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

see Tai 10 shew that the prospects OF collecting
the i, bt Of the Bank of Missouri, to the United
States, 10 not AS good rs they.have beeu rsA
presented 10 the committee to be. Sc.
NlNlAN EDWARDS.
To The Hon. John Floyd, Chairman, Sc.
The committee having again repeated To
nae, ON last evening, that there are no charges
against me submitted to them that their in
vestigatiOns will be confined to the six specific
statements which lShave alleged agains, Mr..
Crawford, in my hddress TO the House and
that, If wished to produce further testimony,
| must state in writing the names OF the wit
nesses whom wish to have summoned, and
the points expect to prove by them; can,
not consent to take upon myself the rrspon-
sibility which may be imposed upon me by
srbjecting the Government To great expense,
venience, without explaining tho cause and
reasons which, in my opinion, impose upon
me the necessity to do SD.
i need not enlarge upon the reasons hereto
fore given, why think. have been unn.ces-
sarily called upon, against my own consent,
To give testimony in this case. That measure
has been adopted its effect has been 20 bring
on trial Of myself upon collateral points, in
the most injurious form. surprising me by
accusations and inpeachments of my charac-
Ter, of which could have had no previous
notice.
Having been made witness. l might have
had less ground Of complaint if had only been
required to defend my general character for
veracity but as the thing now stands / am
compelled to defend it against particular allega-
tons, the first notice Of which has been from
| the months OF the witnesses summoned against
me. This, think was not dema nded by any
material fact in this case, and il surely can
derive no justification from the rules of COM
mon law. If mistake not, it is sound legal
principle that witness shall neither he COM
PEELED to discredit himself nor shall an adverse
party be permitted to ask him question with
a view tn discredit him.
Why was forced To become witness, /
neither knew, nor could conjecture, until the
committee did me the honor On last evening,
to state to me that il was in consequence Of
my having charged Mr.. Crawford. in one of
my SIX specific statements, with having sup
pressed the letter Ofthe Receiver at Edwards
vile, mentioaed in nv examination before the
Select COMMITTEE of February 1898, and with
a view to ascertain what knew upon that
J subject.
This. must insist upon, is very great mis-
apprehension on the part of the committee,
and most injurious one TO me, If il shall be-
persevered in.
do most positively disclaim ever having
had, pr now having, any intention to include
that letter in the charge of suppressions sub
mitied to the, Investigation of the committee
by the House Of Representatives.
Ii is not redsonUe to suppose that could
have attended to impose upon myself an obi
CATION to produce proof ofthr suppression Off
particular letter, " hich the whole scope of my
address, and every fair inference from it
showed consider it as my misfortune not TO
he able to produce.
Bot it is moi fair inference from any thing
expressed in my address, that INTENDED to
Include thisletter in The charge .f suppression
page Is of that address, saw ii could
have been no object with me to have es;ab
shed an additional suppression upon him, for.
II time do not fail me, it will be seen, before
am done with this subject, that had in my
possession proof, whose credibility could not
be questioned, Of his having suppressed. in
variety OF other instances, letters enough of :,
much more important character, and delicate
bearing for any purpose that the utmost ma
lisnity could have contemplated, as possible
to be effected by such means.''
Here then is a-clear indication that in what
should thereafter say, did not intend tn re-
ly upon that letter, but Others much more i'm
portana and whose credibility could mol be qmes-
toned, evidently meaning those that could be
established By the documents furnished By him
SELF
Turning TO the charge itself (see address
page 25) it is found to be expressed in the fol
lowing words, viz That he has. in several
instances, withheld information, and letters
called for by the House, and which it was his
duty to have communicated"
The specifications ofthe charge, after refer
ring to a particular case only, commences in
the following words, viz
"But il also appears, that he and his off
GERS of the Treasury Department have not
been able TO find great number of ether let
tiers, and even some OF his own official ones,
when required by other calls of the House
or if they cOu,c be found they were suppress
ed. Ofths the documents furnished by HIM
self afford both abundant, and conclusive
proof. Many instances might be stated for
TIE sake Ofbrevity, will allude to a few oil
| them only"
Here then is the practical exposition of the
intention indicated in the 18th page Of my adj
dress, IN regard 10 the impressions on which
l intended TO rely. The impressions referred
10 in the last above recited paragraph, are ex.
pIessly confined 20 those which could he prov
ed by The documents furnished bY himself and
OF these q )etc only are specifically desig dated
and being all that exhibited against tie Sec.
rotary, must be all that / am bound to prove.
They were deemed enough for my purpose
and more therefore were not intended TO b.
included.
The publications under the signature Of A
Is. transmitted with my address are also re-.
ferred to for specificafions hut these contain