Hamilton of s. Carolina rose, and wish
Ell distinctly to understand whether or not the
gentleman from Tennessee meant to charge
the Chief Magistrate of the Union with an
emh"zzlement of the public money. he did.
was proper that that gentleman should re-
member, that 1t was due tn this House and TO
inns nation that an accuser, bringing such a
charge, should he himself without suspicion
mat gentleman could appreciate the effect of
Injurious charges on the reputation of persons
holding distinguished stations, having been
himself the subject Of thrm---
| Here Dir. Little called the gentleman to
order.
The Chair pronounced him to be not out
| Of order.
MIR. Hamilton proceeded, and observed that
IN certain public prints of this city, the gen.
lieman from Tennessee had been openly
charged with fraudulent conduct
lhere Mr. Speaker pronounced Mr.. Hamil-
4 tOs t0 be out of orderl
Mr: Polnsett, of South Carolina, rose TO
corroborafe the statements made by the gen
uemnn from Virginia, and was proceeding TO
say that ne mad seen an explanation of these
transactions the most satisfactory and honora
bic To the President, when
The Speaker asked him to give way to allow
MIR. II. 10 proceed.
I Mr.. Hamilton then resumed, and ex dressed
his Reproduction of the course pursued in in
lroduciog charge ofthis magnitude and COM
plrxion at such period of the session. and
hrs confidence in the unblenshrd purity of the
character now attempted to be DESTROYED.
Mr.. Brent stated that the delay in bringing
forward the report ofthe committee wpsiro be
attributed to the chaipnan alone, Mr.. Cooke,
aud stated certain facts in relation 10 the
course of the committees proceedings.
Mr. Cooke rose in reply, and denied tina
he had ever been absent from the committee
meetings. His sole object was TO have a full
and fair Investigation, &c. With respect to
himself, he admitted that insnua,ions hat
been brought forward against him in certain
print and at a proper time he meant to motto,
them. and to explain the facts 10 which the,
had reference. He declared his determination