Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-04-27

Mr. Cook, Of Illinois, said, it had been, and
should he, hs course, pending this subject to alb
STAN IRON saying any thing in relation to the
merits oft, and to abstain from exhibiting any
thing IKE feeling IN relation to it. In his opn-
ION, the course which the Committee had pur-
sued, ON that occasion, was a p.Jpcr one The
executive had probably given its orders to this
individual, and his actual position might not be
SO well known to any one as to the Executive.
MIR. Z. thought it was probable that, before u
ny process could reach him, he would have left
Illinois, and might have reached New Orleans
ana the information communicated to the Exec-
utive might be efectual To answer The end of the
process of this House reaching him Mr. c.
concluded by repeating that he would not trust
his feelings ON this occasion, for he wished to
suppress them, SO far as ~ speak OH the merits
of this controversy, &c.
MIR. Forsyth asked, if he had understood the
gentleman from Illinois rightly, when he inform
cd the House that this person was now on his
way to New Orleans, and about to pass thence
from the United Statcs1>
h!r. Cook said, that he had so stated, presum-
ing 1T to be the fact.
Mr.. Forsyth said, il was only wba, he s,,spcs-
ted. The Parthian throws behind him his moi
soned arrows as he retreats, and then flies he
Yond the reach OF pursuit. Bat, MIR. l.. said he
could not fortunately leave the United States
before the process of the Committee could reach
| hun. The vessel which was to have tie honor
to bear him out, had not yet left the Many Yard
at this place, and, rs he would scarcely venture
to sail without the protection of the guns of the
nation, he could yet he overtaken.
Mr.. Cook said that, when up before, he had
intended to suggest, that tic vessel which was
destined to carry Mr.. Edwards to Mexico, was
yet at this place; that by this vessel information
could be given to him of his presence being de
sired here's and that the only, at least most pro-
bable way, in which tde process of this IIou c
could reach him, and he could be recalled TO,
the purposes Of this House, would be by means
of this vessel.
Mr.. Floyd said, that the committee had
thought it necessary that this individual should
be present during the examination of his char
ges. They were perfectly aware that the au-
thorlty with which they were invested By the
House, was sufficient for all the purposes of
bringing HIM here, and, in the course which
they had pursued, had no objection but to give
the President of the United States, in a respect
full manner, Information of the course which il
had been thought proper, by the committee, 10
pursue; and he hoped the opposition to it would
be withdrawn.
MIR. AlcLane said he was not anxious to en-
barrass the proceedings by the motion which he
had made, under the conviction, in his own
mind, that the President ought not to be callcl
upon to do what the House has the perfect
power to do. He was anxious for this investi
CATION to go on. He thought, with the geptle-
man from Virginia, that the infor,ner on This oc
cason ought to be present; but he thought. also.
that the whole matter was already within the
power of the committee. Tosavc trouble to the
House, however, he would Withdraw his motion
for re-cOmmitment.
MIR. .Hallary, OF Vermont, said, the House
had given the committee all the powers which
1T possesses in relation TO this matter. The
questionis, now, whether it is necessary to call
upon the House to aid the committee to cary
Its powcrsinto execution. The committee have
all the powers ofthis House on the subject & have
certainly the power TO communicate the
fact of their proceedings to the President that
| this House has, and on the same principle on
WHICH they would have power to ash, iufcr.na.
ton from him.
.Mr. Forsyth said, that lie had not offered his
first motion on this. subject, THAT which the
House refused to consider,) before this House
had referred the enquiry into the subject TO q
committee, with power to send for persons and
papers. 1t appeared to him, he said, at the time
he made the motion, that such proceeding was
absolutely due, in courtesy to the Executive.
Perhaps, he said, he had some little feeling on
tins subject, arising from the difference of the
manner in which his proposition, and the nearly
similar one of another gentleman, had been re-
ccIved lie saw no necessity, however, forpres-
sing his amendment, though he could not see a.
ny occasion for all this particularly on the sub
Ject. In Difference, therefore, to the wishes of
several of his friends, whose opinions he always
respected, he withdrew his motion for amend
ment.
The question recurring on the report of the
committee
Mr.. Fuller, of Massachusetts,, a, he was ia =
the sorry that the gentleman from Georgia had
withdrawn his motion, because it was perfectly
free from any ambiguity, which The proposition
of the committee was not. If the amendment
had prevailed, however, he could not have voted
for the proposition, for this reason I fe was one
Of those who hoped, the other day, that the mo-
ton for printing the memorial would have pre-
vailed, and that he should thus have been ena-
bled to Judge Of the necessity of the presence of
| the accuscr. at present he said, he di;l net
feel himself competent TO decide whether his pre-
sence was necessary or not. He, for ore, moro
over, was not willing to notify the President
that the committee thought the intcrposition of
the authority ofthc House accessory, because the
| committee are themselves competent to do it
and, IT they think proper, ii is their duty to do
| it, There was another consideration on this sub
| iect, which Mr.. T. thought must occur 10 the
mind ofeyery one. Is it possible, is it probable,
at any rate, that Congress will remain in session
for two months TO have the presence OF this gen
tleman? 1t would take month to give no.
tee to this individual, another month to get him
here, and after he got here, the investigation Of
the case by the committee would not occupy
less than two or three weeks. A full investiga-
ton of this case, Mr.. F. hoped, would take place
at the next session. Under present circunstan-
ces, he saw no occasion for giving information
TO the President of the opinion the committee.
.Ir. Bartlett, Of N. II. said, he was de5rous
OF understanding rightly what was the object Of