Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-03-19

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character for truth and verachy, and be-
ing also informed that any Witnesses he
might name, would be summoned to at
tend on his behalf, gave the names OF
the following highly respectable gentle
men, who were examined by the COM
mitiee, TO wit:
Hon. j. nj. Robinson, (Ne. I3Oy) C.
X. Gardner, No. 81, George Thomas,
(No. 33, } Col. G.. r. Broom, (No. 80, }
Hon. Edmund Deberry, No. "a, Hon.
Martin Beatty, mo. 35,) Col. james
Thompson, No. 81, and Gen. John =.
Van Ness, (No. 80. All Of these wit
nesses testified that they were not sufii-
ciently acquainted with the general
character Of David Stewart for truth and
veracity, TO enable them to say any thing
in relation thereto, except General Van
Ness, who testified, that he thought
Stewart would not tell deliberate false
hood; and MIR. Debery, who, although
he stated he knew but little Of his gene
raj character, yet what Ire had heard,
induced him TO beieveh was bad.
AT this stage Of the examination, Gov.
Poindexter Informed the Committee that
he considered it unnecessary to proceed
further with the examination Of witnesses
To impeach the character Of David
Stewart, but that, if hereafter, ,~in the
progress Of examination Of this case,
it should be deemed necessary by the
Committee further to take testimony con-
cerning the character Of David Stewart
for truth and veracity, he had number
more Of respectable inhabitants Of W ash
ington, ready to testify on that point.
The Committee, having thus present.
ed the testimony somewhat in detail,
take leave to present the following sy-
nopsis;
The charge rests, as has already been
stated, on the affidayts Of Stewart and
Foy.
The first of these men gave it its ear
liest impetus; he doubtless was ready
and willing enough to seize on the first
plausible pretext for uniting in any plan
for the injury Of Gov. Poindexter. He
had been charged by Gov. Poindexter,
with having been instrumental, year or
two ago, in forging or furnishing free
papers for Gov. Poindexter's servant,
who then abSconded; and he held, or
pretended to hold, small unsatisfed
bill for repairs done to Gov. Poindex-
ter's carriage, by directions, as he al
lcges, Of that same servant, who was the
Governors coachman.
Of his agency in the above transac-
tion, or Gov. Poindexter's indebte dness,
the Committee will say nothing. They
deduct from those circumstances, how
ever, the fact Of Stewards unlounded al
legations touching this matter. He
sought as WINS natural, ally in this work
Of detraction, and he found him readily
in Foy; who, although esteemed to be a
correct man, when sober, was rendered
but too fit all instrument, from his habit
Of inebriation in tho hands Of the de-
signing.
The facts above stated, would be e.
nough to render Stewart u suspicious
witness; but when to them is added the
fact, that he is confronted by eleven OF
the most respe ctable men Of the commu-
nifty, in which he lives, who declared,
under oath, that because Of his general
character, they would not believe him
on oath-wheD, too, many others Of his
fellow-citizens, stood ready to testify IN
the same manner, as the Committee had
full reason to believe-when lie is hatly
contradicted by the fact, established by
two witnesses acting under instruction.
from the committee 10 make the exami.
nation, that from the situation in which
Stewart represented himself to be across
the street from Governor Poindex:er's
house, and the circumstances described
by him as existing at the time, it was i'm
possible for him to have distinguished
one man from another, in the passage of
Gov. Poindexter's house-when aliJis
are proved by unquestioned testimony
both as to Lawrence and Gov. Poin-
dexter, at the time stated by Stewart
the one living a mile and half distant
and the other most probably engaged ir
the discharge Of public duties, at hi.
committee room in the capitol--ant
when, too, if Stewart is to be credited
his statement to Col. Brent and others
would go to fix upon the President the
United States all attempt to induce him.
Stewart, to swear to things Of which he
was ignorant, or that his statement, il
given as the President desired it, would
have filled newspaper; thus i,nplca-
ting that high officer in charge ol
subornation Of perjury, which the COM
inittee, as Americans, repel with dis
dain-no two minds can differ in the
conclusion, that this unfortunate man il
guilty Of an offence Of the deepest dye,
against the public morals.
As to Foy, he has obviously been
made an instrument to crafty the ma.
lignity Of others. Stewart first approach