Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-05-24
BY PLEASANTS d SMITH.
ASSAULT IN THE CAPITOL.

tee, to whom was referred the message OF
the President on the subject of the late cut
rage, made the following report, which
was laid on the table and ordered to be prn-
ted.
The Select Committee to whom was re
fcrred the Message oithc President olthc
u. States, relative u an assault committed
on his private secretary, submit the follow
ing Report:
Immediately alter thoir appointment,
The Committee proceeded 10 the inyes;igG-
ton OF the subject referred To them. They
ascertaned, from She letter OF Nix Russe
Jarvis, referred 10 them by the House, and
from the statement Of MIR. John Adams,
the Private Secretary OF the President
that an assault was committed By the for
lner upon the person. Of TIC latter, IN the
Eotunda Of the Capitol, Immediately after
he had delivered message from the Pre-
sident To the House OF Representatives.
and while he was proceeding, with ano-
lher message from the President, ~ TIC
Senate at this s;age OF the proceeding,
d preliminary question arose with the Gem
mlttec, whether they should report Il the
House simply the fact that the assault lad
been committed, with view to an cNtmi-
nation at the bar OF the House Of the par
~ implicated and all the witnesses fer and
against him, or whether the Committeo
should take upon themselves the RESPONSE
bility of going into fail examination OF
the whole case, and Of recommending, as
the result oil Then judgment, UPON all the
facts and circumstances. the final course
which they might deem it cypeGient for
the House TO pursue. The lorn"r mode
Of proceeding would have been, perhaps.
the more strictly Contorma5e TO pashamen-
tary usage and precedent; but the IGavoi-
dahle interference with the discharge Of It's
ordinary Legislative duties, which would lave
resulted lfom an examination before the
House, constituted, il the opinion Of tie
Committee, SO strong al objection TO 3hat
course OF proceeding, that they qEanimous-
" determined to examine all the wines
SEES, and to report the facts 10 the House.
with Their opinion upon them, having first
obtained the consent oi Ell. Jarvis that
this course should be pursued, ani having
granted him the privilege &C appearing b;
counsel.
1t Is here proper that the Committee
should say q few words in explanation qs the
delay which has occurred in this examine
ton. After some considerable progress had
been made III il, Mr.. Jarvis made au a3,li-
cation to the Committee for leave t. eva
ninc, by commission, certain persons IL he
city Of Boston. Tie Committee id not
feel themselves warranted. under existing
circumstances, 10 refuse ti1is requoS1 4
commission was accordingly transmitted, Ia
take tic examination by written inierro-
gatorles, which vas not returned ani,i yerr
rccentiv
The Committee VIII now. proceed to O.
jilbit a brief summary Of the evidence. the
whole Of which, IN detail, is ino"Ecd 10 ;ila
report;
The material fact, that Mr. Jarvis con
mltted an assault upon the Private Score
tary OF the President, IL the Ro:unia rihe
Capitol, immediately after lie had deliver
ed a Message from the President 10 the
1iousc of Representatives, Is clearly csta-
bIishcd Indeed, It is distinctly adin.t;ei ~
Mr.. jarvis. It ,s also established. - the
satisfaction of the Committee, that ii Jar
us knew that the Private Secretary OF tho
President had delivered a Message 10 the
blouse OF Representatives, immediately be
fore the assault was committed. Mr.. Jarvis
1t appears, was in the House VIXEN tie Mes
sage was delivered, and immediately fol-
lowed after Mr. Adams, as he retired from
the House. There Is some discrepancy in
the testimony, as to the nature Of the as
Sault; but III the view taken r. The Commit
see, it is wholly imnatcTial 10 tho question
which grows cut OF Inc transaction touching
the dignity and privileges Of the House
In the letter Of h... laryi- j,a stated. e..
thcproyocatior b. which he had beer pIoicp-
ted TO commit the assault upon Mr. Adams,
certain offensive and insulting language used
by the latter, in the House Of the President,
ut leyee, IN the presence and hearing o..