Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-05-28
lKkroarsD FOR THE EAriosAL ISrELLIGEscER
Eighteenth Congress.
HOUSE OF REPRESENr ATIvEs.
May 10.

y
HOUSE OF REPRESEN rATIyEs.
MAY 10.
The House having taken up the resolution
OF the Senate. proposing day for the ter
in'sation OF the present sessina Of { ongress,
the question being az to what should be the
day
Mr.. Taylor, OF New York, proposed the aeth
instant.
Mr.. Allen, of Massachusetts, proposed an
earlier day.
Mr.. CULPEPER, Of North Carolina. was on
posed to an adjournment at SO early day as
even the latest which was proposed. He
adverted to the appointment of commit
| tee Of investigation on charges preferred
against high officer of the government. and
to the summons which had been despatched
by an officer of the House for The person who
preferred those charges. The House had
oeen heretofore informed, that, allowing time
Tor gong and returning, the individual in.ures-
tion might be expected TO arrive here by the
goth of this month. For his part, he said, he
was unwilling to go away without allowing
reasonable time for the return of the messenger
&c. The charges which had been preferred
had been considered OF sufficient Importance
70 entit'e mem 10 investigation, and he was
not disposed to adjourn until that investiga-
tion was completed, and the whole facts or
m.
he would express his opinion of the merits of
it, regardless Of consequences aud he hoped
the House would do the same.
MIR. WAKEFIELD, Of Maryland, said, that
every one knew that the Sergeant .at-arns of
TINS House had gone for the purpose ofbring.
ing to this House Mr.. Edwards to be examined
respecting certain charges which he had pre-
ferred against one Of the highest officers of the
government. Whether, in sending for Kim.
the committee of this House had done right or
wrong, was not now the question hut having
done u, he was OF opinion that due respect
10 the paitIes interested, 10 public opinion,
ana tn consistency, ia the course OF this body,
would induce the House, at all events 10 cou-
tinue in session, until the person 10 whom he
referred should have had a reasonable oppor-
tnnity OF reaching the seat of governmrnt.-
OTHERWISE, said he, in what situation before
the pubic shall we present ourselves He
was as willing as any gentleman to bring this
session to a close, But due respect TO the
distinguished officer whose conduct ia ar.
raigHed, and to every Consideration connected
with the subject, forbade, in his opinion, an
adjournment earlier than The Slsl inst. which
day therefore he proposed.
MIR. WIcKLIFFE, of Kentucky, put II to the
House, whether, under, the circumstances
known to them, they would remain in session
lie had just been informed that the Sergeant
at-Arms arrived at Louisville so $40 leave
that place for EdwardsviIle on the 4rh Of this
month I; by the 10th Of The month, he NAV
have reached Edwardsviile hy the 18th, he
may have arrived at Louisville on his return
It will take to 10 days TO get thence 10
wheeling, and three or four days thence To
this place, supposing no interruption of the
Journey to occur and when II was recolIert-
ed mat there was no regular chain of steam
boat navigation, and that trave liers have some
times to await several days for a passage, could
u De IN The contemplation of any gentleman
to wait here until the messenger retilrns-say
tlll the 18th, or even the 10th of June (? He
wished the resolution were made blank, so as
to 6ll it with such day as a majority of the
House should he found 10 approve.
Mr.. WEBSTER, Of Massachusetts,, said, that
when this subject was before the House the
other day, the member from Illinois stated.
from his knowledge Of The distance, &c. that
an answer to the summons Ofthis House might
be expected by the Esd or cath of this month.
From the facts which had since come to the
knowledge of the gentlemen, Mr.. w. said he
should like to know what was his present
opinion on that subject.
Mr.. Cook sad that when he made
statement on this subject some DAYS ago. il
wasimpossible that he could be appraised of
the distractions TO the progress of the messen-
ger Of the House. He had stated that he might
return by the esd or 24'h of the month, but
that was upon the suppOsition that no
difficulty had occurred in hrs progress in the
river. Since making that statement, he had
seen letter from the Sergeant -at-Arms, that
he was not able to leave Louisville before
o'clock in the afternoon Of the 9TH of Nav.
He might reach Edwardsville 10 FIVE or six
days IL an opportunity should present itself
for resuming his journey by water, Re might
return to Louisville in five days, say by the
18th Of this month. 1t was not probable that
he could reach this place in less Than IS DAYS
after his arrival at Louisville. 1t would moi he
reasonable, therefore, TO calculate on The arriya,
Of The messenger or Mr.. Edwards sooner
than the 30th of the month, under any circum
stances. And, " the House is disnosed to
wait for him, said Mr.. e.. as sincerely hone IL
10, That object will be entirely defeated by
fixing on an earlier day for the adjournment
than the last of this month. MIR. T.. repeated.
that he most sincerely hoped that the House
would continue in session until MIR. Edwards
should arrive.
Mr.. MLANE Of Delaware said that there
was no mamber Of the House who would re-
main mere, were the session prolonged, at
greater personal Inconvenience or sacrifice of
interest or OF feeling, than himself But it |
was TOO late now for gentlemen to listen 10
considerations Of that description. The de-
cislon has, been taken. Every gentleman
must nave known, when this investigation was
instituted, that il would be attended with Sc Z,
rOus iDcOnSeniences. | was myself fully IL
ware OF IT, said he, and it was for that reason
among others 0fhigher import, that was OPP
posed to the institution of this committee Of
Investigation. Tie House, however, deter