The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1824-05-04
WEDNESDAY, April %.
MR. FDyEApnC, sQrU.ATION

"WEDNESDAY, April e.
Mr.. EDWARDS ACCUSATION.
Mr.. Floyd, from the committee 10 whom was re-
ferrsd the memorial Of Mn an Edwards. vindica-
ting himself, and accusing Nc. Secretary Crawford
pursuant to instructions Of the committee CON-
rnunicaied the ollwoing minutes Of its proceedings
viz:
The committee to whom was referred COM
mUnicaton from Ninian Edwards, report the follow
ng minutes Of their proceedings to the House Of
Representatives -
April q. 1924.
Present. all the members Of the committee
Voted, That the committee ought to proceed 10
make inquiry into the matters contained in the said
memorial, and connected Herewith.
Voted, That, Tor the purpose of such enquiry the
attendance Of the said Ninian Edwards before the
committee, TO be BY them examined. is requisite /;
and that MS attendance b accordingly ordered.
Voted, That the Chairman do inform the House
OF the foregoing resolutions of the committee and
nasmuch as il is suggested that the said Ninian Ed
wards is about TO leave the U. States on foreign
diplomatic service,
Voted, That the Chairman 10 move the House
that information of said communication. of the
votes Of the House thereon and Of tue foregoing
olu'ions Of the committee, be Communicated to the
President nf the U. States"
Mr.. Taylor Of Ny. moved the communication Of
the minutes, votes &c. be to the President ac
coIding TO the tenor Of the preceding minutes
Mr. Forsyth took occasion IL remark that the
object OF the committee seemed to be precisely the
same as that which lie had in view AZ the time he
offered resolution the subject which the house
refused 70 consider. tie wished to strike out the
order, in the form submitted by the committee and
10 substitute the following resolution
Resolved, That the President be officially in
formed that this house has ordered an Investigation
OF the memorial presented TO This house on the 18th
inst. by Ninias Edwards, lately appointed Minis
ter 10 Mexico.
Mr.. Randolph opposed the amendment, As he
considered the course adopted BY the committee
courteous to the executive, and adequate 70 the
accomplishment Of the osJeei desiIed.
Mr.. Taylor entered into a more detailed explana.
lion Of The views Of the committee, and stated TO
tine house the reasons which had induced him. the
other day 10 call ioT the question Of consideration
upon the resolution Of the gentleman from Georgia
The memorial had been referred % the committee
without any special investigation and the FIRST
question which presented itself when the commit
tee met was.-does the memorial contain sufficient
matter 10 JttStvy our investigation. IL was not
until this morning thar the committee had come 10 a
dehnitive opinion 90 the subjsct, and having done
50, u appeared 70 them an act OF courtesy 10 the
executive branch, 70 give him the information, and
70 report % him the minutes Of their proceedings 10
show the foundation GA which the attendance or
Mr. Edwards was considered necessary.
MI. Webster followed in a few remarks aud was
preceded by MIR. kTemer, who moved to Law the
minutes on the table, in Consequence Of the uncer
ainiy which must attend the pursuit of Mr. Ed
wards and even if he were found, the uncertainty
still whether the house might be ia session when
Mr.. edwards arrived.
The motion was negatived.
Mr.. nj Lane then expressed bis objections 10 the
course pursued By the committee. who he thought
possessed sufficient power to send for any person or
persons whatever,
After a few observations from Mr. Cuthber
Mr.. MLane moved 10 recommit the minutes.
Mr.. Randolph said, he hoped the motion for
recommitment would not prevail: and he
rose for the purpose only Of calling the atten-
ton Of the House 60 fact, that the seIec,
committee hare acted, BY the authority. and
in the nsme-of this body, and that whether
gentleman think that Mr.. Edwards ought 10
be brought before the committee or not. the
writ IS now on its way that il will be served
upon BIN; and that he will be brought here.
whether we vote 10 one way or another. on
his question. In case this enquiry is 10 be
prosecuted, sid Mr.. r. cannot consent TO
act on that committee, except BY the imperious
mandate Of tins House, without the presence
II the infonner The committee having frstI
resolved that this inquiry shogld be prosecuted
that the informer should be brought before
the Grand Jury, have reported the faci-for
whats That the House, being one Of the CO.
ordinate branches Of this government Of ours,
should communicate to the other coordinate
branch, that which, in courtesy. the other
ought a. be put in possession Of What do we
ask Of the Presisents To aid rs 20 bring this
Minister before US No: we need 90 author
ay from him. Wewill. in despite fanny man
10 this land, have him before Us It. indeed.
he shall have made bis escape from the coun-
cry. We cannot follow him to Mexico; but. any
where short Of the Balize, the warrant az this
House y as high authority as any known ia
this land, aud. a. such. I trust il will he sup
ported. III had thought that, IN the act of
that committee, the privileges Of this House
the privileges Of the American People IN
their Representatives, bad been compromised.
20 consideration that man can name, wculdI
have indroed me to give il my sanction. III