Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-04-18

reference to the rights of the House, which he
should not finch from declaring in his place
He wished this matter fairly investigated, but IN
Select Committee. he expressly dis
claimed any wish to be placed, himself, upon
such committee. He desired to have report OF
the facts.
Mr.. Doddridge. As the resolution OF the
gentleman from Ohio followed the precedent
which had been set in cases of this character. 1t
ought to be adopted without further discussion;
unless gentlemen meant deliberately to give no
tce to the world that they would permit band
of assassins to waylay and rider as many mem
bers of the House as they pleased, and that in
stead Of experimenting them. the House would
take measures to produce such delay as should
give them timely opportunity to escape. MIR. ID.
said, that as he though the further continuance
of this debate derOgatory to the character OF the
House, he would, even though he stood alone,
take the only measure that could rescue the
House from that disgrace. He then moved the
previous question.
But the House refused to sustain the motion
AYES SO. Noes not counted.
Mr.. Coulter. There had been period III the
past history of this Government. which had some
times been called the reign of terror; and one OF
the most pregnant proofs that the term had been
rightly applied, was the fact, that member OF
the House, in consequence of taking course
that had been disapproved of had been publicly
insuted in the Theatre of Philadelphia. He
did not wish to see another reign OF terror
Most earnestly should lie deprecate the advent
of that time, when a member OF the House OF
Representatives might not speak OF the conduct
of public man, without the hazard OF personal
indignity, and of brutal treatment in the open
streets. Mr.. G.. did not know whether by the
use of such term, he did not subject himself to
treatment of similar kind; for he had seen the
individual who had perpetrated the outrage
walking about the Iobbics of that House with a
bludgeon in his hand. Yet be the hazard what
it might. he should at all times speak that which
he thought respecting the power of Congress to
punish such offences. II the voice OF the people
of this land could not be spoken by their repre-
seutatives without such hazard, where would
the ancents, the grey headed NestOrs be found?
Those in whose bosom the hand OF age had pla-
ced desire for tranquility? They whose WIS.,
dom and experience rendered them. OF all others,
the most fiji to occupy place on that hoor, IN
the public councils of the nation? They would
remain within their own States. where patriotism
might speak without the fear of bravo. They
would retire from this ten miles square, and aban-
don vt to the contests of DULLES and blackguards.
Mr.. Drayton.-A gross and daring assault had
been made upon a representative OF the people.
1t deserved, it demanded, their consderate atten.
ton; an attention, too, which he was sure would
be unmiyed with either part, or personal cons.
derations. No gentleman of that House. he was
confident, would view the matter as relating to
party friend, or a party foe-it was not to be
L., - -,
party or political motives can influence our &C
tons in such matters. said Mr.. Drayton' tnrn
shall we have abundant reasons to trembIe Tor
the stability and integrity of our political 'nstl-
tutions Mr.. d observed, that what seemed to
be to the gentleman from Tennessee Mr.. Polk
the popular principle in cases of contempt or
breach of privilege, appeared to him (Mr. d.
to be the monarchica or despotic principle IN It's
full extent. The popular principle, he conceiv:
ed, was comprised mainly in the preservation OF
the rights of that House. without which there could
be no security to the people. that in their public
acts the members of il were influenced or guld-
ed by no private or personal considerations, ell
ther through approximations or the effects OF vlo-
lence. Mr. d. argued on the effect which the
operation of fear or force would have on the de-
libera,ions of convention of the people, and
contended that for the proper progress OF the
of such body, deriving its power
and directly from the people. the
right belonged to it Of preserving freedom of de-
bate. II could not exist without that freedom,
for if its decisions should be made under the in
flnence of external terror, the people whom 1t
might have a. constitution forced up
on them, under the will of those who had doml-
neered over it by the strong arm.
Mr. Patton In the present case, the House
assumed the character Of judicial tribunal, and
ought, therefore, to be governed by the same
rules. Mr.. p. proceeded to argue. that in ana
logy to criminal proceedings, the House should,
in the first place, before proceeding to incarce-
ate by attachment, make rule on the accused
party. calling on him to show either that the facts
charged were untrue. or that the House had no
right to institute the inquiry. 1t had been said.
that course was necessary, because the party
accused might eIude the hands of justice by
flight. The same might be said in every case Of
assault and battery; even in cases where pre-
sentiment was made by grand jury, it was not
thought necessary to arrest. except in cases of an
extraordinary character. Here. they were ask