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

fupt bargains If he answer ''YcsN-what is
the course TO he pursued, Will any gentleman
say this is not serious Charge and one which
the House is competent to punishe Would the
rnenbers Of the House permit one, who. either
IN his character oflegislator or elector, was gull.
ty OF corrupt bargaining, any longer to pollute
this floor
There seems To exist difficulty in deternin-
ing between the intention and the act. But
corrupt bargain is stated to have been made; and,
on proof of the fact, the constitution has given
TO the House the power of expulsion. There
can arise discussion as to the deserts of an ill.,
dividval against whom such charge can be made
good. Any member, operated upon by ru,nours,
or influenced by feelings of jealousy, NAV charge
another with corrupt practices, and it is compe-
tent to the House to- punish, by reprimand or by
expulsion. The only course for man of honor
and responsibility, in such circumstances, is to
appeal TO the House. This is the place where
the examination should take place, aud the sen
tence be awarded. He cannot enter into a
newspaper contest, without provoking public
derislon. He IS considered as degrading himself
when he cutters into that arena. 1t is so custom
airy to view paragraphs in the newspapers as Ell
ther electioneerng tricks, time-serying sQuibs
that no high-mnded man can enter into a CON
test OF that nature, without injury to himself
The press which we have heard cried up as the
palladium and boast of liberty, is no longer the
support OF innocence, nor even the sCourge of
guilt What is the alternative, then, which is
! left to the upright mana-He must throw himself
on the Judgment of his peers. As to the power
| which exists in this House to act in such cases.
| there can be no question whatsoever. There
can be no question as to its power To appoint
committee. The only question s-Does this
| matter require the interference of tie House,
The Crime, indeed, has not been consurnrnatcd.
fle would put case to the consideration of the
House.
Suppose individual presents a demand
against the United States for considerable sum
Ofinoney He discovers person who has great
weight and influence; and, with view to ensure
success i'll his projects he assais the integrity of
a member, and gives him bride TO secure lis
vote. The fact is proved. Is il not. th,n n, in
the power of the House 10 punish before the act
for which the bride is given, has been consum-
mattel? Should such fact come before the House
he Contended that the House would be bound 10
Inilict instant punishment. The charge which
is the basis of the communication to the House,
IS, that the presiding officer has consented 10 give
his influence to certain candidate, and, for it.
is to rccelvc-whato place ofprnfit and pow
er. If the charge, upon investigation, should
be found true, the delinquent. however elevated
false the accuser would be obnoxions To the pun
ishment of the House. The ca e ought TO be
sent to the committee. Thatcomulittee will en-
terinto the necessary investigation, and come to
the House for the necessary power.
Mr.. TUCKER, of Virginia, considered that the
House ought not to hesitate in the course which
it should pursue. Ii precedent were neccs-
sary 10 enable us to act il would be found i'm the
case Of the individual who was, at the last ses.
sion, appointed Minister of Mexico and who
had preferred charges against an elevated officer
ofthe Government. A cOm;nittee was instantly
appointed to investigate the charges and a re
port had been made 10 the House. He was sor-
ry me had not been able to near the argument of
his colleague, (Mr. Archcr,) against the mea-
sure. He was unable to reply to his objections,
as he had not been SO FORTUNATE as to hear them;
but he was himself of opinion, that the House.
if it would actconSistently, could not refuse this
committee. Ehe character OF this House is the
property of The nation; and when a member us
es IN his place and asks for an Investigation into
charges which have been made against him. he
did not understand on what groun the House
| could refuse TO go into the inquiry. If a mem
| Der rises, who stands on the same footing with
ourselves, we owe II to ourselves to institute an
inquiry.
MIR. WRIGHT, of Ohio, said, ifhe understood
quiry, it on the ground that no specific
charges had been made against the presiding
officer of the House; but that the whole of the of
fcnspe matter consisted ofvague rumors He
| Thought that, if gentlemen would examine the
paper, they would find that there was a charge
of direct and positive act committed bv the
| Speaker and which ought to be at this time
investigated. He thought there was a direct
and positive charge by another gentleman, who
had on this oor, avoWcd his knowledge ofthc ORR
! gin of the Chargc--that the Speaker had con
ditioned for himself and his friends, to support
! the claims of a particular candidate for the Pre-
sidency. How, then, does it become the House
! to act on this OCCASION If a member of the
! House mad entered INTO corrupt bargain,
ought tie House to wait for the contamination
/ oi the ac;, or 10 expei the member before tie
/ measure can be effected? He would say, the
! House should examine the facts, and come 10
decision before the corruption can be effected
! lie wished TO call the attention of the House,
/ while he examined the document on which this
proceeding is founded, and pointed out It's true
! character. If he understood the letter. the
writer declares himself able to give information
of transaction which will covert tile republican
ranks with infarny, and lay tue axe to the root
of the tree of liberty. lie asserts that he will
give an account of a r1ost corrupt bargain; and
| goes on to state that, Tor some tune past, the
friends of Mr.. Clay had hinted that they, like
the Swiss, would fight for those who would pay
them best. lie (the writer,) states that che
was of opinion when he first heard of this trans
action, that men protesting any honorable
| principle, could not nor would not he trans
! fcrred, like the planter does his negroes or the
| farmer his team and horses.n THUS the writer
proceeds to state disbelief, in the first Instance
Of the report; but ne goes to SAY, that, contra
| ~ to this expectation, il IS now asccrtaiucd, TO
| n cert ni1,i.. Lhni Henry Glnr L.. ~. f..r-.l