Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-07-08

upon the Indians hut also 10 inquire into the 81
tie Indian ,cars md this too, AFTER the repeated invec
tives Of the gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Wise against
tile Executive branch OF the Government tor not re-
porting or disclosing the true OF the Semi
mole war Have the friends othc Administration lost the
recollection: lCnot will they not bear witness tina
the gentleman from Va has again and again charged the
Executive with cuip pablo omission to communicate
to the true nfthe Seminole hostiIlies has again
and again denounced whahe seemed 10 suppose was co
tunlacy in the Executive, for not answering caS "o
fayoring with the necessary light on TINS eue
And are those who claim to belong, VINO are Inv ~
self, proud to belong 10 The pGry: are iney ieu'y
vote for a resolution which involves an adns
these of-repeaed complaints nre wen lo""ueu 49, c
does even more than this which involves an appeal o'
this alleged delinquency and contunacy OF .ne EceIt
tive to an itincrcnt and rost po'ccTeSS coeH'e - S
Touseq Let gentlemen show by their votes on lhs &C.
c,,on how crcJuous and confding an ear they lend
bere ~ accusations against that good old man, who has
given such noble such repeated such ample p'eoges OF
devotion ito the best interests OF his beloved county
A willing to say by their votes without evidence,
that he has been grossly rcmss, that he has been guilty
on sin Of omission that should expose him TO the
yeres reprehension Of oil honest men? Let them
swer BY their votes.
He Mr. W could not but admire the tactics of the
honorable gentleman from Virginia, and he hoped thai
upon this occasion he would not by success exemplfy
remark which he made few day ago in speech on the
depose bill, after its passage. He then pronounced an
high eulogum upon a distinguished member of the other
branch Of the Legislature, and told US that the Skill ana
with which that gentleman had secured the success
of his vori,e measure, were enoughto gam him Immortal
fame; that he knew when and where to strike; thal
upon that occasion he had made dash at the covey and
the birds had scattered and divided twould seem that
the honorable gentleman means to initiate the eS
ample Of that distinguished man. He has thrown in
among the flock, and he hopes to scatter aud divide
them but they have not yet mounted on the wing, ana
oil time for reflection has not yet passed The gent!e
man well knew that bald and naked proposition OF his
own raise Committee to inquire into the causes OF the
Seminole war; the alleged ground that the President
had refused 10 communicate it, would not for moment
be sustained by this House.
The gentleman from Alabama introduced resolution
that the President inquiry to be made into frauds
upon the Indians; and then the gentleman from Virginia
very OPPORTUNITY, he doubt supposed offers his
amendment by which he not only proposes to transfer
the subject Of the resolution of the travelling
mttees of this House, but incorporates another matter
which involves direct imputaon Of delinquency upon
the Executive; which proposes an inquiry into matters
which the gentleman has often told US that the Tx
ecutive has pably neglected to disclose to US. he
doubtless supposes tina, the overwrenng, the very ada
bic anxiety of the friends Of the Administration to
eViscerate the frauds upon the Indians would
tempt and control enough Of them TO secure to
his anendmen,-to swallow it, though it was made both
bitter and acid by The implication Of gross neglect tho
part Of their veneracd President II remains to be seem
sir, whether his tactics will flghten and scatter enough
Of our friends here to secure the triumph Of the honorable
gentleman tavorte measure. lie (Mr W trusted not,
when they saw 1ckat 1t rcas. The Pill suf
cieny gilded to deceive and deude enough for the pur
poses Of success.
that any Of the frauds in question should be concened
the contrary, he fU- adopting the most efficient
TO bring them 10 the light and to the
ton Of the world. lie was in favor of nstutiDg
mission by law to inquire into them. He was for three
commissioners nominated by the President and
red IN by tie Senate, who should be invested with the
most renary powers 20 Ferret out the dark doings that
we had heard so much talked about. How much more
efficient would be such commission, than committee
appointed by this House. The one would be the
ttre Of the entire legislative power of this government
with powers adequate to the fell execution Of its duties;
the other would be the iserebls tcketty, and impo
tent creature Of brunch Of the Legislature, with
powers uncertain, undcEnej and for all efficient purpo
very doubtful de Of course meant nothing person.
ally dsrespecu to any of the committees Of this House;
he used this language only to express their mpotcncy
and entire insuficiency for the occasion He was as
tonshed, very much estonshed now, to these inter
regnum travelling committees such peculiar and strong
favori,es Of the honorable gentleman from Massu.
ehusetts, (Mr Edams} Fee heard very different lam
gage from that gentleman former occasion. Only
two short years ago appointed select committee,
with all the powers that it competent for ttis House
to confer to inquire into the transactions of the Bank
of the United States il was an able committee, and
composed Of as able men as graced this floor. WE'LL
they repaired to Phlleiel pha, with their power Of at
torney to send for persons9d papers; summoned Nj
cholas Diddle Esquire to appear then, to make
certain discoveries, which t,oy oought 'r Biddle ar
peared but very politely refused to crafty tie curiosity
of the gentlemen Of the committee and they returned
to Us, just Is wise in relation to the dongs OF Mr. BID
ed to US the conumacy Of Mr. Bidde, his virtual def
ance of their powers and the powers of this House; and
where was the member here, who amid the doubt and
uncertainty the powers OF the committee, which
all felt deemed il prudent to propose ginate any
der against the President or Cashier OF the bank? WEo
has forgotten speech which the gentleman from Mas
sachusette, (Mr. AdamsD delivered that occasion,
demonstrate the imroteaay o"s committee OF this
House, and to give idea Of the farce that would
be played off here in any effort that might he made
to enforce its imaginary powers. Never was any body
triumphantly satirised than that occasion
Of these fishing 'pcrSon ard paper" committees of
this House. The ridcue which he then aYished upon
such COMMITTEES ard it, fancied powess iadeed
overwhelming. He gave US, as many gentlemen here
will recoect most graphic fancy sketch Of the forms
through which would 60 TO yindicate own dignity
and the powers Of this House. He imagined that we
would send to take Mr. Hiddle and
all his directors end the valiant and pussant Sergeant
returning with his troop of prisoners and being asked
how he took and secured them ALL answering in the t
umphant tone and language of certain other single
liant SergcanO would respond "Why, Lsurr0unded
all of Mcmn' This memorable and able speech many
here would 1eeoec for it had made en- indelible i'm.
preston his (&r. VS. mind, and wehad just
heard the gentleman make just able speech on
the other side of the question:! The opinions of men,
Mr.. Speaker. what sudden what miraculous changes |
they ofltiples undergo!
The argument of the gentleman from Massachusetts |
struck him as in many respects very strange one lie
had told that his Mr VS. colleague in opposing the
appointment of such committee in Of this Kind
had surrendered nearly the whole of the impeuching
power of this House. If he had the utmost respect
for the character and the opinions Of the venerable and
distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts, he would
say, that to teik of sucha committee asauxary the
impeaching power, absurd IN the extreme. Was
there proposition here 10 mpeach any officer of this
Government for official malconduct; and were the pow
ers of such committee invoked to inquire: prslminury
into facts in order to ascertain whether there was su
cent ground for Impeachment? He had heard nothing
Of the kind. How, then, could the gentleman tell us
that this committee was required auxiliary the i'm
hon nif
offence requiring or jusfying Impeachment >and when
al that was proposed to be done by the commiSca was
to 60 on an inquisitorial expedition against hoe of
Pecuators upon the rights and property of the ndans'