Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-02-20

jury instead Of the penalty now prescribed by
law,
From the National lnteligeneer.
COMMUNICATION.
The publication made by General MErcAIrE
and Mr.. CAMPBELL, relative to an error con-
tanned in my commune alton to the Select Com.
mittee appointed TO investigate certain charges
against the VICE President, demands Of me
frank acknowledgement, and iefexplanaton
Of the error into which really did fall, in my
reference to former vote Of the House Of Re.
representatives. on the Rip Rap contract. My
mistake, which will oe shewn TO have been
merely formal, and Of no practical importance
either to the gentlemen who have taken excep.
ton to it, or 10 the public, consisted in suppos-
ing the vote was taken on the motion to strike
out the appropriation for Fort Calhoun, when,
in fact, the previous question precluded vote
upon that proposition, and forced . vote upon
the engrossment Of the appropriation bill
This vote was certainly no test OF the opinion
Of the House on the report and resolution OF
the Select Committee, and never should have
though Of making such an impression had
not inadvertently COMPOUNDED the different ques.
tons upon which the several votes were taken.
made the statemen, entirely from memory,
which was obtained from the journal Of the
House BY another gentleman, and handed to
me. / made II, however, under full belief,
from my own recollection, that it was correct,
and it is now apparent, from the journal, that
it was substantially 50. The Senate proposed
to amend the appropriation for Fort Calhoun,
by declaring that "this appropriation should
not be regarded as a confirmation OF the con-
tracr made with Elijah Mix" The House re-
jected this, which was much milder PROPOSE.
ton thar that recommended by the Select Com.
mittee, by vote Of 80 20 20. It's self.eyideni,
that every member who voted against the a.
mendment Of the Senate, would have voted a.
gainst The resolution Of the Selec Committee:for
it cannot be supposed that any Of those who
refused to declare thal"tbe appropriation should
not be regarded as confirmation of the con.
tract" would have voted that the contract was
null, and that no further appropriation ought
to De made for its ful6lment. On the contra
~, i. may we'll be supposed that some Of those
who voted for the amendment Of the Senate,
would have voted against the recommendation
Of the Selec, Committee.
Although il was not technically correct TO
say, that the report and resolutions Of the Sc.
lect Committee were rejected before they we're
formally presented TO the House, and certain
ly should not have committed such an appa-
rent solecism, even in terms, il had consulted
the journals for the chronological orde: Of E.
vents; yet, il will be obvious from the statement
OF few facts, which do not appear upon the
journals Of the House, and which General Me,.
cafe and Mr.. Campbell will probably recolleet
that my statement, in this particular, was cor
rect 10 every practical purpose, with The single
exception, that the trying vote was carried by
a majority of only two to one, instead Of the
still larger majority which was given on the
previous question.
When the proposition Of General Cooke, TO
strike out the appropriation for Fort Calhoun,
was under discussion the second day, Mr. But
Ter, the Chairman OF the Select Committee OF
three, supported the motion to strike out, upon
the authority of the evidence produced before
that Committee; and was under the impres.
sion that he had their report read II seems
however, from the Journal, that this impress
sion was incorrect, but have a distinct reco-
lection that he stated substantially the result OF
the examination made by the COMMITTEES, and
either said or did something that induced me
to believe that he had the papers Of that COM
mittee then in his possession. called for the
reading OF the evidence, stating that would
submit the question, after that was done, with.
out word OF argument on my part When
the reading Of the evidence was closed, Mr..
Golden, Of New York, stated that, though he
had entertained unfavorable impressions Of The
contract, the evidence so clearly showed that it
had been fairly made, and was highly advan.
tsgeous to the Government, that he felt bound
to put an end to an Improbable discussion, By
calling for the previous question. The call
was sustained by large majority, and the bill
was ordered TO third reading with only TWEEN.
ty dissenting voices. Subsequent 10 this, the
proposed amendment Of the Senate was reject
ed by the vote already stated, Of 80 to 40.
Having discharged the obligation which l
have incurred to the Committee, BY an unin,en.
'ionaI and unimportant error, it remains that
discbs q duty Of still higher obligation