Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-06-01
EighteeMtM Congress.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,, MAY %.
MEMORIAL OF MIR EDWARDS

HOCSE OF REPRESENTATIVE Is, MAY 70.
MEMORIAL OF MIR. EDWARDS.
Mr. Livingston moved for the consideration of the
resolution reported yesterday by the Committee of
Investigation in the case of Ninan Edwards
Carried, ayes 83, noes 26.
| Mr. A. Smytli moved tn amend the resolution by
striking out so much of II as provides that three
members shall be quorum Of the comn,ittec--car-
| ricd.
Air. Forsyth moved further to amend the reso,u
ton by adding a clause directing that a copy of the
committees report aud accompanying document be
transmitted To the President OF the United States.
| Mr. Cook moved TO amend this amendment by i'm
Guiding the reports OF the Secretary of the Treasury
to Congress in relation To mis- transactions, with the
Western Banks; the correspondence laid before
Congress tina, subject, and the report in relation
TO the illegal introduction of Africans into the Uni
ted States, among the papers laid before the Pres-
dent.
| On these amendments and the following questions
Il debate arose. which is necessarily deferred an
other day.
| The gentlemen who took part in it, were Mossrs
! Cook Forsyth, Jennings, and Webster.
| Both of the amendments were rejected.
On motion of MIR. Livingston, the resolve was a.
ncntct ST. to direct that the Clerk cause the final
report of the committee tn be printed and transmit
| a copy to each member of the House.
| The question then recurring the resolution as
| amended
| Farther debate took place which is also uccessa-
rily deferred. In the course of it, Mr.. a. Smytl
moved TO lay the resolve the table; " hch mott
! on was negativcd ayes 10, noes 90.
The question being put on the resolution as a.
mendcd, it was decided i'll the Affirmative, ayes II.
THURSDAY, May 81.
The House met ut o'clock.
Several communications were received from
the President of the United States, announcing
his appreciation and signature of bills passed bv
both Houses.
Mr.. Taylor then rose, and SAID, that it had
yesterday been decided, that three members of
the Committee of Investigation in the case of
Mr.. Niniau Edwards should not be a quorum of
that committee. He had understood that one of
the members of that committee had left the u.
States, and that another was gone home to his
residence IN Alabama. 1t was very desirable
that the committee should be filled up; and with
view to that object, he moved that two mem
bcrs be added to the committee, to supply the
place of the two members absent.
Mr. Webster said, he rose partly to second
the motion of his honorable friend, but more
particularly to express his establishment at par
agraph, which he had this moment seen a Rich
mond paper, of Tuesday, a communication sigh
ed ''Joln Randolph, of Roanoke" The para
graph Is III these words 81 was at my instance
and not without considerable resistance on the
part of Il majority of the committee, that the
Secretary had the opportunity given him, TO file |
lls answcr to the accusation ofIr. Edwards.n A |
regard to my own character, sir, said Mr. w. & |
to tue characterofthec committee with whom am
associated, docsnot allow TO pass over this state
mcnt; and rise for the purpose of SAYING, thai
the order, IN committee, for communicating the
address to Mr.. Crawford, for the purpose of civ.
ing HIM an opportunity of answering it. was
not made at the instance of Mr.. Randolph; and
further, that no one of the committee made any
opposition whatever 10 that motion. hopc
am fully and distinctly understood wish to be
SO; ana, again assert, that no one of the COM
mttce minated the least opposition TO the mo-
ton. Fortunately, the original mnutcs of tbe
proceedings of the committee are preserved,
the entry, as it now stands, in the hand writing
OF one OF the committee, is as follows:
''APRiL %, 1924.
g c Ommittce mct-all prcscLt
NOn motion of Mr.. Tayor,
" Oraered, That the Chairman transmit to
Nlr. Crawford a copy of Mr.. Edwards,s memo
rial, and the accompanying papers, together
with copy of the resolution creating the Com
mittee, To which Mr.. Randolph proposed tic
following amendment: 'and inform him, that the
Committee are proceeding in the examination,
and that they are ready to receive any commu-
nIcatlon which he may think proper TO make
In reference To the safne;' which amendment was
accepted by Mr.. Taylor and, thus amended.
was unanimously adopted"
Mr.. Little, of Md. thought that the measure
proposed by the gentleman from New York, was
not necessary. He thought the present COM
mittec entirely competent to tic business which
had been referred to them, and that it would be
best to leave them TO settle their own AFFAIRS
It must be very disagrceable thing TO remain
confined here after the session of the House was
closed, and he would not willingly impose upon
another that TO which he should be aycrse linn
self. He regretted, for his part, that this mat
Ter had ever been brought before the House
and that it had been referred to the committee,
giving 1T thus an Importance which did not pro-
perry belong to it.
Mr.. Williams, of v. C.. observing that fine
House was very thin, thought il best to defer the
consideration of tue motion till fuller House
should be obtained; and with that view moved
to lay the resolution on the table.
When this question was about to be put. if
became obvious that there was not a quorum of
members present.
MIR. A. Smith expressed a hope that the mo-
yer would consent to withdraw the resolution
Mr.. Williams said, lie could not consider the
measure proposed as at all necessary Every
gentleman, he believed, was entirely satisfied
with the present committee, and prepared TO
place every proper confidence in their proceed
| lngs-aud he wished a division of the House on
| his motion to lay the resolution on the fable
| Mr. fo1nsctt Observed that there was evident
~ not quorum OF members present and from
the best information he conld obtain. he was in
duced TO believe, that so many had last evening
availed themselves of the various convevances
which were departing in all directions. that yhnrc
was not a quorum left in the city-and he hopcd
the gentleman firm New York would not pcr-
sist in his motion.
Mr.. Cook then observed, that tie remarks of
the gentleman from Virginia, yesterday. mir. A.
SmytlI) required Of the Committee orInvestica-