Virginia statesman. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1828-1829, 1828-06-11
1919 az De Pr.s4e,.ls -.

We publish the reports Of the majority ~,
the minOny Of the committee, to which rr-
ferred the message of the President. ON o.. 8
lect of the late assault committed by Rns.I
Wis on the person of his Secretary, wber, - .
the capitol and in the performance of ~,
service. F~t
We anticipated that no small degree odds.
would attend this matter On one ham
easy sliding into the doctrine of conforo,..
privileges, would have been pregnant vnb
lconsequcnces-and on the other, 10 adm.
there is now power in the Congress of thu ~
States, 10 protect the persons fits menbs,
officers, and other persons Necessary and -.
for the despatch of the national business. tr'e
be to acknowledge an Incompetence in c.
to the preservation of itself To be sure
be an extreme case-but suppose that. as IN
merous instances which might happen, the
ion of a question, in the Senate and Hon,
Representative, was aScertalned 10 deDerl
the presence of one or two certain member.
ceSsarY 10 make up a malority-and thu,
one or two members, when proceeding to,f
their seats were wuylaid and assailed. AMI
beaten as to be unable TO attend and give II
vote on the question as suggested-then, iftl,
be no power to punish beyond the ordinlrvr,
ceeding al law, in case Of assault and b't..
the most important results may be produced
the employment Of two OF three rufhans. dssr,
Of reputation, and not regarding the punis,r..
usually inflicted IN such cases, pecuniarv o..
pensatiOn being made therefor, by the parhe,
terestcd in defeating the passage of some p,r;.,
lar bill. The principle involved in the D,.,
affair, would apply 10 that which we have slr,
ed and certainly, belief cannot be- tole-..i
that there is not an inherent power in the D,,.,.
legislature 70 preserve its own freedom ana &
ness of action. With the private merits of J.
case between the parties, we have nothing to3,
the simple fact Is, that person admitted ,ya.
the chamber Of the senate and hall of th, bo-.
Of representatives, pursued OF waylaid and
Saulied another within the capitol who d.
known to be then and there present for tbe n,
Torrance of public business.
The majority of the committee close THAR,
port with two very extraordinary rcsoutor.
first, that there "was a violation of priy,e,.
arhich merits The cepSue QftkiS house" ana Sea-.
''that il is not expedient to have any farAer y
cecdings in this case" We know not how it
two resolutions are to be reconciled, one hi.
the other. The proceedings merits con,ure--,,
il is 'not expedient' to censure We like
report of the minority much better than that ON
majority, for there is consistency IN II, aud Die nj
olution attached expresses the opinion tbft
house is "not competent 10 punish for ODE
saut. Force must therefore be repealed by f,,
at the doors Of the halls of Congress.
With these few remark we submit thoc,.,
our readers, and think the most of them will
heve--that, if there Is no power in Congrs
secure a peaceful and regular despatch Of b
ness, and prevent the capitol itself from becor.-
the seat of disorder and batte--it IS hgh ~
that such power was asccuaincd; so guui
however, as to prevent violations Of private M.
while assuring the personal safety Of public iu,,
Gonarics aud agents.
Yielding to Mr.. Jarvis and las friends an a.
they claim OH the score of proyocaiion, thef.
no thinking American who win not regard k
affair as disgraceul to the reputation Of our cor
try-when the present political excitements
have passed over; and the coarseness and vue,
ity used on the occasion, is more easily INDULGE
than its effects will be oradicatcd from the n
Of foreigners. u is a case IN which the act Oh
mere individual, escaping punishment for 90 "a
nowedged violation Of the law, aud on the per-,
of a public agent, may have effect upon n. b
tionaf character--whlch every good man d5
be jealous TO exalt Party may triumph orpnI
be defeated, without impeachment of the naio
reputation; but the remembrance of paric.t
enormities survives, and odiousy attaches ~.
10 millions Of innocent persons
[Mies Rcgsr
go