Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-01-10

,pt, Dir. .. said ne had his sic as in relation 10 the
general policy oi the protection OF manufactures;
all, when necessary or proper 10 express them,
he shoIld doso. But before he came TO the appli-
caon OF iis general views the hu ,ncss of legs-
iauoh, he wished to have more dcnie information
as TO facts. He wished 10 have it ascertaned, for
example, by careful examination OF testimony
whether al man of sufficient skin, capital and
economy, cannot now manufacture woolicn cloths
And make upon that business in competition with
the foreign manufacturer OF the same article, a
reasonable profit. ~ s. was there any gentleman
In this House who wished to go further in the
protection OF that manufacture: Surely not Now,
on TINS point OF fact, MIR. o. said, some gentlemen
were satisfied. He was not so. Ii the result of
the proposed examination We're to make il apparent
mat further protection was necessary, then let il
be gwen; but let the truth he ascerained TO what
ever Conclusion it might lead.
In reference TO the remark which had been
made, that the information already before the
House on the subject, came from an interested
quarter Mr. o.. said, il does so and 10 be correct,
II must come from such quarter, because those
only who arc Interested qualified to testify on
the subject Ia did not object on that account,
therefore, 10 the testimony on the subject before
tie House, but only wished an opportunity 10
anime ain! cross-eXamine the witnesses on the sub
lect TO Obtain view of the truth in all its bear
ings, SC. He wished TO know the amount of
capital employed in particular branches of manu-
features; the expense of such manufactures; the
annual profit upon the capital, &c.-partculars
which could NOT be obtained with certainty in any
other way than by oral testimony, &c. SC.
MIR Stevenson, of Pa. called for the read
ing of an extract from the journals of the House
which had respect TO the granting of similar pow
er, TO Committee who were ordered to invcsti-
gate the sale Of lots belonging 10 the u States, in
Washington City
Dir. Sprague next addressed the Hcuse in re-
ply TO Mr. Oakley, whose argument he said had
proceeded OH the ground that there was no need
20 compel the attendance of witnesses, inasInuch
as all the persons interested would flock 10 this
city, TO give, OF their own accord the required in
formation. All, then, that was proposed, was, 10
authorize their examination when they should
come. Now, !, said Mr.. ). had always thought
that the committees of this House possessed this
power already, and this opinion has been confirm
ed by recent statement of the Honorable Speak
er. The resolution, however, says, that the com
ttee shall hdUe p0tcer 10 send for persons 20 tes
y. My answer, then, 10 the gentleman from N.
York, rests on the ground which he has assumed.
III these WITNESSES viii come voluntarily, the pow
CT proposed TO DC granted is wholly unnecessary,
and for one, never Will clothe any individual
collective body 18th unnecessary power, especial
~ when the power asked for is both great and I'M
usual. hat now asked is such power, and, by
the gentleman own showing, ii is unnecessary.
But L so farther, and say, that if the committee
shall propose on oath, and the witnesses shall de-
cine IT, the inference 10 be drawn from their
ilsal Is, that they suppose the information they
are required 10 give is contrary 10 their interest,
and that the representations they have submitted
IN their memorials Is not strictly consonant with
truth.
l agree with the gentleman from New York, in
the opinion, that 50 the wish of the Com
m..,ec shall be publicly known the manufactu-
TerS' Will instantly flock to this House but the
granting such power, as is expressed i'll the
solution, VIII naturally infer that the Committee
are to exercise it, and TO delay their investigation
TIL they DO So The amendment of the GEN
tleman changes the whole ground at first taken.
lie asks the information for the House, but the
Committee ask il for themselves
MIR Oakley here explained and acknowledged,
that ii the Committee was already possessed of
Witnesses
tionwould be unnecessary. On that point, howe
yer, he was DESTROYS Of information the practice
was different in his own State. He presumed
from tire form oil the resolution the Committee in
tended TO ask for this power, and he now heard
it said on all hands around him, that there could
be no doubt about the matter, and that no such
peWer Wa ia the Committee until granted by the
House He concluded, therefore, that the gem
temGn from Maine :nust have been under mis-
take.
Mr.. Randolph said, that of the existence Of the
power in the Houscto examine persons upon oath,
and consequently of tLc power TO delegate it,
there had never BEEN during thirty years that he
had had the honor of seat in Congress, shadow
OF doubt. Ii had been exercised ever since he was
member of the House, and long before. 1t was
now within six weca5 of being thirty years since
the following act was passed
Here Mr.. II. quoted act giving the power
OF administering oaths 10 the Speaker, 90 the
Chairman OF Committees of the whole, and the
Chairnen of the Standing Committees of the
Housed
This law, said Mr.. r., supposes there may he
occasions requiring the exercise of this power by
Tie Standing Committees Of the House. NV re-
collection on this subject is very different from that
81 the gentleman from Ohio who has Just taken
AIs seat i hnotC that such powers have been
given by this House to Committees, and that Com
Inittees have required from the House, on differ
cnt occasions, the power to send for persons and
papers This same law was re-enacted in 1917.
IL was first passed in Feb I79S | acknowledge
that those were hard unconstitutional times, and
ought not TO be drawn into precedent; but this
law has since been rc-cnacted, il other and bet
ter times.
Mr.. Sprague now made some observation, which
was not distinctly heard by our Reporter, but was
understood 70 be, in substance, that Committees
q the House do possess the power TO take testi-
inony OF oath, without being specially authorized
Nir Randolph said, true sir, they do possess that
power, but not 10 send for persons.
Mr. Spraguc resumed. The gentleman from n
, ork says, that the manufacturers will come will
hHgiy, and OF their own accord, and he also said
that II lic Committees already possess the power
TO take testimony, this resolution was unnccessa-
~ IL IS now admitted that they have that pow
eF; ny proposition then is fully established uIl-
less Inc granting Of power 20 send for persons
implies that such power is necessary and must
pe eYcrciscd l hope it will not be contended
mat TIC power Of Tie Committee depends on The
question whether the witnesses will have TO be
brought iOrciby or not The power is in thc Com
uhitfee by its organization.
MT Oakley said, in reply that he had not been
aware when last UP, that power 10 take testimo-
ny on oath was vested in the Committees of this
&lou5e; but since such appeared to be the fact he
mop "a the Commmittee Of Manufactures would
avail themselves Of IT, Should any of the wit
Aes5eS called Tor before il refuse 70 testify on oath
the House could then exert It's power 10 co,npei
hot r..1i 80 4 ~