Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-01-31

hat Mr.. Madison did permit Secretary of War
10 invest the Governor OF State, during the late
war, with important discretionary powers without |
mis- authority, and suffered large detachment OF
militia to be called into service for the purpose OF
manning several important posts, situated al great
distance from the States from whence they were
drawn, without giving any instruction for retaining
them in service for six months, when IL is evident
that the shorter term of mouths must have been
chiefly consumed in distributing them among the
posts TO which they ordered, then was he gull
g OF most gross and criminal omission OF duty. Ii
late Secretary of War proceeded to-cXcrciSc such
extensive powers without the sanction of the
President failed 10 renew his instructions to the
Governor OF Tennessee, according TO the requisi-
lions of the law, and the eXigencics OF the war,
then was he guilty Of usurpation OF authority, or
neglect of an important duty. L confess am
not ready TO admit that late Governor OF Ten
ncssee could be charged with any gross impropri-
city OF conduct, III proceeding TO act under discre-
tionary powers, conferred without any other limit
as to the time in which they 10 be considered
operative than the termination of the war, even if
the fact be that his instructions not renewed
in the Spring OF lSli.) But how charge OF i'm
proper conduct, a rcSCOnsibi for the plumbers
and omissions Of others, if any such there were,
can be fixed upon the mere instrument and organ
appointed for the execution OF the orders and de-
crees of his s,,pcriors in office; how such a charge
can he fixed upon the distinguished individual to
whom have more than once alluded for retaining
in service the detachment of militia referred TO III
the resolution, during term OF six months, and
treating them accordingly, when 1t Is known that
hc ordered out that detachment acting then as
Major General of militia, and that, in doing so, he
obeyed, as he was bound to do, order from the
Governor of the State of Tennessee, expressly
stating, upon the face of it, that the detachment
TO serve six months and that the Secretary OF
War had authorized that latitude Of the CALL is to
me most ncomprehcnsibe. But il it be against him
that this resolution is intended TO operate, then
would remind gentlemen that they began their nj
tacks at the wrong end, and that there Is bu; little
Inagnanimty in striking at the tail, instead of the
head, of the offending series of public agents
Be this, however, as it may, and we shall know
more and hear more, too, perhaps, upon this SUD-
iect, when the Secretary shall have made his re-
port, yet feel bound, in courtesy, TO believe that
che mover of the resolution, no matter against
whom the attack may be mcditated would not
have proceeded to lay the foundation OF inquiry
of such n nature in this House unless he expected
some public benefit TO result from it. No other
motive could, in my opinion, Justify such step. II
would, therefore, be Liberal 10 suppose him capa
bic of a design to avail himself OF any improper
unfair means to advance his purpose; 1t being in
extreme cases only that the public good may be
c)1sulted by the sacrifice OF justice and candor-
But put il 10 the gentleman himself to say wheth
this liberal presumption continue TO operate
IN lc!s tagcr, y, while he seeks TO give weight to
an accusation, by the notice this House may take
of it, lie still persists in the attempt to bring it
forward, bolstered up by the opinions and argu- !
Inents of an officer Of this Government, high in |
authority and patronage. Thi; House should act
this subject as upon all others, free from every
bias. The pTejudiccs of minds should he dis !
carded, if possible and certainly should not be
exposed TO the influence of the prcjudices OF o. |
theirs. Could more dangerous precedent be es- |
tablishcd, in Of this nature than TO allew the
opinions Of the high officers attached 20 the EX- |
ecutive Department of the Government, to cast
their weig.; into the balance against the rcputa-
ton OF private citizen, who, for some cause or
other, has become obnoxious to them? | would |
not be understood as speaking harshly of the Sec
rotary Of War, in anticipation of what his opinions
may be. ] do not pretend to know what his OPT |
Mons or prciudices may be upon this subject, nor
Is 1t material to the argument, whether they are
one way or the other; my purpose, in addressing !
the House being, not 20 oppose the utmost latitude
which be given to a call for facts, from which
have nothing to fear, but 70 ask that every pre-
text shall be taken away from the honorable Sec /
rotary, for attempting TO assist judgments, by
the exercise of his own. | am glad that the gen |
tleman from Ohio, in agreeing TO modify the reso-
luton in one point has acknowledged, that there |
arc gentlemen on this floor, (of cour5c would not
&c included in the nImber,) who are competent TO
decide what laws were in force fourteen years ago,
and under what laws certain imp0rtant arrange
Tnents were made for the public defence, without
appeal to the learning of the Secretary of War
have no disposition to delay the decision OF this
question, by any farther discusssn of on mt part
l would, however, respectfully suggest to the
mover the resolution, that fhe still thinks any
great public interest can be secured, by attempting
70 bring down reprOach upon the character of the
distinguished citizen so often alluded TO, his patriotic
intentions viii be best promoted by avoiding all
suspicion oil unfair dealing in the process which
shall be adopted for that purpose: for 1 scarcely
need remind that gentleman, that, by a very large
proportion Of his iellow-cidzcn Of the United
States, he is thought to have deserved well of his
country: nay am convinced they would believe
with reluctance that he was unworthy of public
confidence, and, il am not greatly deceived, the
nation at large coull not but with deep con-
Germ, one CT the chef pillars Of its fame broken
down, and cast into the mass Of neglected rubbish
In what have said at this time, have endea-
vOTed to avoid all criminatOry reflections, being
sensible, rs am OF the serious, the deep respon-
slbiity which will be incurred 10 this House and
10 this country, by him who shall persist in pro-
vOking kind OF discussion, tending 10 convert this
House into IN arena for the exhibition Of fctes of
violent party degradation in debate, to the exclu-
sion OF more appropriate business and endangering
its credit with the people, upon whose good opi-
mon alone 1t must depend for the support Of its
measures.
Mr.. Spraguo said nc hoped to be more success I
in avoiding topics not necessarily involved in
inc question before the House, than some gentle !
men had been who had made the same promise /
The proposition is 10 strike out part Of the reso-
luton offered by the gentleman from Ohio CAIr. (
Nloane.) Much bad been said Of that genteinan's +.
motives. Whatever they may be they are no
Of ours. II belongs not to as 10 scr1finize
into the motives Of any member here they are /
confined 10 his own breast, which no human eve I
can penetrate. They can b. known only 10 the F.
GcaTcher Of hearts.
mr. $. said nc world not himself have ir.roiu- (
ced ihc original resolution and, 10 was perhaps, /
unnccc ssary for him 70 say tiist he had no knoyl-
edge That such motion. was contemplated until he
heard Il read at tie Clerks table But the rcso-
luton IS before us rs passage is not opposed.
he single question, upon the present motion is
hall ltrs -