Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-04-14

NtOhs 10y wv ~ Az
ought TO influence a patriot bosom. A
most responsible and highly important
constitutional duty was to be perform
ed by that assembly. He had chosen,
in all anonymous letter, 10 bring against
its presiding officer charges, in respect
to that duty soi the most hasatious cnar-
acter.
These charges comprehended delega-
tons from several highly respectable
states. | ftrue, that presiding officer
merited not merely to be dragged from
the chair, but TO be expelled the house.
He challenges an Investigation into his
conduct, and Mr.. Kremer boldly ac-
cepts the challenge, and promises to
sustain his accusation. The committee
appointed by the house itself. With the
common consent of both parties, calls
upon Mr.. kremer to execute bis pledge,
publicly given in his proper place, and
also previously gwen III the public
prints. Here is the theatre of the al
legged arrangements; this the vicinage in
which the trial ought TO take place.
Every thing was here fresh in tie recol-
lection of tue witnesses, if there we're
any. Here all the proofs were o
centrated. Mr.. kremerwas stimulated
by every motive which could impel to
action; by consistency of character;
by duty to h,s.constttuents-so his coun-
try; by that of redeeming his solemn
pledge; by his anxious wish for the sue
cess OF his favorite, whose interests
| could not fail TO be advanced by sup
/ porting his,alroeious charges. But MIR.
| Kremer had now the benefit of tie adj
/ vice of his friends. lie had no proofs,
for the plainestot all reasons, because
their was no truth In his charges.-Ihey
saw that 10 attempt TO establish them,
! and to fail, as he must fail, in the at
tempt, might lead to an exposure of
the conspiracy, of which he was the or
gan. They advised therefore that he
should make a retreat, and their adroit-
ness suggested that, in an objection TO
the jurisdiction Of the house, which had
been admitted, and in the popular to-
pics OF the freedom oil the press, has duty
to his constituents, and the inequality
of the condition of the speaker of the
house and a member on the floor, plau
sibie means might be found to deceive
fhe ignorant, and conceal bis disgrace.
A labored communication was accor-
DINGHY prepared by them, in Mr. KS.
name, and transmittedsto the commit
tee. founded upon these suggestions.
Thus The valiant champion, who had
boldly stepped forward, and promised,
as a representative OF the people, to
'cry aloud and spare not" forgot all
his gratuitous gaIlantry and boosted
patriotism, and sunk at once into pro-
found silence.
With these remarks, will, for the
present, leave him, and proceed to as
IN the reasons to you, to whom alone,
| admit myself to be officially response
BILE, for the vote which | gave on the
presidential election. The first inqni-
~ 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 "a,
and Dir. Crawford Al. Ought the fact
of a plurality being given TO one OF the
candidates to have had any, and what,
weight? If the constitutes had IN
tended that il shouidhave been decisive,
the constitution would have made It de-
cisive, and interdicted the exercise of
any discretion on the part OF the house
of representatives. The constitution
has not so ordained, but, ca The contra
ry, it has provided that, "from the per-
sons having the highest numbers, not
exceeding three, on the list OF those vo-
ted for as president, the house of repre-
sentatives shall choose, Immediately by
ballot. a president" Thus, a discretion
is necessarily invested in the house; for
choice implies examination, COMPARE
son, judgment. The fact, therefore,
that n OF tire three persons was the
highest returned, not being, by the con-
stitution OF the country, conclusive up
on the judgement of the house, 1T still
remains to determine what is the true
degree of weight belonging to it. II has
been commended that it should operate
if not as an instruction, at least in the
nature OF one, and that, in this form it
should control the Judgment of the
house. Butthis is the same argument
of conclusiyeness which the constitu-
ton does not e%njoin, thrown into DIFF
ferent, but more imposing shape. Let