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

ROD oiftc srssiun, and The House or ltepre-
ScO'ati,.s having instituted an inquiry into
!i.eu', II 0rho,ed the House 10 prosecute this
inquiry 10 c,usr. did draw a Distinction,
and believe that every gentleman in tins
tl"use whu is unconnected with the parties la
point Of feeling, i'll sustain RIe in It, between
the relative situation OF the parties. This IS
not as interesting matter TO tho accuser as To
The accused. Tue personal Attendance of the
former Is in no wise necessary, unless he is in
turU assaulted and he desires suspension of
opinion until he can bc heard. We're these
charges referred To a committee for the pur-
pose OF trying MIR. Edwards ? Is it with a
view OF ascertaning whether he d guilty or
not guilty that this committee has been in
sii'ut.d had understood to the contrary,
aud regret that the gentleman should be SO
iastuious on the Occas0n-On an occasion on
which he processes not to have any feeling,
and, It is to be presumed, has none. 1t is be-
cause this committee is raised, not to try Dir.
Edwnrds-upon whose merits expressly dis
a'ow having formed any OpiniOn, and much
less would now express any, If had formed
one-but to try the Secretary of the Treasu-
ry, that he is most Interested i'm il. 1t is due
To cOnsistency-it is due, if may say SO, to
an honorable course, not to abandon this in
curry after having instituted il. Upon this
subject, hope my course has appeared per-
SOiicSt tu vi every gen.
tleman in the House, the one from Illnois ex-
crpted. mean not to throw myself Into the
arena as the partizan ofany man. III blow is
to fall, let II light on the right one, fall where
II may. The public mind is not excited by this
5unJect. All circumstances call upon US tn
pursue the investigation: and, if | were po-
litical enemy Of the individual accused before
US, should feel myself bound to prosecute
the investigation whilst his friends claimed it,
And ii, wheu il Is brought tn close, the accu-
ser cannot substantiate his charges-if the
blow fall on him, and he stagger under il, it
will not have been aimed at him either by this
House or others. II it fall en- the Secretary,
twill be because it was aimed at him: and,
whilst he claims trial, whilst his friends claim
thorough investigation 0fthese charges, shall
we refuse him right which is due to the vii
est culPrit in the land ? l hope, sir, I shall be
understood, when 1 expressly disavow ap-
pearIns here as the partzan of any body.
am only the humble defender Of what consi-
der to be due To the character of this House,
to the Individual charged, aud to just respect
to the People whom we represent.
Mr. FORSYTH of Georgia said, he entirely
concurred In the opinion that, granting all suf
| hcient time for the arrival and examination Of
MIR. Edwards, the House might be able to ad-
journ by the 7th day Of June, and he propos-
ed that day accordingly. 1t was due 10 the
character Ofthis House that it should remain
mere I'LL that time, even at great expense, and
great personal sacrifice. He advertsd to the
necessity of acting on this case with precision
and on mature reflection, that improper con-
illusions may not be drawn, as to the motives
which govern the House in its course, by the
people of the United States. This memorial
OF Mr.. Edwards, said Mr.. F., bears date the
9th of April, and, by due course Of the mail,
should have arrived here on the 10th day of
that month. The first information which the
House had of the existence of this packet, was
ON the nineteenth Of April nd, by singular
coincidence, that was the very day when the
Senate fixed upon day for the adjournment
OF the two Houses. The House of ltepresen-
tati'es, with that feeling which sense of JUS
t.ce was calculated TO inspire, instituted a
COMMITTEES to investigate the subject, and
Clothed II with power TO send for persons and
papers. On the 2lst, resolution was sub
united by me, which was not agreed to, to
communicate the fact TO the Executive. On
another day, nearly similar resolution was
offered by another gentleman. On the 22d,
the COMMITTEES reported part Of their pro-
ce"dngs, and advised this House that they had
ordered the Messenger of the House to pursue
Mr. Edwards, for the purpose of calling him
before them. This messenger left the city of
Washington on the 24th. To make the great
er speed, he passed by Baltimore, under the
absurd pretext that he was liable 10 be inter-
rnpled in his journey by the usage of the stage
office giving preference TO other passengers, as
II 1t were possible forany stage coach usage TO
arrest fhe messenger of this House. He went
down the river from Wheeling, and arrived
at Louisville on the Sd; and we are now in
formed that 1t is impossible he can arrive here
before the 4th of next msnth. In what stu
ation, sir, shall we be placed if this investiga-
ton be suspended if the House adjourns
without wal!inS for this individual? What
was the object of the address in which the
charges have been preferred? To defend the
reputation of the late Senator from Illinois |?
To defend himself! How? By accusation
| of another Ii is not worth while to mince
matters IN case Of this kind. 1t is impossi-
BILE for any individual
| Mr.. TRIMBLE, of Kentucky, here rUse, with
permission OF MIR. Forsyth, TO explain, that
the Messenger Of the House, il going by Bal
iimore, had acted by the advice Of Others who
knew, by experience, that it was the surest
route, with "a view to expedition.
Mr.. FORSYTH disclaimed any intention to
blame the messenger, having no doubt he had
acfed upon advice and information Of others
there certainly was day lost by his taking
that route. Mr.. +. resumed his argument-
II is Impossible, said he, for a0y member Of
the House To read this Address, to believe
that the object Of the person making the
charges was to punish the individual charged
through the agency of the powers of thi.
House. Ny own impressions are, that the in
dividuaI expected that his address would b,
printed under the sanction Of the House, anC
| that no further notice would be taken Off
and that il would be the foundation for assail
ing the reputation Of the individual whom
he