South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1835-02-28

|
which the letter of the honorable SEN
ator referred, 10 newspaper, that il
was without she slightest foundation ;
and be was unwilling yet to believe in
the possibility OF the truth Of the state.
ment contained in the accompanying
letter. That ex parte affidavits, inn
plicating the character of a Senator oil
the United States should have been
drawn without notifying without
the slightest intimation that they were
10 be taken-and that they had been
procured at the instance Of the Chiel
Magistrate, and put on file, to be used
by him, when and how he might think
( proper, was not to be believed but upon
the highest and most authentic evi.
dence. fIe would say II was not pos.
sible for him yet to credit the state.
ment, imposing as was the form in
which il was presented. 1t was i'm.
possible for him to credit that any hu.
man being could conceive of such a
plan for injuring a feIlow-citzen-
I without without the smallest
opportunity to him, to procure afida.
Wits from persons unknown, and put
them away,to be used on some subse-
queRt occasion, when it might be i'm
possible to contradict their statements,
or to adduce any exculpatory evidence.
He as,most reluctant to believe it,
and would net believe it, but upon
higher evidence than that which was
exhibited, respectable as it was. ii
was sufficient, however, TO form the
basis of an inquiry. And the commu-
nicatien which had been read called
upon the Senate to perform most
painful and unpleasant duty: And
this, when there was remnant of but
seven or eight days before the termiua-
tion Of the session, and the close Of the
official existence, at least for the pre-.
sent, of the Senator who stood impli.
Gated. The time, therefore, within
which the investig alton TO be made,
it was muchte be regretted, was ex-
tremely circumscribed. Short as il un-
fortunately was, there could not be two
opinions as to the course which the
Senate was bound to tske. Its duty 10
its own character and dignity, & to all
concerned, demanded the investigation.
Ifit were possible to believe, and ii
should turn out on the investigation to
be established, that the Senator had
had the slightest participation in the
atrocious attempt to assassinate fellow
citizen, and he the President Of the U"
nited States, the Senate would be call
ed upon TO perform the painful duty, in
Dictated by the Senator himself, fpurg-
ing the body Of such an unworthy
member.
On the contrary, II the result Of the
inquiry should be, as he must believe
it would be, to establish that there is
not the slightest foundation for the
charge; or if, as he must also hope,
there is no ground for the allegation
that the President has possession of ex
parte aft davi,s, duplicating the Senator,
he would stand acquitted, and be in a
condition to discharge the high duties,
appertaining to his station.
1t was due, therefore, to the country,
to the purity OF the Senate, and to the
cause Of truth and JUSTICE, that the in.
quiry should be instituted.
Taking that view of the matter, on
the spur OF the occasion, (for the COM
munication had come upon him at
rather an unexpected moment; and he
could have wished that some other
Senator had taken charge of IT'D he
would move that Committee be APP
pointed, according to the request con-
tanned ia the communication.
The Committee was then ordered by
the unanimous vote of the Senate.
Mr.. Clay proposed that i, consist OF
five; and entrested the Senate TO for
bear extending towards him the aecus-
toned urbanity generally shown to the
mover of "a proposition, by leaving his
name off thesCommiltee.
The Senate proceeded 10 ballot for a
Committee, when il was found that the
following Senators were elected
Messrs. Smith, Mangum, King, OF
Georgia, Wright, and Tyler.
The Senate then, at half past s o.
clock, adjourned.