The central gazette. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1820-1827, 1825-02-19


repeal Of that famous law might be
considered as a calamity rather than u
blessing.-Thus regarding the cons,itu-
tio0al power Of the House, and the ma
ture OF that which was proposed to be
exercised in my case, have determined
Under a deep sense of duty to myself
and my constituents, not to submit 10 a
procedure fraught with such dangerous
consequences. l, therefore, protest
most solemnly against the assumption,
OF any jurisdiction either by the Com
mittee or by the House Of Representa-
tive, that shall jeopardize my rights to
communicate freely to my constituents
whatever, may believe necessary for
the public good. 1t is not my intention,
in the slightest degree, to impeach the
character either Of the COMMITTEE or
the House for which ! have great res
pect and the authority Of which within
its constitutional sphere, regard it my
pride Il my duty to sustain. In, refusing
to submit to the authority Of the House,
as the writer Of the letter before allud-
ed to, it may be proper to remark, in
explanation of the admission which
may seem to have made Of its jurisdic-
ton, whatever assent 1 may have given,
was done hastily, relying on the con-
scious rectitude Of my conduct, aud re-
gardlng my own case without having re-
fiected duly on the dangerous principles
involved in the proceeding, aud cannot,
therefore be considered as waive Of.
my right.
The Committee will observe that the
honorable Speaker, in his card, had
chosen 10 make this matter a personal
question with the then unknown writer
Of the letter. After due reflection, l
determined at all hazards not to con-
ceal the fact of being the author of the
letter, and did not expect, by this DIS
closure, to enable the honorable Spea-
ker to place me under the jurisdiction
of the House. His appeal was sudden
and unexpected, and, if any admission
was made without due regard to all the
circumstances and principles ofthe case
it would be no matter of surprise. In
declining the jurisdiction of the Com
mittee and the House, 1 feel the author
ity of another tribunal, before which
shall cheerfully appear. and bring for
ward forthwith, those facts and circum-
stances which, in my opinion, fully au-
thoriZe the statements contained in my
letter. These l shall spread before my
constituents, TO whom am amenable
for all my conduct while am honoured
with seat in this House. and shall
never hesitate when the correctness of
my conduct is brought in question:, to
attempt my vindication before them
and while sustained by them, and the
conviction Of my own conscience. shall
never be deferred from the performance
OF my duty here or elsewhere. In pre-
senting my protest, j have gone on the
snpposition that it was the intention of
the House, in raising n committee, to
hold me responsible to its jurisdiction,
as the writer of the letter which has
caused the present proceeding. There
is however, another view Of this subject,
which deserves notiee.-ft may he in
ferred. from the note of the committee
that it is not so much it's intention, in
requesting my attendance to take iuris-
diction over me, as TO avail themselves
Of my testimony, which the speaker has
requested to have investigated BY the
House. In this view, my objection to
attending is no less decisive than the
one already considered. 1t would al
ways afford me pleasure, when imperi-
Gus duty did not forbid,to give all the in
formation in my power to an investiga-
sion. which may be deemed by the House
important to the character of any of
its members; but circumstanced as I
am, it is manifest, if / should p pear be-
fore the committee. / must be consider
ed not so much in the light Of mere
witness as that of an accuser, present.
ing charges against the Speaker Of the
House, and these charges not the spe
sific statement contained in my letter,
but the more general and indefinite. |
ones, into which the Speaker has sought
inquiry. 1t is manifest that the differ
ence viii be great between the atti-
tude in which should thus be placed |
and the one in which now stand, and |
which duty TO myself and my eonstitu-
ents forbid me TO abandon. In coming
to this determination, am not governed
by any disposition to retract or modify |
any thing contained in my letter, which |
was written under conviction Of its be- |
ing true, and important to be known
But there are many things which we
are bound to communicate to those we
represent, which prudence and duty
world both forbid being presented to
the House in the form OF accusations. |