Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-05-18
VIRGINIA, TUESDAY, MAY ls, 1874

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would be put in possession of such information
as s'ouid enable itsto act Understandings on
the snbIect, with reference TO tue Investigation
winch the House had Instituted, IL consequence
OF the Address of Mr.. EDWARDS, the late Scna-
Tor oil Illinois. That individual has been sent
t"r, under the authority of the House. Mr.. NJ
was not disposed to al uorn, before time was al
lowed for his arrival, for his subsequent exam
NATION, and for due deibcration, by the COM
niitee ana the House, upon his testimony.
| no" Is II possible, said he, that we can asccr-
tatn at what time we adjourn, unless VIC
SHOULD receive from that committee or from
: some ether source, information to guide our de-
c's''h! hir. wi. SAID he rose now to inquire,
IRON the Representative from Illinois, the
State in which .ur. Edwards resides, when lis
arrival might, by computation, be expected, that
lhe day for adjournment might be so fixed as te
ioiT lime Tor his arrival, and some days To spare
That The committee of investigation might have
an opportunity TO make report in whole or in
part, SD as to determine what course in regard
to THIS matter became the dignity and The honor
of the House, which for one, he would do all in
ms power to maintain. If the time, which
should be liked, should prove too short to allow
vi the transaction OF necessary business of the
session, there would be no difficulty in extend
ing 1t. In thus expressing his wish that some
day should be fixed for the adjournment, Mr. NJ.
said he was actuatcd by no outrageous zeal 10
special view to the saving Of the public money,
considering the public money as nothing, com
pared with public Justice. He desired, however,
to see some period fixed for the termination OF th,
| session
Mr.. LiTermore, of New Hampshire, said
Teach me so to number my days, that may APP
ply my heart 10 wisdom, is doubtless the PRAYER
Of every individual in this Hall. Teach IL; 10
number the days of this session, that we may
apply ourselves to the appropriate business of
1t, is equally proper, though not perhaps equally
important Under this IMPRESSION hehad voted
10 CONSIDER the resolution appointing the day OF
adjournment. The tariff bill in the Senate and
the communication Of the Hon. Mr.. EDWARDS
10 this house, seemed calculated, more than any
thing else, TO retard the hour of adjournment
lie hoped that some of the committee who had
charge OF all the communication of Mr.. Ed
wards, would express their opinion whether the
publlc good required that Congress should con-
t,nue III session ill the arrival of Mr.. Edwards
vino had been sent fer. For his own part he
said, hc had never been able to find any thing
In Mr.. Edwards's letter Of public consequence
which might not have been communicated! at the
opening Of the session, and he had been surDris-
Ell That that gentleman had thought cit to keep
The secret in his own breast ali the time he was
here, and TO send back las complaints at SO late
an hour, aud alter he had taken his departure
from the CITY. If this subject may be viewed in
, soiute necessity, because witnesses have been
summoned, Tor the Court TO continue in session
, tii their arrival. The opinion of committee of
investigation, as TO what the public good requires
$ ought, III his own opinion, TO govern our decis-
! ION IN this instance. The Senate must have Con-
troll OF our resolution, till the tariff shall have
been disposed of
Mr.. Cook, OF Illinois, rose to answer the oues-
ton winch had been addressed to him, as to the
tE'c at which Mr.. Epw ARDS might be expected
10 arrive here. From having travelled the our-
ney some ten or eozen times, and sometimes
IN the mode in which he Presuc,ed MIR. E. would
| lake, Mr.. e. was of opinion that he might be
| able to reach this city on tie 23d orI1th of
| this month.
Mr.. Ma!laTy, of Vermont, observed, that
much time had been spent on tie subject of the
Tariff 1t was now before the Senate and nu-
merous amendments are understood 10 have been
| made TO 1T III that House. " hen the bill should
be returned to this House, as amended if it pass |
the Senate, much discussion will probably arise |
on 1T, and q reasonable time should be allowed
Tor the deliberate consideration of that bill This
cue 10 the House and to the nation. 1t was un-
worthy OF the House to bind itself to a day, in
order 10 spur members on 10 diligence and des-
| patch. The first duty of the House was to at
tend to the public business. iie was, there
fore, opposed 10 iiXing day for adjournment, at
present.
| Mr.. Tod, Of Pa, Observed tlIat, if The reso-
luton must pass, nc hoped arguments of little
more force and consistency would Dc advanced
III IFS favor. When the House sent for MIR. Ed
wards, ii knew that no certainty respecting the
time Of his arrival could bcattained al that time
and nothing had occurred to change Tie unccr-
taiuty on the subject. He replied to Mr.. Liy-
ernore, and observed that, in that affair this |
House was not the court, but, as far as it could
become SO, the accurscr. 1t had given all the
weight it could, TO tue charges submitted 1t
had directed its committee TO proceed in the in
vesigation, and it was bound in consistency to
allow time for the return of its messenger, ur-
less it rnent to suppress the investigation alto
gether.
Mr.. Webster said that he had not been pres
ent when this motion was brought UP, nor had
| any other member Of the committee Of investi-
| CATION. But, III regard TO one interesting topic
which belonged TO this discussion, he remarked
| that the House apprzcd that the officer of
this House had been deputad in quest of the
witness, and, as he understood the matter from
the statement given By the member from Illinois,
| barring accidents, he presumed that he may be
expected to be here by the 23d 24th of the
| month. But, as far Us he understood it, MIR. w.
sad, the House was as able now % form udg-
Inent OF the probable time OF the arrival of Mr..
| Edwards, as 1T could be week hence, as, i'm he
Western Country, traveller might often out
strip the mail, and in all probability no intelii-
gence would be received Of the arrival of the
| messenger at tho place of residence Of the per-
| son summoned, earlier than the 23rd or 2llli oil
! the month. 1t seemed to him, MIR. w. said, that
the best course would be, now, to fix a period
for adjournment, SO far remote, rs 10 give the
party summoned an opportunity To come here,