Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-02-17

witness. They imputed to him no blame. no,
leApfesaed any opinion with regard 10 his conduct
anu they could not consent TO be div rted from,
the main object of their appontmen. BY an uune.
! sessary examination. The papers had theref
De zen returned TO him. and now he comes TO this
House, and asks that documents and argument. in
tended to exculpa,e him, may be appended 10 he
testimony reported by the Committee and pub.
tished with ii, at the public expense Such a
proceeding would, he believed, be altogether no.
vel All The witnesses who had been examined
might, with equal piopriey, ask tina, their own ar
e"meh's anu explanations on the subject of the
testimony, or with respect to their own conduct.
might be printed and promulgated under an order OF
MS House He trusted the motion would no,
prevail. 0'
Mr.. Forsyth replied that i, was no, any part of
MS intention TO impuie blame to the Committee
LOT having returned irrelevant papers 10 their own
ers. They had no doubt, dune what they though,
10 oe tSht, and what was right. They ough, moi
10 nave been diverted from the duty assigned them
oy any investigation not made under an order Of
'he House. But here was Testimony about to
De produced, TO be printed under an order of This
fiouse' which cannot but set, favoraby or O.
'hefwse, the character OF this petitioner He Is a
puoc ohcer; his Character is dear to him. and all
ne asks Is, that the House will give the same pub
iicity to what excupai biz character as they do
20 what tends to implicate it, lie does not ask
the House tor any investigation, nor does he COM
QeCIEed mi N
any MT. r. said, he was very sensible that if
THIS practice should become frequent il MIGHT lead
10 great abuses, and that the House would be EN-
o"''asseu In refusing, where TO g ant it ould be
Improper bu' THIS was case Important and no.
vel Ia It's character, and he hoped The House would
comply with the request of the petitioner
Mr.. Bartlett expressed his hope that before the
House coupled with this regrest il would reaec,
LOT moment on the consequence 10 which i, must
'e'u oo'h as affecting the public business and the
Pu"1e expenditures. II Mr.. Yandeventer thinks
himself incuipated by any Of the testimony which
nas appeared before the committee, and the House
Is disposed TO consider his petition on that subject,
lei ms memorial and papers go to a committee of
me House But, whe. Is this 10 end? Mix NAV
next come forward, and may possibly think that
he is iit'le implicated by this testimony lie
VIII probably come and present another volume 10
be Prnted by the House; and as a witness, he
would have the same right 20 be heard as Yapde
venter had. If any thi . was to be done Win
these papers, he hoped they would lie sent to
committee of the Hou-e.
Mr. Hamilton sail that he rose for the purpose
OF making but single sngses ion, as il seemed
20 him that his friend from Georgia, Mr. FORSYTH
MA omitted a material point in his statement
ne would, however, ask 10 lay DOM general
principle, that, whenever in the insu.itorial action
OF committee of this House, it makes harsh or
unjust friction on the character of individual,
although he may appear a witness, they are bound
ny every consideration OF Justice enable such in
dlVidiai 10 put his eNculpaion on the very record
wh!ch Contains the accusatory charge. He did no,
mean 10 say that committee weie bound 10 try
collateral issue, involving the character of
witness, but that his protest should be re-
ceFeu' WI hout beng prevented by some insuppoy-
table views of public convenience, which he did
not IN this case perceive.
Beslles, Mslor Vsndev enter is public officer
IN whose character the public have an Interest,"
He il the Chief Clerk OF the very Department. the
former administration of which has been arrasned
III he has been nrjus,ly inculpaed, lie is entitled
to be heard, more especially in form in which he
asks so little.
Let II not be said that no part OF the measure Of
Justice which Is meied out TO so high func iona
ry Vice President, should be accorded 10 a
inoie subordinate officer. Tie principles of an ex-
act and equal justice apply TO both.
J, Is true, SIR, that the Vice President has be en-
most vileiy slandefed by base calumnia.3r; for
we have lien evil times indeed. But Fir .
whit the Department of War has repudiated all
knowledge of the dissemination OF his calumny, !
sho'ld haye liked Here the Speaker called Mir
Hamilton order
submit, sir. was. however, about to con
cude by Fsying that the characters OF our public
officers are worthy of our Conservation. In these
evil times, the populations of the bes, and purest
men among US, not safe; even so evil sir, that
no"i hs,asdng the obligations of truth and no.
nor under which you are known TO act -nolwiih-
standing the regard yon known 10 Pay 10 he
refined and sober decenries of life you have cen
elsewhere most juriousy charged with having
packed jury for he trial of this very issue Here
Mr.. Hamilton was called TO order by MIR. Webster,
and others Sir, (<aid Mr.. II. J do / under stand
the gentleman from Ma sachusetis? Does lie call
me 10 order for calling you honest nan!
| The Speaker here declared Mr.. Hamilton 10
be out oi order, and required him take his seat,
which PIT eGd to his rema.ks1
| Mr. Clarke next addressed the House.
Much debate ensued
The question was then taken on printing the
memorial OF MIR. Vandey enter, with the document.
accompanying il and decided in the negative
! without d count.
Mr.. M'L4ne OF Delaware, now mcved ,bsr
20OO additional copies of The repor, of the Com
mittee, the docIme..ts that accompanied il, and the
views presented by the minority of that Committee
be printed.
| The motion was agreed 10.
| Mr.. Van Rensselaer, moved reconsideration oil
the resolution fixing upon Thursday next for the
appointment Of Printer TO THE House.
| 1t was reconsidered accordingly; when Mr.. V
moved to lay II upon The table, with view 10 al
ter the plraseology of the resolution.
| The motion was agreed to; and the resolution
was laid on the table accordingly.
EXCHANGE OF STOCKS.
| The House now passed 10 the consideration OF
The bill Tor an exchange Of stocks, it being the un
finished business of yesterday.
| The amendment was negatived, and the bill wa.
! then ordered TO be engrcs>ed for a hud reading.
| Commercial LnteTe0uTse 10Th SLDeden.
The House, on motion of Mr. Tomlinson, went
into Commute e Of the Whole on the state of III.
| Union, MIR. Bartlett in The Chair, on the bill "a
4 exempt Swedish and Norwegian vessels ana car.
goes from discriminating duties.