Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-05-18
RICHMOND:
TUESDAY MORNING, MAY IL. 1924.
: MR.. MONROE.

F'N'N~Jf PVhe 20 NS PoSCcotuSS Oh the HOUSE
OF Representatives Oh the 18th inst. which will be
read with the deepest interest and morti6cation.-
On that day, Mr.. Brent of Louisiana, reported from
select committee, of which Mr.. Cooke of Tenncs-
see, was Chairman, report and resolutions OIL the
accounts OF the late Mr.. Lane, Superintendent of
Public buildings in Washington, with the govern-
Hent of the United States which stated that gentle
man to have died defaultcr 20 the governments to
The amount of $4,000. Mr.. Cooke, who did no,
ncquiesce in this report, attempted to account for
The defacation by stating that the President of the
U. States was debtor to the estate of Mr. Lane in
an equal amount-that he had borrowed pablo mo-
:Hey Of Mr. Lane 10 that amount, which he had nc
yer repad--aud consequently, that the Prcslen,
ought to be responsible for it, to the country. These
charges were repealed with indignation by Messrs..
Brent, Hamilton of S. Carolina, and others-bu,
sustained virtually, by Messrs. Wood of NJ York,
Forsythc, and Cobb of Georgia, and Williams of NJ
Carolina For accurate statement of the
whole affair, and for the result of the debate we re-
fer to. another page of our paper.
Mr.. Cooke has undertaken bold task. He has
the floor of Congress, impeached the President Of
acts which If true, will degrade him to the lowest
ranks of socicty.-If Mr.. Cooke feels himself 10 be-
sustained by truth and evidence, every man, with
Mr.. Wood, will applaud his nerve-if, OH the con-
traty, he has been inpelled TO this undertaking by
his personal dislike Of the Presdentif he has been
invited to it by that party in Congress, who are the
Presidents open enemiesif he hopes by it to ele-
vae Mr.. Crawford, to. Jay for HIMSELF, from hi,
reputation for Treasury vigilance, the foundation
Of popularity with the people, we cordially hopes
tina; disgrace and personal punishment will be hi,
meritcd reward. He has staked his character ON
the issue. fhe succeeds in establishing his charge
of fraud aud e,nbezzlemcnt on the President we
will think of him no longer, as the Gen. Cooke who
-barters with the Sexton for the price Of digging
grave for deceased member of Congvess-but as
man, who for his vigilance, boldpess aud indepen-
defte, deserves we'll Of his country. We shall view
him no longer as the lowest of dema gogues, who
builds his own popularity upon the ruin of that of
others, but as high minded and valuable public
servant, who discharges his duty in despite of con-
sequences WHO cares little for coming in
contact with the President of the United States as
with peculaiing clerk in one Of the departments.
Until Gen. Cooke does this, he need expect no
credit from the people Of the United States. They
will not believe that the whom they selected az
the worthicst fill their first office has been guilty
of defrauding them of few thousand dolars-thcy
will believe least, until it is established by
the most uuIucstioned and irrcfragable testimony.
However unpopular Mr.. Monrce's administration
may have been, with large party in the country,
their honorable feelings will suffer him be sa-
.csifced uaustly. However he may have deviated
fon the rectlnear political course, which they ex-
pected him TO steer-they view him as an honor
able man-and on old scores, they owe him large
debt of gratitude. If he falls, they will first have
given all honorable to sustain him--tey will
accelerate his descent. We beg leave to as
Mr.. Cooke, that drawn sword, suspended by
" metaphysical horse hair" is hanging over his
head. If he fails sustain these charges he is
"damued" eternally-in this world, and we hope
the nert too. If he does sustain ttem he is fairly
entitled to the appreciation and thanks of the coun-
try. He has eeu-peckng at the President for some
yearsthis time he has Dragged his whole political
fortune and-we hope he may lose it.
But will Mr.. Monroe acquiesce in the manner in
which this investigation closed in the House OF Re-
presantatives? The report of the comm ittee it is
true, was adopted-but the report did not turn on
the fact of his innocence guilt. 1t off alto
gether. on another point-and the hackers of Gen.
Cooke, Messrs. Wood, Forsythe, Cobb Sc Williams,
expressly protested against the idea, that their vot-
ing for it, implied admission of the Presidents
inuoeeuce--at least this was what they meant
1nsinuatons destructive to reputati-
than charges--and either charges or insinuati-
which remain unrefuted, leave with the accused
the iiuputation and consequences of guilt. We re-
spcctfuy suggest the President, the indispensa
bic necessity of refuting this calumny-and we cx-
press our entire confidence Of his ability to do it
If he owes 1t to- himself a man, he owes it nc
less to the nation, as its head.
It is singular that all :hese attacks upon the Pre-
siden proceed from the phalanx of Mr.. Crawford in
Congress. He is ertremcty fortunate in haoing on
The President s. Mr.. Crawford, are known to be or
bad terms, and this consideration ought to induce the
friends Of the latter treat the former with decen.
cy III mans enemy charges him with dishonorable
conduct, the benevoleuce ofhuman nature, induces
ascribc it to personal enTniiy in the same
way, until Mr.. Cooke proves his charges, we, and
ali DISTINGUISHED people, must ascribe them to male
Violence and personal dislike. Mr.. Monroe ought
10 court investigation--but Mr.. Cooke prefer,
the charges it is incumbent on him to sustain them
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.
We request the attention of readers to the
Presidential proceedings in Lyncbburg, and County
of Franklit In the popelous, rich & extensive trac,
ofcouutry, which deals ~ith the town of Lynchburs