Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-12-23


Pres'dent had already communicated, and NIGH
be further expected to communicates, sufficient
on the subject. He had had the
homer to examine all the papcrs that came from
the President, both of public and Of q conf.
DENTAL nature, without being at all satisf ed.
He therefore now moved to take up and consider
the resolution.
This motion having been carried,
Biz PoINDExTER observed, that in his view o
tue sui ject there was an improperly . asking
of the President whether he ''intendcd to open .
negotiation with the British Government" ant
he would therefore propose to strike out of The
resolution so much thereof ss related to the Pre-
sident's intentions.
Mr. HoLMEs remarked, that he was very much
disposed &c be fsstidious us TO what he asked
Of the Executive, and he saw NO improperly ia
any part Of the phraseology of the resolution
but being anxious to crafty the gentleman from
Mississippi, he would accept of his modifcati-
on.
MIR Brpn rose to suggest the transfer Of the
matter in discussion from the Legislative to the
Executive Journal. He made this suggestion
for reasons that be did not then feel at liberty
to mention; but he would barely remind tAe
gentleman that there were confidential paper,
which 1t might be necessary to refer TO if the
discussion continued. He did not see that any
thing could be gained by pressing the matter At
this time.
Nur t1oIHLb Sulu, that, III oEOer 10 0vOlQ gong
into debate in which subjects improper for
discussion might be introduced, he would con-
sent to the proioeal ofthe gentleman from Ken
lucky, and mo's to transfer the proceedings az
eordinglv.
Dir KIro a,prehended tina: the motion to
transfer the proceedings to the Executive jour
nal was not nov in order. The melton ought;
In his opinion, to be made when the Senate was
IN secret session; and If made at that time, hs
would cheerfuly vote for the proposition. Mr.
4. suggested that it would be better to with.
draw his melton aud renew it when in seere,
session.
Mr.. HoLHEs replied that the gentleman
from Alabama certainly was mistaken. He
recoliected many instances in which matter.
nad been transferred from the Legislative &c
the Executive journal, ond vice versa from the
Executive to the Legislative Journal. If the
chair should decide that his motion was out o
order, he, Dir H.. would acquiesce, if not, he
would insist on taking the question.
The PRESIDENT said that both modes wou Il
be in order. The gentleman from Maine wa
at liberty to Withdrew his motion and renew
1t IN secret session, or press it at this time.
Inc motion was then carried, aud the proceed
ings were transferred from the Legislative to tn,
Secret Journal.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS OF TIRE SEN
ATE.
The PRESIDENT stated TINT this was tho da
appointed for the election of officers of the Sc
nate, and requested the Senators to prepare
their ballots for Secretary.
Mr. CHAMBERS then rose and said. that. ifir
order, he asked for inform ton, if il was within
the power of any gentleman present to give it
In relation to charges which had been made O.
gainst the late Secretary. Every gentleman
would at once zee, considering the delicacy and
Importance OF the trust reposed in that officer,
SO lar as his duties as an executive officer of the
Senate were concerned, hsw necessary it was
that charges such as had been made should be
satisfactorily answered. He held the COPY of
aletter in his hand in which the Secretary was
charged with having communicated to the Pres.
ldent facts IN relation 10 nom:na ton pend
ing before the Senate. Under these circum
stances, he felt it his duty both to the Senate
and the oti:er implicated, to rise in his plac e and
inquire whether any gentleman of the Senate
was charged with the necessary explanation.
He wished not to be understood as obiectinp 10
any explanation which the Secretary himself
might wish to make.
ihe PRESIDENT said, at the request Of the
secretary, that that officer was ready TO make
any explanation that might be required.
Mr. BROWN expressed his dissent from the
views taken by the gentleman from MARYLAND.
The gentleman, he said must himself seq the
consequences that would flow from sanctioniny
practice of the kind proposed. 1.-THE princi.
pie were once admitted, every one who came
before the Senate for an appo.n. ment might
claim to be heard in favor of his nomination:
BESIDES he had heard 10 specific ALLEGATIONS
which rendered an explanation from the Secre-
tary necessary.
Mr. CHAMBERs supposed he had been sufi-
Gently explicit He had stated that the Score
tary had been charged with having made COM
munications to the President in relation to
nomination while that nomination was pending
before the Senate. 1t was stated in the Letter
he held in his hand, that the President enter
tanned the belief that the nomination of Stephen
Simpson would be confirmed by the Senate up
to the day before his rejection, end on that dnv
ne was informed by the Secretary that the no
was in danger. The course he Ind
pursued, said Mr.. c., was the only proper one
" allowed an opportunity to the Secretary or
nus trends OF refuting the charge, if untrue
II the Senator from ". C.. would point ont anv
other mode which would at once satisfy the Sc
nate' and allow the oncer to excupate himself.
ne "ouid withdraw his proceedings and take
he course of the gentleman from N. C.
Mr brown said he felt bound to reply 10 the
Gentleman from Maryland Il WINS far from his
IIee nelon to offer any excuse either for the Pre-
ident or the Secretary, or to reply to any such
harges, whether made by newspapers or bv A
disappointed Office hunter. He was far from
Wishing to stife any investigation; on the con-
raTy, he wished all the facts 10 be clearly elicit
o. lie was, however, of opinion, that the best
est OF an officers qualifications was the ballot
ox.
Mr. KAHE called for the reading OF the rule
i the Senate in relation to secret sessions
which was read.
Mr HATNE said, it appeared to him that the
inference between the gentlemen from Mary-
and ana North Carolina arose merely from a
of what the question was =
he gentleman from North Carolina supposed
hat the Secretary Ind hoop