Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-02-08


would not have been considered entitled to
credit, h. him, any one else, very few except
lei, IN TINS House or this nation. He viewed
| the whole matter as an out d1o, business. Aa
| anonymous letter had appeared III public print
and certain cards had passed between indiy itluals
~ relation to IT; but with these the House had no
concern-neither OF these commune ations was
before 1t. IT indeed any thing had passed trithir
tue House, diSrespectful either to the person or
character of the Speaker, such was his regard
tor the station, such his respect for the feelings
and such his admiration of the character of that
officer, that lie should certainly be one of the
ilart to afford him the Investigation which he re-
quested and which would then be his undoubt-
ed right To assert his rights orredress his wrongs
But as that was not the case, lie thought any
further prosecution of the business would mere
y be throwing firebrand into the nation that
would llindIe flame in almost every breast
within 1T. He hoped the House would not pro-
coed hastily on this subject The nation was
already much excited 1t looked towards this
/ House with Jealous eye. Ii needed no further
cause of excitement than the present iunc,ure
naturally presented. And was II wise, in such
a state of things, TO make an anonymous news
! paper communication an affair of legislation
and OF question here? The subject had como
upon the House suddenly-he believed, unex-
pectedly. Ii addressed itself strongly to the
feelings OF gentlersen. For one, he would ac-
ledge, 1t had powerfully affected his own
lie was not prepared now to discuss it; but gen
tlcmen could not but perceive at glance that
1t embraced questions, too important by far TO
be acted upon hastily. His own view was, that
the House ought not to act upon ii at ALL espe-
caily not at this moment on sudden suggcs-
ton, when he was persuaded many members of
the House did not even know what were the
contents the publications referred to, and of
the communication which related TO them He
hoped the House would take time to reflect upon
the course which, under all the circumstances
the interest OF the nation required
Mr.. FoRsYTH said he had BY 10 means q de-
sire unnecessarily to press the consideration of
this subject. But, said lie, what are we con-
versing about? communication from the
Speaker. Where is it? 1t is verbally given to
us. There must be some notice taken of il.
How: The Journal must either state the words
OF the communication, the Clerk must I'm
dertake To state the substance of 1t. Now, if
tins communication had been of the character
OF other addresses from the Speaker of this
House, IT would go on the Journal as a matter
OF course. 1t had been announced b\ the Chair
however, that such was not the case ana mo-
non ilau become necessary 10 procure ITS inser-
ton in the Journal. When ii is placed where
II ought To be, he had not the slightest objection
| that decision upon the motion ion the appoInt-
ment of Committee on the Subject should be
/ w 81, II
later, SAID MIR. F. determine Whether 1t is pro-
per that an investigation of this mater shall take
place or not i am myself now ready to decide
that question, but should Dot be sorry if the
decision should be delayed. The only question
now before the House, was, whether the matter
should be entered on tie Journal
MI McLANE, of Delaware, observed, that,
If the present question rested only on what had
passed out of the House, he should acouiesce
the OpDon RYDresced bN tha s..
south Carolina but he thought that the course
winch this affair had taken ,Cittiil the House
had gone TO vary, very materially, its general
character: and the House, perhaps, would find
itself bound, under these circumstances. TO
prosecute the inquiry. How stands the case?
asked Mr. Mel. The Speaker com plains, that
certain charges have beer made against his
Conduct, originally in auanonymous publication,
OF which member OF the House has since yir-
tuaily acknowledged himself to be the author.
An honorable member rises IN his place, and
aVoWs the charges as having been made bv him
and backs that avowal, by inviting an inquiry
into their truth. The charges themselves are
wcghty and important; and, if proved undobt-
edly draw after them all the consequences
winch nave been stated The charges are
made by a member in bis place. That mem
Der asks an nyesiigaton-thc Speaker of this
House, against whom the charges are preferred,
asks the same. For his part, the request
being made by the Speaker and reiterated on
the other side, he was perfectly willing to award
the investigation asked for.
Mr.. MERCER again rose. In what he had
suggested when first up, hc said he had no IN
tenIon TO object TO the institution of "a Commit
tee TO inquire into this suboct:-his onl; diff
Guilty was, as to the mode OF proceeding, &C.
w Ith reference To the suggestion, that this was
personal affair between the two gentlemen
conccrncd SO far from considering that fact an
objection to inquiry, IT would with him be an
argument III favor of it. If appraised of any
such controversy between members Of this
House, he should, for his own part, have held
himself socHnly bound as member of this
llouse-as a citizen OF this COuntry-a, =
I iI1etau, to uterpose the authority 81 this
House, to prevent any such consequences az
might result from it. He held 1t 10 be tht,dutv
of every member of tins House to take such
measures as would prevent such consequences.
tbs course had been pursued III England. and
had been attempted here &c. Mr.. NJ made
some further observations, the import of Which
was, that he did not think form in tins matter
very material, though he thought it would have
been better If the communication of the Speaker
had been made in writing.
MIR. sacks, of Tennessee, said that he
rose as well to express his regret at tire
course this subject had taken, as to- express
very briefly ms views Of the question before
the House. Mr.. !. said that the honorable
Speaker had thought proper, by am address 10
the House, to ask an inquiry into transaction
IN which he felt himself deeply implicated. The
member from Pennsy lvauia alluded to in TIN,
address, had risen in his place, and expressed
an entire WILLINGNESS and desire tIof ~ ;,,o;