Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-04-27

10 have been recently dispatched on foreign
service, is found tn be necessary, and is re-.
quired. All that the committee aim al. there
fore, is 10 inform the Executive of SO much a.
Z" shrw that business before us requires IN.
personal attendance Of one whom he has dis
patched, ar is about Ia despatch on foreign
diplomatic service. This is all that is prapos-
ed by tire resolution now before the House.
Mr. kREMEa, of Pennsylvania, rosr and oh.
served that, before he voted on this question
he must know whether the committee car
wait Tor the return Of the person proposed tc
be sent for. He knew not, for his own part
where Mr.. Edwards was tn be found. The
session was now near it's close, and it would
he unnecessary tn send for him If, when h,
came, the House had adjourned, or the com
m'itee was not prepared to go on. If we dc
send TO Wheeling, when our messenger gets
there air. T.. will be gone, and we shall bp
pursuing HIM from town 10 town nObOdy
knows how long. lfit was in order, he should
move that the resolution lie on the table.
The motion tn lay the suhecr on. the table
was decided in the negative, by large majo-
! rty.
MIR. McLANE, Of Delaware, said, the obiec
ton he had {" the matter now before the
House, would apply as well to the resolution
OF the gentleman from Georgia, as 10 the re-
|
perceive no necessity for the further interposi
ton OF the House, and il might be improper
10 call for 1t. We have referred the memorial
10 a committee, said he, with what propriety
u Is not formr TO say, and have vested that
committee with full power tn send for persons
and papers. We could give no greater now
err Under the authority alieady possessed
the committee were authorized to send for
TINS individual, without our inter ference, and
he thought they should do 81. If the publc
character of the Individual rendered it impro-
per 10 compel his attendance, without the in
reference Oft the Executive, il would be com
petent for the committee, without applying
10 TINS House, 10 request such Interference.
He had some experience of parliamentary
proceedings, and he believed il unprecedented
Tor committee, vested with full powers. 10
eau upon the House To do what might he as
Wen done without their aid. He could easily
CONCEIVE, that subject ofno great magnitude.
N itself, might BIZ clnthed with much artificial
Importance, by such proceedings; and he saw
no proprle'y in the committee reporting the
journal ottheir private proceedings from time
to time, TO this House. He was ayerse To the
repeated agitation of the subject in this man
ner, to the prejudice Of other business. I,y the
daily or weekly report of the Journal of the
committees proceedings. He desired full
ana prompt investigation: the prompter the
h'tter; but he thought the committee had
ample power over the subject, and he hoped
the House would not he called upon To act I'm
necessarily in the business.
Mr. CUTHBERr, Of Georgia, referring 10
the lntmation, as he understood il. of thu
Committee, that the presence Of Mr.. Edwards
was so necessary that the investigation of tie
charges made by him could not go ON with
out ms presence, said he thought there could
lnh ind IL
presence of Mr. Edwards here. The Hons.
would perceive, he said, that any individual.
intending TO do a serious mischief to another
might select particular moment TO prefer
charges against another, and, by abandoning
ms position, preventing an investigation of his
motives aswrll AS his charges, leave an crro
neous oppression on the public mind Ii was
desirable that the accuser should be where
he places his.accusaiion: the common sens,
OF mankind shews that the accuser ought TO
ABIDE by the consequences ofhs accusation
but, u ne HES from that responsibility, the in.
ves'igation should not, therefore, be DELAYED.
such delay would be to furnish the indi, idual
win an opportunity of doing all the mischief
he desired. Unless II could he ascertain.d
that the individual in question could he brought
10 TINS pi,ce within reasonable time, il was
desirable, il appeared to him, that the iavesti
CATION of his charges should not be DELAYED
until he could be sent for.
Mr. WEBSTER replied to the gentleman
from Delaware, as to the report made from
inc committee. Ii was certainly no unusual
tn'ng Tor The Chairman of Committee to
make motion in this House. by the instruc-
t'cn 81 The committee and, ifa portion of the
minutes of the committee were coupled with
IL he did not see that that would alter the
case, as to the expedency or propriety oil
me practice. With respect to the suggestion.
winch had been made, that sending for Mr.
EDWARDS would procrastinate the inquiry, the
gentleman from Georgia was not TO suppose
'i'at me committee was going wholly TO
suspend this investigations, to wait for anv
hody's attendance.
Mr. McLANE still fully impressed with the
correctness of the view which he had taken
OF inns matter, moved TO re-comniit the report |
OF the select committee.
MIR. RANDOLPH said he hoped the motion
'or Te-coHmiinent would not prevail and no |
rose for the purpose only of calling ,be
aIenton OF the House TO fact, that the select
COMMITTEES hare acted, by tho authority. and
W the name Of this body, and that, whether
gentlemen think that Mr.. Edwards ought 10
De brought before the committee or not. the
"fIt IS now'oD its way that il w4Ii be served
upon nm and that he viii be brought here. |
whether we vote in one way or another nm
lll's question. In case this inquiry is to be
prosecuted, said Mr.. r. cannot consent 10
act on that committee, except by the imperious
mandate ofthis House, without the presence
OF The informer. The committee having FIRST
resolved that this inquiry should be prosecu-
ied-thst the ipformer should be brought be-
iore the, Grand Jury, have reported the fact
Tor what That the House, being one OIL
w. ~ COORDINATE branches Of this government
OF ours, should communicate % a. II
ordinate branch, that which. in couriesy ,ho
other branch nnrht 10 l.. =. = ~ w.