Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-05-28

R6rteeeu otto 1Gan6m


riNIDAY MOJtNING, MAY %, 1880.
Ut 1t will be remembered that u resolution passed
the House of Representatives fortnight ago, calling
on the Secretary the Navy for information respect
ing the accounts of Purser Timberake the first nus
oand OF Mrs Eaton, whose deficit and the causes of
It's nave occaSloned so much comment and specula-
uon. That information has not boon furnished, al
thought is said that the accounts of Purser Ran
doiph Undertakes successor, and who if rumor he
worthy OF credit, il was attempted to saddle with hs
delinquency have been settled ty tho order of tho
President himself The Journal comec,ures TINT the
call OF the House will be obeyeG a, the last moment
OF the Session, when it will be too late to notice mu
tilations and galblings" and when there will be no
opportunity ofelicting the agency which official per
sonaGes have had IN those mysterious transactions
There never was period of The government when so
much of its proceedings was skreened from popu-
lar observation. Why it should be deemed neces
sary 10 nave secrets IN matters purely domestic all
we never could conceive any sufficient reason The
reason which Juses and requires it, in foreign af.
fairs, does not apply to home transactions, in which
the people of the U. States are only Interested
The government appears to-be viewed by those who
administer 1t, as something apart from the people.
and the latter not being SAFE, .conlidants in The
transactions of government which belongs TO them.
OF the momontous questions which have occunicd
nearly third part of the time and attention of the
Senate in secret session. the people know hino but
what has leahed out. Where can be the necessity
OF acting on Nominations or debating questions OF
cons ttutional law in conclave? Why should the
President OF the u States, the agent aAd servant of
he people, be considered too sacred to be approach
ed and nterrogated as to the reasons which have in
iiuenced him IN the discharge of his public conduct
If 1t be said hat custom has consecrated the course
the custom that without reason has no claim unon
respect and ought to be abolished. The people hoJe
a right to know all that is done, and the rsasons
for it.
~ 1t Is thought by Mr. Randoph's person,
friends here that he will accept thu mission to Russia
conclusion that few could bave come to, priori.
Beaufort 4. Watts of S c. to be Secretary of Lee
cation (saith Madame Humor)
% We republlshed the rejection by the Senate. OF
wharton hecfo. as Indian Agent, without comment
That rejection is accounted for by the Nat Journal
as follows,
"The domination of ~ Rector 10 an Indian Apencv wa.
rejected by majority of This man viii be re-
Collected led from the punishment which him for a
deliberate and though the friends f rho
greatest and best wished Withdraw the no
uooorny PERSISTED in endeavorng force Rector tro,oh
and he had parsans enough the Senate to aid him in Ri;
additional insult the sense of the community Wenn
desand that though the record of was read TO This
body 20 of its members osequous enough TO vote for The
confirmation p" ~
u The Reporter published at Orange Court.
House., Of the 22d, states that on the 18th Gov.
Barbour met upwards Of 200 electors at Locust
Grove, whom 'she addressed in speech of ahont
two hours, characteristic of 'ablty, address,. and
eioquence.'
The canvass apparently partakes of more heat
and lntemperance than are usual IN Virginia cleo
tons. COL Barbours opponent is understood to be
Mr.. Davis, for several years delegate from Orauge
IN the General Assembly and gentleman of worth
and probity.
u The Danville Statesman of the 21st informs.
that at the April term of the Superior Court of Law
for Pttsylvania, Stephen Abston and Jesse Abston,
were put upon their trials upon Indictment charg-
ing them with forging and counereitng the current
silver COINS of the u States, of the demon nation of
ha and quarter dollars, the same being current in
the State OF Virginia" ara for passing the same
with intention to- defraud sundry PERSONS" Counsel
for the Prosecution, VIM. Banks-for the Prison
ers, James b. Rsque, Ferdinand w. Risque, A. C.
Clements, and r. J Shelton, Esqrs. The jury reti-
red but.a short time and returned verdict of not
guilty
The Statesman raises this Observation-Disclosures or
no'' the jurisdiction of the federal government over
tiS SUBJECT countefetng current cons)i exclusive,
or whether The States have concurrent Jurisdictions
II concurrent, and Congress shall make the penalty
DEATH and the States, confinement in the Penitena-
ry, which is to be first inflicted"
Without feeling competent to argue the question
we should imagine, that if the jurisdiction be con-
current, the tribunal which first takes cognizance
excludes the other as man cannot be punished
twice tor the same offence Concurrent Jurisdiction
We presume is only precedent to cognizance and be-
comes exclusive, when that cognizance has been
assumed by competont-tribunal
" Ihc Kentucky Reporter has commenced the
SDecch of R,,t,e