Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-05-28

-
irnn illiu us ni~taksn ia ms ca'c,'"ti'n, "iien
he SAID that ,ha, person could not b. here be-
fure the 81 Il inst. lie believed that TIM luur-
uey from l.uui,,ilis Ia this city nigh, bc
compl.sli"d In tea days; and Ia HAT case, the
messenger might return ~ the : lin at this
month. liz considered the House bound To
allow a reasonable time for the rival uf the
n.rsou whnsn attendance it had required
Public np,ninn, with what justice he should
not say, would sci down every individual of
this HOUSE, on one side vr the other, in this
affair, and would attribute every part of their
conduct To Partially and design. II was the
duty Uf the II misr, as much as possible, TO
avoid giving occasion for such reflections. IL
had been objected, that the sending for Mr.
Edwards was only the act OF "a cum,nitiee.-
True +: but that committee received its authO.
riiy To send for him, from this House: they
have rrpnrtrd their proceedings in sending for
him To this linuse aud this House has trans
n:ttrd those proceedings To the President Of
the United States and thereby given to the
act nf sending for him every sanction which
the circumstances would admit. The accuser
had made Il variety of statements in relation
to the officer accused it was proper that h-
should he put upon his oath, and crUss-exam-
med. On the whole, considering the public
interest, the dignity of this House, and the cha
ractrr aud public station Of both the indvdu.
ais CONCERNED, he could not consent 10 vote
tor an earlier day than the 3Ist instant.
Mr.. WEBSTER observed, that AZ, in IA case
OF fact with which he was not personally ac-
quain'ed, he must rely on the opinion Of
some other person, he thought it proper to
TAKE, as his best guide, the opinion of the
gentleman from Illinois, who, being AN in
habtant OF that part of the Union through
which the person sent for had 10 travel was
"a he presume d best acquainted with the prob
able time al wbi,h he could rive That gen
tleman declares it as his opinion that he cannot
be IN this city before the SOth of the present
month. ii SD, the Slst was, of all days in the
year, The most Improper, and the most I'M
lucky, that could have been selected. He had
much rather agree tn AN earlier or later day
The question To he settled was, whether the
House shall wait for the witness who had
been summoned. Ii il determined To wait
then the 9Th or 9Th of June would be the EARL
est period Which it could, with propriety, Ok
tor adjournment AS to the expediency or
mexPediency of waiting, he meant to express
no opinion, lar less 10 represent that of the
investigating committee. 1t was agreed, on
all hands, that the ordinary Legislative business.
which demanded the attention of the house.
might be got through with by the cath or 25th
INST. Ii the House did not choose to wait
ior MIR. Edwards, he presumed one of these
days would be proper one fiji did choose
20 wait, thea the 9Th or 9th of June would be
the proper time. AT all events, he consider
ed the middle ground as the worst
mr.. Cook said, IN rising, that he had not
taken the floor, TO discuss the propriety of
hxins on any particular day for the adjourn
ment Ut the House. He was disposed to
mink, that, from the course this business had
taken, the presence of the person sent for
might be material to the accused and to The
Other party also. The House having so far
acted as to recognize the propriety Of send
ing ior MIR. Edwards, it appeared proper, with
regard To consistency of conduct, that the
h"u'e should wait Tor his arrival. What he
more particularly rose for, was to reply to
some remarks Of the member from N. Caro-
una AS lsaid MIR. CO. no member of the
House appears disposed To express an opinion
10 regard to the merits of the matter now be-
lore Inc committee of investigation, I was
some ilttie surprized that the honorable gem
t'eban should venture, or think ii necessary
~ express an opinion as to the merits Of the
claim VI either party concerned to be heard
neiore this House, or contest the claim of one
party as he did, when he iniinated that the
SITUATION OF the absent party claimed ao;indul-
gence DIT the hands of the House. The no.
norabe member spoke of the time of prefer
ring the charges, and said in substance that
other and previous times might have been Sc
'tc.eu' ano, not having been, that party had no
c'aiin on lhe consideration Of the House. Ii
10 I'D correct tins statement only that Ina, e
risen, Tor my honest wish was, and is, not to
indulge IN feeling IN regard 10 this matter I'M
w see something winch IS in my opinion
Calculated 10 place in an unfair light the facts
respecting this controversy and then the re-
iatioh ia which stand TO the House. To the
country, and To the pariy* which has prefer
Ged these charges, would require me 10 cor
rect such statements and for this PURPOSE
now rise. l will state the circumstances OF
this case In preliminary point of view, with
out attempting To state what will be IFS uIti-
male result. IL IL known To this House that
report was made by the Treasury Depart.
ment to this House on the cad Of March
fhat ortimpugned the veracny and of
course impeachrd the character of Mr. Ed
wards. Upon the face Of the document itsrlI
1t is 10 be presumed, ard believe il can be- in
eon'estably proved. that il was that repor
which elected the Address Of Mr.. Edward, te
iii's Eo''se. But, The gentleman from North
CaIoiina says, that a previous time might have
been SELECTED for it. Lee me remind the gen
ihmhr, VINO whs not a member of the last
Congress, that THIS House did then undertake
10 Investigate part of this subject. There is
Do'hhng, upon ti'e ground OF his silence upon
th'a subject 'hlt canin any drgree justly pre-.
JUDGE Nj Els standing on the same f,n,ine
wth the individual whnse conduct he has are
I'd gDed They both stand on the same ground
The individual whp has sent this memorial
10 ConSiess has his reputation assall.d : add
10 the course fthe argument of his memoir.
al, he goes on 70 shew, that the Foundation is
not solid and this ARGUMENT he addresses Ia
this House, 10 whom the report ia question
was made. These indiyidu,is th.r.f,-.