Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-05-17

nous character.
Mr.. Stanberv said. he had, ON a former occa-
sion. stated to the House, that the President OF
the United States had used language calculated
tn encourage persons to assault members of that
House for words spoken in debate Since that
period the charge has been denied In the Official
paper. lie wished now to repeat that charge,
and to inform the House that he was prepared to
substantate it; and could, in half amour, pro-
duce his witnesses at that bar. A question OF
order was here raised, but not being sustained,
Mr.. S. proceeded. He had mentioned this in
answer to the member from Tennessee; and he
would tell that gentleman. that II ne was des'r'
Gus to save the public time, and that the del'be'
rations in that House should go on unlnterrupt-
edy, he had better 20 to the palace, and use his
influence there; where, as he pledged himself To
prove, language had been held, calculated to en-.
courage those assaults on members, which had
led to so great consumption OF the time Of the
House.
Mr. Polk said. in the course of his remarks on
the subject. he had studIously avoided any refer
ence to the member from Ohio; in the course OF
his remarks on a former occasion, he did say.
that the attack On the President of the United
States, BY the gentleman from Ohio, was unwar-
ranted BY facts. Mr.. Burgess here rose to
was taken. 1t appeared to him. that an effort
had been made on one side Of the House, by GER
tain gentlemen, to make an impression on the
minds Of the House, that there were bands o! as
sassins ia this city.
Mr.. Burgess again rose to question of order.
He denied the pronriety of asperslr5 the action
of majority of the House.
Mr.. Polk said, that that was the second time
he had been interrupted in the midst of his re.
marks bv the member from Rhode island, upon
the pretext Of rising to order. What he had
said was, that it had been endeavored to make
an impression on the minds of the House. through
the newspapers. that Houston had been enc0ur-
aged in his attack on the member from Ohio, by
the Chief Magistrate of the United States. n
one newspaper it was asserted, that Mr. Houston
had gone to the Presidents house; had shown
the pistol, aud c0nversed with the President on
the subject. He, mir. Polk had said on the
occasion alluded to, and he would now repeat it.
that such was not the fact. What, he would
ask, was the crime charged against the Presl-
dent. The very ''head aud front of his Offend
ing" was this. H. had dared to express his
opinion a. to the conduct of one of the co-ortl-
nate branches Of the Government He had 40
doubt that that officer did entertain the opinion
attributed to him; that the House was exceeding
its constitutional powers; but that he had threat
ened or endeav0red to intimidate any OF its mem
bers, he had denied, and did then deny, toto CO..
To-; and he challenged the member from Ohio. to
the proof that he had done so. He, (Mr. p.
was at no loss. however, to understand the whole
course Of tactics adopted on this OCCASION; he
was too old IN the school Of politics not to know
for what purpose certain suppositions as to Mr..
Houston, and his connection with the Executive.
had been put forth in tina, House. The member
from Ohio had directed him to 90 to the palace;
he did not exactly understand the honorable gen
tleman. In the fist place. he, (Mr. p should
not call the house Of the Chief Magistrate a pa.
lace; he was NO, quite so regal in his notions
But what was he to 90 there fors What was there
in his conduct that day which had called for such
advice from the member from Ohio? He had said
that he was for business party in that House;
and he thought that the state of business there
would justify the wish; for what, then, was he J
told 10 90 to the palace? NJ. P. concluded by
that he had been drawn into this dis
cussiOn; that he had been, was entirely owing to
the remarks of the gentleman fr"m Ohio: of
whom he felt il hi, dnty to say, that he had the
peculiar faculty. whenever he rose in that House,
of producing excitement.
Mr.. Stanbprv said, that what was asserted
there, either Tor or against the ruin or MS aSSer.
ton. was of little avail. He would offer an
amendment to the resolution, which would at
once put it to the proof, whether the President
of the United States had acted 10 the manner
charged or not. BY making it part of the inqui-
~ of the proposed committee. Mr.. S. offered
his amendment; but withdrew it, temporarily, |
at the request Of Mr.. Burgess.
Mr.. Burges regretted, extremely, that when
all illusions to the exec utive had been studious
" avoided by the majority in this case, the no.
norable member from Tennessee had thought pro.
per to brins up the remarks, or assertions of the
on the subject; he thought it course
not only undigni6ed, but uncandid towards the
members of that House. 1t was, 10 fact. a very
serious, and he believed i. very unjust ref1ec-
ion. that majority Of that House had endeavor.
I'd to make an impression on the country. thro'
he medium Of the newspapers There might
,e men who came into that House. who mad not
seats as representatives Of the people, who would
willingly falsify it's proceedings, and send their
to promote the ends Of the party,
Il which they were the hirelings; but would the
,entleman from Tennessee assert, that the ma
ority Of the members of that House were capa-