Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-07-27

Standing, but of finds collected, and collected,
too. by salaried officers, at an enormous ex-
penss.
Upon ono point, however, which has al
ready been considered, l shall add some re-
marks The committee have admitted, dis
'inctiy, and in correspondence With my state
ments. that MIR. Crawford did, on some oc-
casious, neglect TO make such communications
To Congress, as by law it was his duty to do.
and that, on others, ne failed to report such
facts and documents, as, by y resolution Of
the House of Representatives he was required
to do yet, as they very naturally cannot detect
the motives of this misconduct, (which God
alone can do,) they acquit him Of all blame or
responsibility. In this they appear to lose
sight of the distinction which ha, hitherto OBJ
tanned between private and official rectitude !;
and OF the well established fact; that bad
motives IN the man, are not necessary to con-
stitute misconduct in the minister.
w hen Burke brought Warren Hastings TO
the bar ofthe House of Lords. and in strain.
of portentons eloqnence, invoked upon the
mead OF the Indian Viceruy the vengeance Of
humanity. the power of Justice, and the impl
Gated terrors OF the English law, in pourtray-
ing tn this august tribunal, a course and torrent
CT p'under and desolation which had o, errun
regions that the arms Of Alexander could NOT
reach IN charging him with the pillage of
towns, the ruin of districts the sacking of
cities, the plumber of prncedoms, the deyasta,
non OF provinces, The waste of empires, he did
not fail also TO accuse him, With intense
and awful formality, Of having neglected
TO COMMUNICATE f6the Government the docu-
ments sch'ch tcere Gated for BY the proper au-
thnr'ty. (Bmke's work., vol. II, p. 4j4. y
:" Ihst,in defiance ofbe said orders & IN breuch
OF Tile above recited act Of r!ian;tn,, the said
Warren Hastings hae, 10 suuary instances,
concealed from his council tie correspondence
carried on tetaoeen him and he Princes, or
country po,oers in hdia and negi,c'ed to com
innnicate the adsices and intelligence he from
time to time received" sc.
This great statesman, this politca, philoso-
pher, this experienced orator, did not appear
to consider, that the illegal conduct of min
'sirr could be Justified by an alleged absence,
OF improper personal motives, nor that duty
upon the punctuai performance Of which the
whole fabrication of legislation rests, should
be repeatedly Violated aud with perfect i'm
puniiy. :.
will not complain Of any thing that has
happened to myself in this business Of the
Ibei atty with hich bad moiipes have been
imputed TO me of that impatient justice,
which, On this floor, CONDEMNED me Tor de-
tending myself, and arguuentaiively accusing
a Responsible Otter, upon siafemenfS, which
are now established. but which were then not
examined. But, beg leave 10 ask, wheiber
treatment like this can be Just in itself, or is
likely to sharpen thar inspection, which il is
the right Of every citizen 10 apply 10 the con-
duct oi the high officers of this Government,
and which cannot be depressed without great
danger to the liberties of the people.
The disadvantages under which | have
labored IN this nv-stigalion, must I've obvious
To the committee. While have been informed
by them that no charges against me have been
submitted to them, The trial, il such il may
be called, has assumed much more the ali-
peaTance OF an investigation of my conduct
than that III Mr. Crawford's Called upon az
a witness, against my own consent, not being
willing To rest any Of my charges against the
Secretary, or my own defence, upon my own
oath, have been required to swear to facts
that consider wholly immateriaI, AS il relates
To his conduct, at least, tie avowed object Of
the inquiry; and the occasion has been en-
braced of requiring me TO defend, not nv
general character for verac,y, but 10 maintain
It IN particular, and special cases, by which
nave been perfectly surprised, and for which
me- adequate time is allowed me.
In my address 70 the House. have made
certain statements against MIR. Crawford,
which the committee are pleased 10 denomi-
nate charges. For specifications If sume of
those statements, l have referred To certain
publications under the signature of A! b., of
which &C knowlrdsed myself To be the au-
thor, thereby making yseIfrrsponsib,e, from
that moment, for the charges they con-
tain. When wrote them, or whether I
wrote then at all, neither could add TO-, nor
the responsibility 1 had taken up
on myself, by exhibiting them as charges to
the House and IT might, with AS much pro-
priety, have bren asked of me To swear that 7
wrste my address, that wrote the publ
cations which, by the reference made to'them,
became part of that address. How they
originated, or what was their object, before
they were offered 10 the consideration of the
House, does not appear TO 10 be either
material, in an inquiry into Mr.. Crawford's
conduct, nor To have been within the intention
OF The reference TO the committee, especially
. II 10 charge against me has been Submitted
to them"
The only Inquiries that appear TO me ma
teIial, in regard TO those publications, are,
whether the facts they aliege are true or false,
and it true, whether they amount TO proof of
aoy thing on the part OF the Secretary, worthy
of apprehension. If the charges against him
are we'll founded, no motive for making them
can Justify or excuse him.
Ii am to be convicted of ha wing made them
and criminaliy, not barely by an
hcqutial of him, but by positive Judgment
against myself, distinct allegations ought to
nave been made against me, and fair oppor-
tunlty of defence should have been allowed
me. Such trial | should BIZ very willing to
meet, but against any collateral and Indirect
operation for that purpose, and, particularly,
where technically has not been overlooked
soleHny protest
have been required to swear tina wrote
these publications more than two years ago,
and this has afforded the ground for attacking