Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-03-31

AAheA uASSoiutAoh, ous NAA' 1AiShiSA T" ~
called upon by it to bring forward his
proofs. For one moment be. pleased
to stop here and contemplate his pos
ture, his relation to the House and to
me- and the high obligations under
which he had voluntarily placed him
self. He was a member Of one of the
most august assemblies upon earth, of
Of which he was bound to defend the
purity, or expose the corruption, by
every consideration which ought to in
f1uence patriot bosom. A most re-
sponsible and highly important consti-
tutional duty was TO be performed by
that assembly. He had chosen, in an
anonymous letter, to bring against its
presiding officer charges, in respect to
that duty, of the most Hagitious charac-
ter. These charges comprehended dele
cations from several highly respectable
states. If true, that presiding officer
merited not only to be dragged from
the chair, but to be expelled the House.
He challenges an investigation Of
his conduct, and Mr. Kremer boldly
accepts the challenge, and promises to
sustain his accusation. The commit
tee, appointed by the House itself, with
the common consent of both parties,
calls upon Mr.. Kremer 10 execute his
pledge, publicly given in his proper
place, and also previously given in the
public prints. Here is the theatre OF
the alleged arrangements; this the vi
cinage in which the trial ought to take
place. Every thing was here fresh in
the recollection Of the witnesses, if
there were any. Here all the proofs
were concentrated. Mr.. Kremer was
stimulated by every motive which
could mpel to action, by consistency
of character by duty to his constitu-
ents--to his country; by that of re-
deeming his solemn pledge; by his
anxious wish for the success of his ia
vouritc, whose interests could not fail
to be advanced by supporting his afro
ciou5 c.srgcs. But Mr.. Kremer had
now tie benefit of the advice of his
friends. He had no proofs, for the
plainest OF all reasons, because there
was no truth in his charges. They
saw that to attempt to establish them,
and to fail, as he must fail, in the at
tempt, might lead TO an exposure of
the conspiracy, OF what he was the or
gan. They advised therefore that he
should make retreat, and their adroit-
ness suggested that, in an objection to
that jurisdiction of the House, which
had been admitted, and in the popular
topics of the freedom of the press, his
duty to his constituents, and the inc
quality in the condition Of the Speaker
of the House and member on the floor,
plausible means might be found to de-
ceivc the ignorant and conceal his dis
grace. A laboured communication
was accordingly prepared by them, in
Mr.. Kremer's name, and transmitted
to the committee, founded upon these
suggestions. Thus the valiant cham
pion, who had boldly stepped forward,
and promised, as a Representative of
the people, to "cry aloud and spare not,
forgot all his gratuitous gallantry and
boosted patriotism, and sunk at once
into profound silence.
With these remarks, l will, for the
present, leave him, and proceed to as
sign the reasons to you, to whom alone
l admit myself to be officially respon-
sible, for the vote which l gave on the
Presidential election. The first inqui-
ry which it beloved me to make was,
as to the influence which ought to be
exerted on my judgment, by the rela-
tive state Of the electoral votes which
the three returned candidates brought
into the house, from the colleges. Gen.
Jackson obtained SO, Mr.. Adams s8,
and Mr.. Crawford Al. Ought the fact
of plurality being given to one Of the
candidates to have any, and what,
weight? If the Constitution had intend
ed that it should have been decisive,
the Constitution would have made it
decisive, and interdicted the exercise
of any discretion on the part OF the
House of Representatives. The Con-
stitution has not so ordained, but, on
the contrary, it has provided, that from
the persons having the highest num-
bers, not exceeding three, on the list
of those voted for as President, the
House of Representatives shall choose
Immediately, by ballot, President.
Thus, discretion is necessarily invest
ed in the House; for choice implies ex-
animation, comparison, Judgment
The fact, therefore, that one OF the
three persons was the highest returned
not being, by the constitution OF the
country, conclusive upon the Judgment
of the House, it still remains to deter
mine what is the true degree OF weight
belonging to it? 1t has been commended
that it should operate, if not as an In
struction, at least in the nature OF one;
and that in this form it should control
the Judgment Of the House. But this
is the Same argument of conclusive