Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-04-27
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
.,R. EDWARDS AcousATI

MIR. EDWARDS ACCUSATIONS.
Mr.. Floyd, from the committee to whom was re-
ferrcd the Memorial of N. Edwards, vinlicating
himself and accusing MIR. Secretary Craw ford pur-
Instructions of the committee, com,nuiica-
ted the following minutes of its proceedings, viz.
The committee to whom referred commu-
nication ffom Ninan Edwards rrrort the following
minutes ofthcir proceedings TO the House OF Repre-
sentatires
ArRIL 81, 1891.
Present. all the members of the committee
FoTEp, That the committee ought to proceed to
make inquiry into the matters contained il the said
memorial, and connected herewith.
NoTED, That, for the purpose of such inquiry, the
Attendance of the said Ninan Edwards upon the
committee, TO be by them eXalncd,is rchuisite and
that his attendance be accordingly ordered.
VOTED, That the Chairman do inform the House
of the foregoing resolutions of the committee, and
Tlasnuch it IS suggested that the said Ninan Ed
wards is about leave the United States foreign
diplomatic service,
VOTED, That the Chairman do move the House
that information of said communication of the votes
OF the House thereon, aud of the foregoing resolut
oils OF the committee, be communicated to the Pre-
si,cnt of the United States"
The latter proposition having been put into the
form of 4 motion by Mr.. Taylor of New Y ork, and
the question being upoa agreeing thereto
Mr.. Forsyth, of Georgia, said, he had the honor,
a day ago, of submitting motion to the
House on this subject, the object of which he had
opportunity To explain, i'll consequence of call
for the question of consideration. The object had
ii view, SAID MIR. T. was the that which the
committee seem have had in contemplation in
their report of this morning. understand this to
be, to prevent any collision between the orders of
the Executive branch of the government and those
of the LcgiSlatu.c. understand the committee to
have determined calling E1r. Edwards before
them ascertain what he has to say upon this sub
list, III addition TO w.ia; he has stated in his
rial. As matter Of courtcsy, that being the case,
II is proper for the House to give notice of the fact
~ the President OF the United States, that the ind
eil:i IN question might not seek escape, under
the plea of Exccutivs orders from the investigation
which lie has himself asked of this House to insti
tate. The object Of my motion tie with
that fore the House, and it appears TO that
the form of mine was more proper than the form of
that which has been submitted. What interest has
the Pr ident Of the United States in knowing what
are the vote OF any committee Of This House? All
that is necessary for him to know Is that this House
has taken up the subject for investigation. We do
not ask from him any thing to enable us to exercise
our fishtiJ.l power i'll this matter, and motives
for acting are therefore Of no importance the due
inlotmltion of tie Executive. The simple annun-
ciation Of the fact is sufficient Under these impress
si0s Mr.. i. moved to- strike out all the above after
the word 'sOriered," and insert i'll lieu thereof his
motion, ia ,fe f,iiowing words :,
That the Presilen; be officially Informed that
Iii; House has ordered an Investigation of the me-
r1osial presented TO this House the 10Th instant,
by n. Edwards, lately appointed Minister to Mcsi-
c.; that the said II. Edwards may be instructed not
- leave The United States before that investigation
has taken place"
Mf paueIph,. OF Va, sail, Is the course pointed
OF; Inv the committee would attain all the objects
which the gentleman fIoin Georgia had in view, l's
did not why fha charge should be made. IL the
centlema will attend 10 the Of the proposition
before tc House, said Nj r., he will see that there
is nothing in IL whicn in the smallest degree, COM
r.omts the proceedings Of this boly that we arc
acting .by our inherent; power that il is not
nrouoscd TO call OIL the Executive Department.!
tnotitl, Il coordinate branch of tho government, fol
any ancil,ary all. We acting by viz
.,.e aud power; but having done we have thought
il proper to advise the Executive branch ofth 90
vernueu tia, nc might take such order on the mat
ter in his exclusive sphere, as to Dim may
fit AMI proper. And what more VIC do? hope
the amendment will not be adopted, but that we
s,,1li decide on this motion AVID give TO the chair
man an opportunity 20 make further motion which
ne is authorized by the committee TO make.
, MIR. Taylor, of Ncw-York, said. it was true that,
ON former OCCASION, when the gentleman from
Georgia presented his motion, he Mr.. T. did call
for the question of consideration uponit. The rca-
son why he had done so, was, that the subject had
lust been referred TO committee without any spc-
cit instruction. Tine fist question, it was appa-
rent which would present itself to the committee
would be, does tie memorial contain sufficient mat
ter TO Justify proceeding in the investigation of its
contents: That question had not been in any man
nsr, d~i1c.l, wner-the gentleman fsom Geosia of