Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-06-22

Sofuti0u:
oTdered' That the Chairman transmit TO Mr.
C'a"ioro' copy OF MIR. Edwards Memorial, ant
ne accompanying papers, together with n copy o
tfe Resolution creating the committee. and tha
VII. crawford be requested to answer the same,
we VIII NOT say that this resolution reflects ere.
UT Ola It's author for we are not disposed to give
" any great snare of praise for simple discharge
=. an ohciai duty-but we will say that it exempt.
", nun tue charge fastened on him with the rest
in Mr. Randolphs letter. of n want of ;us,jcc and
ihpartallty towards Mr.. Crawford This resolu-
'oh was not adopted--it was objected to, and SUBJ
se9uently withdrawn by the mover. But by whom
was II opposed: Not by an enemy of Mr.. Craw-
'ofd. or friend of any other of the Presidential
candidates. but by the only friend of Mr.. Crawford
'''cn oht"e comm'ttee--a gentleman always staunch
ana inmovable IN his cause. II was objected to by
Mr. Floyd, the Chairman of the committee. on the
ground that insinuated too muci-;hat by rcguir-
ing Mr.. Crawford to reply to the accusations of
"""'"S' Tue committee were treating him with in
delicacy, and attaching those accusations them
sei'es' deSrce OF weight and conse qucnce to which
tney were not entitled. In these suggestions of Mr.
Floyd, all parties acouiesced-on,J in INV o,;niou
Tue moderation, temper, iinpartality aud delicacy
OF tue majority OF the committee towards Mr. Craw-
ioro, were strongly evinced by such a resolution
having emanated from of them, aud by his n nd
,he "thes SO readily cousenting to its being with
dfawn,upon the supposton that il was indicate to-
cecdinss OF the committee, that Mr. RantIo!p (uever
very punctual in his attendance) made his appear
ance. The proceedings of the committee were i'm
noui'tciy read to iiim--and he moved TO amend
.nn resolution before offered by Mr.. Taylor, and by
him withdrawn rs follows: That the Chairman
should inform MIR. Crawford, that the committee
were proceeding i'll the examination, and were
ready to receive any communica ton he mipit
mink proper to make, in reference to the same :"
ne amendment Was accepted by Mr.. Tayioy, anI
ne resolution, thus amended, acds unaai,ous,y n
doPtea. These are all the proceedings of the com
nl''ee, IN reference to the question of giving Mr.
crawford an opportunity of making his defence
The clause of Mr.. Ranlo!ph's letter to his Con-
S'tuents, which have already had occasion TO
quote so often, contains two distinct aNirma.ions-
ooth OF which have equally been the subjects of
criticism censure. The first affirmation is i'm the 90
words ut was at my instance, that the Secretary
lCrawford) had the opportunity given him, to file
ms answer to the accusations of Edwards" This
affirmation was distinctly denied by Messrs Web
ster, Taylor Livingston and Me- rthur, and certain
y not supported by Mr.. Floyd, on the floor of Con-
grcSs. "Chatham' however, with more zeal than
uscretion as IT appears to undertakes to verify
this allegation. He says that she (Mr had moved
this instruction: therefore, he told his constituents G.
ne told them truly, that it was at his instance that
MI y. mad fhe opportunity given him to file his an,
swcr to the accusation" If this is n mere ouib
bling dispute about rords, admit that Chatham
Is right, and that it was at Mr.. Randolpl's instance
mat MIR. Crawford was afforded an opportunity of
vindcatien. But have too much respect for
Chathams abilities and candoI, to think him cana
bic ofquibbling i'll such case, and too high an o.
pon OF The character of the friendship he feels for
MI. Randolph, to suppose that he would rest ii,
defence against so serious an accusation, upon a
sophlsm SO shallow and garing. 1 think that
such defiance will neither justify Mr.. Eansiolph,
or do much honor TO the reasoning and dis.
elimination of Chatham. With what propriety
could Colo Taylor have laid claim to the Report
and Resolutions drafted by Mr. Madison in .98. he
cause it devo!ved on him to report thcm-or Mr..
Giles or MIR. Daniel have claimed the same honour.
because they both suggested various amendment
to them, e. both made able speeches in their behalf
Yet with exactly the same propriety and reason,
does Chatham claim for Mr.. Randolph the honour
OF moving the Resolution, which gave to Mr.. Craw-
ford the opportunity of making his defence-A re-
solution to the same purport, but actually going
further, having been moved by MIR. Taylor of New
York. "When Says Chatham) Mr.. Randolph
joined the "Committee, he found that n proposal,
similar to that which he himself afterwar ds
"moved, and intended Git seems) by the mover (Mr.
"Taylor) to answer the same end, had been alrea-
"dy made, and actually rejected or abandoned by
"the Committee" Now if Mr.. Randolph had at
first been ignorant, and continued ignorant of the
fact, that Mr.. Taylor before he came into the Com
mittce room, had offered such Resolution as his
own, and intended to answer the same end, he
would have been fully justified in the assertion,
"H,dt rds his instance, Hut Mr.. Crawfoyd
had The opportunity giUe1a ham, TO file his dcfsnce'
But he was not ignorant of this fact. Chatham
distinctly admits that he was not, in the sentence
just quoted, in which he says-swhen Mr. Ram
dolph joined the Committee he found that a promo
sal similar to his own, and having in view, the
same end, had been offered by Mr. Taylor of N.
York, &C." fChatham had not thus fully admit
ted Mr.. Randolph's perfect knowledge, that such
proposal had been made to the Committee, it could
be satisfactorily proved by the assertion of Mr. Nc
Arthur, who says that when MIR. Randolph arrived
in the Committee room, ''the proceedings of the
Committee read To him." Possessing fall in
formation of what had been done before he came
Mr.. Randolph proceeded to- renew the motion which
had been previously made by Mr. Taylor, and at
the instance of Mr.. Floyd, withdrawn by him-on-
ly so modifying the original resolutions as to change
the requisition on Mr.. Crawford for an answer, in
to an intimation that the Committee erpected one
from him. M. Rapdolph's amendment was ac-
cepted by Mr.. Taylor, and thus amended, the reso-
luton (Mr. Taylors) was unanimously adopted.
Here is decided testimony tn prove, that MIR. Ram
dolph was appraised, that similar motion mad pre-
coded his If that point not already given up
but what is more important the circumstance MAT
Mr.. Taylor consented 10 accept Mr.. Raniolphs n
nendnent, as part Of his motion, proves the
resolution finally adopted by the Committee. was
considered by them not as Nj. Randoph's but as
Mr. Taylor's, and H,oi .ur. Ranaolph himscifat
tie time, so considered ii. How did Mr.. Taylor
make known his Willingness to accept Mr.. Ran
dolph's amendment, part of his resolution? I'm
questionably by announcing such willingness, in
open Committee, and by an address to the Chair
man. BY not Directing TO an incorporation of his
Resolution with that of Mr.. Taylor, and by permit
ting IL to appear on the minutes part of the
solution offered Ivy that gentleman, Mr.. Randolph
has certainly relinquished TO him the honor ofori-
gnating the mcton-and as certainly admitted,
that il was not at his instance, but at Mr.. Tay
or's-that Mr.. Crawford had the opportunity Civ
en- him, of filing his defence to the accusations of