Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-03-22

"a, '"iii"'", Nertnan, Giles, Gilman, Good
rcn, gregg, Iiorsey, Howell, Leib, Llovd
Ncid, Smith, of Md. Smith, of ". Y. TAYLOR
Turner, Varnum, Worthinpton.
Those who voted IN the negative, are,
"Messrs Anderson. Bib, Bradley, Brent
Lambert Pope, TAFT
$50 il was
heSofred, That the nomination of JAMES
MONROE, Esq. to be Secrelar, for the Depart.
ineht OF State be referred to "A select committee.
To inquire and report thereon.
"Ordeled, That Mr.. Giles, Mr. Crawford,
and Nr Blob, be the Cominitteen
Alr. Crawford and Mr.. Bib were associated
WIN me on The Committee. Two ufthe most
ardent and determine friends of Mr. VI. Both
highmInded honorable Gentlemen, aud perfect
! ~ acceptable TO me associates. As soon AS
F, inc committee was announced, both these Cen
tte'nen, IN their usual frank and honorable
manner, called on me, and instructed me to
proceed informally To the Treasury Dcpart
'hent, To call upon the accounting officers. and
To examine with them, such of Mr. Ms ac-
counts IN relation to his several foreign mis-
s'ohs''as tho"ght proper AMI If they appeared
To be OF character to require further consider.
a'ion, 10 report to them accordinglv.-f per
formed this duty Immediately, and reportcd 10
The Gentlemen that had examined the accounts
anu vouchers, and that, in my Judgment they
were oi a character to require further considera-
ton; ana proceeded, of course to describe the
S%hci di character of 'ne accounts, well As
could.-l was then instructed TO order comics of
all thought proper, for their further considera-
ton. Immediately ordered copies of all. and
as an act q. justice TO MIR. Monroe the book
! or paper WHICH he had written in support of the
disputed items. D.. soon these copies were OBJ
tanned, laid them hefo,c the committee. TIE
committee after full consiloSa alton of all the ac-
counts, and full and free commas, IN of opinion
with each other, respecting them, INSTR, ed me
TO make the following repu:t; which did on ,hc
<3th NOV 1871, eleven dai : after the nou,ina-
ton had been committed, full time for consider
@''on ana reelection III the then state OF excite
tnemt, and anxiety respecting the innortant
nomination OF Secretary of state, made under
'hc very peculiar circumstances attending this
case and IN the MIDST of various rumors then
alioat, respecting these accounts:
'MoNpAy, Nov. %, 1911.
"Mr. CUES, from the Committee To whom
was referred, the l4th INST the nurrination Of
JAMES MoNRoF, to he Secretary Tor the
department OF State, reported. "That they
haVe examined the accounts of Mr. Monroe
while acting as Foreign Minister, am, find
nothing therein TO Justify the rejection of the
nomination."
wv herenPon, on the question, "Wi!i the
senate consent ana All, isc Ia the appointment
| 10 tUC HOiNIal!OI'."
''lt was unanimously determined in fine air.
mative-Yeas sou
1t will be here observed, that This report con-
! talns very lett handed compliment 10 Mir
| honroes diplomatic accounts; more c,ucciaIly.
when II IS rcCocctcd, that it was 3lctated nv
! ms most ardent and determined friends Dses
'als report go TO Shcw that the committee thong i.t
there was nothing wrong in these accounts
Certainly not; hui the inference is Just The re-
! verse. Suppose the committee had found these
/ accounts perfectly fair and honorable. and set
! Tied according to law. and the rules of the Trea-
! sury Department.; would they not have taken
/ great pleasure in saying SOP The enquiry being
I general, ought they not in Justice TO have said
so' Certainly they ought and woud-Thc
/ committee SAID no such thing. Yet they said
"i they could say, in favor of the accounts
but tins expression OF opinion b. the Commit
! tee, Is mere accompany of the substan-
! tial part OF the report Itself That consisted
| essentially in the accounts themselves which
/ had been laid before the committee. The re-
! port entered on the journals. is the mere opin
ION the committee entertained of the character
Of the accounts, themselves which every mem
| Der of the Senate bad an equal right TO exer-
else, for himself, upon his own view of them.
, Before further examination of the merits of
tins report, let ii be seen what is proved by If:
and how tar supports or refutes the allegations
OF the publication. The publication asserts
that the writer had officially seen and consider
ed Mr.. M's diplomatic accounts The fact is
! proved. II is further proved, that two other
! Gentlemen, saw aud considered them nj the
same time. Ii is to be inferred, that ACCORDING
to the usual course of dong business, the whole
| Senate and considered The same accounts
and that they now are, or ought to be- on the
files of the Senate; and that if produced, they
would prove essentially all tue statements CON
tanned in the publication respecting them; or
why not produce them? What do these jour
mails rctutc' They refute nothing: But by fair
inference, confirm every thing. Let the reader
ask himself, whether the items mentioned i'm
the publication, are, or not contained IN the
accounts. The Journals do not tell hirn.
The committee report, that they have exam
med the accounts of Nr. Monroe, while acting
as foreign minister, and find nothing therein
to Justify the rejection of the nomination. The
committee do not here tell the Senate what they
did find in them; but tat they find notl,in@
in them, to justify the rejection of the noinina,
| ton. This deficiency was made up BY report
/ ing the accounts themselves. The enquiry then
arose; what would, or would not Justify the
Senate IN tie rejection Of the nomination, in the
peculiar relation to it in which the Senate was
/ then placed What were the peCuliarities of
| thC case? In our external relations, war with c.
/ Britain staring us III the face our other foreign
relations unpleasant. st home. lhe cabinet
/ torn TO pieces by dissentiOns. Mr.. Smith, the
former Secretary Of State, having resigned, and
published the causes of his resignation, which
sufficiently showed the deraDgcd state of the
cabinet. The President known to be extreme
/ ~ anxious that Mr.. Monroe should supply the
/ place Of MIR. Smith, and tenacious of his right
/ to select his own secretary. The nomination Of
the ScCrotarl Of State. being AZ all tllnes CON.