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

retire from this Hall. hope no measure viii
be adopted which will cast suci: rejection on
this House
Mr.. FORSYTH said, he certainly meant no re.
LECTION upon the House, ar upon the committee
to whom the subject might be referred. But,
he SAID, the Constitution of the United States
believes the members OF this House to ue liable
to corruption, and not only them, but every of:
! hcer OF the government, from the highest to the
lowest IL believes that the President of the
| United States might be capable of bribery OF
the lowest speccS-that he might be capable of
such offences, that, upon conviction of them, by
the tribunal to which he is ameua5e he might
be hung by the NECK like sheep stealing dog
! We the Representatives of the People, SAID ne.
are called upon to act between the President OF
the United States and the People. l. Tor one,
will not place n,yseit'in situation in which iin-
putations OF corrupt motives can be thrown on
my character. Even in the case of the Presi-
| dent vi the United States, however high his
station, however sacred his person IN the eyes OF
| the community, | will not do ii. sill not do
| II tor amy living man. As to the suggestions Of
delicacy tn the President, said NJ. I. something
! Is due 20 ourselves. lie has consulted his DELI
cacv for seven years at least. let US consult
ours for few weeks. By referring this mes
sage, even with the proposed instructions, you
do tor the President what you would not do for
| auN pluer III we we've 10 treat ms
case do those of other Individuals, what
should we say We should say, where are the
evidences i'll support of your clains? Let thcm
DC presented. and they shall be presented to tue
committee of claims, and severely sCruiiuizcd.
! The President, however wants no such thing
rs tins. He knows better the de!icacy of his
| t,Iation. He tells YOU that YOU cannot with
proprIety award him money. The same objec-
ton applies with equal force to an assertion of
facts, As to Il vote OF money, by the House. In
either case, a judgement is to be formed OF them
by the members OF the committee which has
the subject under consideration. The juls
nent Of an individual, in such case, may be
operated upon by corruption, direct or Indirect,
&c. Far be il iom me. sand be-. to iusuuate
That such thing IS probable, even possible.
IN reference 10 the members of any committee
OF this House. But the Constitution of the
United States slpposes such thing 10 be pos
Srbe. If not probaJic: and. MIR. +. said, SO far
As lie was concerned, he was determined that
no such imputation should apply to him.
Air. lNGHhM SAID, he had understood the
gentleman from Georgia as saving, that he
meant not 10 impute to the members of this
House the possibility of the operation of any
corrupt or improper motive in regard to the in
vesti@atlon of the subject now before the House:
and yet tie whole course of his observations
went to show the possibility, if not probability
ot such an influence. Mr.. said he should be
glad to understand what the gentleman really
intended by his observations.
Mr.. foaslTH said he did not know that he
coall say any thing, of INV description of men,
"hch wuuidmOre completely convey his meaning
than the terms which lie had used. For the sa.
tlsiactlon OF the gentleman, however, he would
state that he cast no mpu'ation on the com
mlttec which might he selected to take this case
- but hot L.a,
sent to vote money to pay tine claim of any
President, old or new, nor for the affirmation of
facts III regard TO it, so long as that President
continued IN Office: the reason why ne would
not, was to DC touna IN the relation of the mem
bers OF this House to the President of the Uni !
ted States as the source OF patronage and power.
IL did not suppose the present President to be |
disposed TO avail himself of the means of cor
rlpuon but he could do so if ne pieased-the |
constitution supposed him to be capable of doing |
it-and, said Mr.. f. whilst | have a seat on
tins floor, will not consent to act in any capa-
city which might subject me to an irnputation,
remote or near, stronr or weak, against my re-
preventative character.
MIR LINCOLN entertained no doubt but that |
The most rigid scrutiny INTO the transactions re-
terted to by the President, would rebound to the
honor OF the President. But he question was
as to tie proPrlety of accompanying the com
mtment OF the message to select committee
with instructions. Were it referred TO a stand
ing committee, the House would know what
course II might expect such committee to take
IN relation to the subject. The House had
every confidence in the discretion of its stand
ing committees, and were acquainted with the
forms and customary modes of proceeding in
those committees. But, sand Mr.. l.. should we
commit the subject to a committee without in
strucuoHs, we do not know, with the same
cIcarneSs, the views which will actuate and
guide that committee. Mr.. l.. knew it was the
opinion OF many members IN this House, and of
many persons out OF 1t, that when citizen had
served his country long and faithfully in i'm
Portant trusts, it was just that he should not re
tire without some distinguished and signal mark
of the public gratitude. iIe presumed no such
purpose was entertained now; il it was, it should
De presented distinctly. Mr. j.. did not view
this rs a question Of particular dcicacy. Ii was
IN affair OF business. which might, without anv
improperly, go to standing committee. But, if
Motif it was thought more proper, or respect +
sense wishes of the House go with it, in the
shape OF Instructions. I, said Mr.. L. feel no
istrust OF any committee, Or of any member of
this House. We are all, | hope, honorable
men. But governments were established on
the presumption of the impertectlon Of human
discretion, and human honesty. If men we're !
perfect, why any laws; why urics; why any
for cXaCtng JUSTICE why not sar to
all, DO what is rght-wc fear not injustice or
For my part, said Mr.. j., though
feeling every proper confidence in the members
Of this body, do not thiulS an election to this
House an indubita5e certificate OF honesty aud
discretion, or proof that membnr's vi,,rs
must necessarily be correct. WHY should the
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