Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-01-18

10 select committee. lie hoped a select CON
inttee would be appointed, and that the whole
matter would be entrusted to them for inycsti-
CATION.
Mr.. HAMILTON, of S. Carolina, said. that he
tnought that 1t was not an unin portant portion of
the enquiry before the House. i'm reference In
tIe discretion which II was proper to rive the
message OF the President, TO ascertain what had
ncci us usual practice IN similar cases; and
whilst he cordially subscribed to the republican
aoclrineol the gentleman from New Hampshire
mat the Chief magistrate of this nation was en-
uted to no higher privileges of Justice than tl,e
funniest man IN our country, he would under.
take 10 say, that, IN the present instance it was
'ereiy attempted To give TO this officer the same
measure ot justice and comfy which was usual
ly accorded TO private claimant under such cir.
cumstances. Without going over an ip(initv of
private claims, IN which their merits had been
investigated and discussed by select committees
ne would aiIude to two cases at the last session.
because they were familiar TO all who heard him.
ihese were the accounts OF the Vice President.
VIZ. IomphIns, and the claims of Major Plat
cases which would be recollectej. rs tboy nod
challenged large portion of the interest and
sympathy of the House. Nor was il necessary
10 advert TO the reference made 10 a select conn
mutec during the present session. for the pur-
pose OF considering the services and sacrifices of
distinguished individual, except il might be
Tor the purpose OF inlulging in the delightful
qualification which had been feltamonr ourselves
and by the country at large, at the manner in
winch that committee had SO MOLLY discharged
their duty.
WIZ. III. SAID, that ii was sound rule of prac-
ice In that House, 10 refer claims of a miscella-
neous character to select committees; aud. in the
! ,.yt,, 4 Il II
us? That all It's pecuniary transactions with the
government, spread over useful life of upwards
OF forty years public service, should be inyosti
gated, and even upon the strictest principles. if
he should be found debtor, that he might dis
charge the consequent obligation, and have the
evening OF ms life undisturbed even bv fin,
breath oil suspicion. That the President was
not mere volunteer in this matter woud he
OBVIOUS, when ii was recollected al the last ses
SON. that something had been int;mated that at
least a portion of his peculiarly transactions.
with an agent of the public, required explana-
ton.
The gentleman from Delaware had asked what
this committee was to investigate as no snecific
claims had been stated Mr.. III said tbat he AL
not pretend TO know, from any source of antho-
rlty' what were the precise extent, nature. and
character OF the claims in question; but, if he
had even less information than he really had on
the SUBJECT, he would at least be dispospd I'm do
the Executive the justice TO believe, that. when
he sent message founded on their a lleoed ex
istence, that they not only existed but were en-
tltled TO the respect and attention of this House
ne mad, however, no objection to stale. that
ne mad casually learnt that the claims in question
were, Tor services rendered by the Presi.jent in
H'Piohiatic character abroad, and expenditures
incurred IN such services; and that. whilst the
/ thprY -
clsely OF the same character, the adjustment of
his own had been iniuriousIv withheld imne
olateiy alter his return from Europe The cause
Oh tne delay IN their settlement, prior to his
! coming into the Department of State, durino
tue period oil his retirement in Virginia, those
VINO knew hlm could easily solve, By his habitual
disregard Tor money, and from the easy pene-
roStty winch characterized his efforts in relation
10 all gains that were personal to himself
But really, said Mr.. II. he presumed that the
OBJECT OF every gentleman was the same, pre-
clse entertainment Of the facts connected with
theSe CLAIMS, and with the accounts of the Pre-
siueht generally, whilst this Individual was at the
seat OF Government, and would have it in his
power 10 furnish both testimony and explanation.
The President did not ask, but had expressly
repu'!Iated the idea of any decision on the ms
tice oil the claims during the term of his Office
All ne wiSlei ot you was, that when evidence
could De c objected without Inconvenience, that
you should take the proper means of collatiner il
ihdeed, ne had all along, even when Secretary
Oh state, or whilst In public Office, refrain ed
from pressing settlement from scruDulous
dehcacl, that was worthy of the highest com
mendatIon. The simple question then is. ourbt
these claims to be referred TO the committee of
Grains, constantly and oppressiyeiy burjenad
WIN suPerabundance of business, or ourht
theY not rather TO be sent to a committee raised
specially for the purpose, who could have time
10 investigate them fully, notwithstanding their
possibly miscellaneous character, and report the
facts for an Interior and future decision of this
House, when the distinguished individual 10
whom they relate, should be beyond the exercise
oi power and patronage? This was all that ne
asked, " as little as we could well accord to him.
Mr. IL. said in concluding, he had but one
remark to make in reply to the observation of
Hie gentleman from New Hampshire, .sthat Sc
'ect committees were usually partial" He
thought this objection was practically obyated
by the power which the Speaker had, at least in
this case, to make his selection of the commit
tee from the whole House, without the smallest
Limitation whatsoever except as TO number.
Inc JudIcIous exercise of the power, by the per-
son VINO now hIied the chair, was guaranteed by
the intelligence, Grmuess, and indepcndencc.
which uniformly characterized his conduct.
He, therefore, hoped that the gentlemen who
had opposed it, would perceive the reasonable
ness OF making the reference to a select commit
tee, and not to the committee of claims. both on
the grounds Of precedent, right, and expcdiency.
and would aifJrd to their venerable Chief Ma
gIslrate the same privilege and facilities which
had been yielded to others
Mr.. Cooke, of Tennessee, observed. that it
had not been his intention to say single word
on this subject; but it would be recolected that,
at the last session, the gentleman from South