The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1836-04-30
From the Richmond Enquire.
EXPUNGfEG.

From the Richmond Enquirer.
EXPUNGING.
We are indebted to q friend al Washing
ton for the following singular documents.
The reader can scarcely have forgotten
the extraordinary fact, which Mr. Rves
has brought to light ir his late luminous
and conclusive Speech. It actually ap-
pears (savs the Danriiie Obscryer) :. that
no trace Of the nannsertpf Journal Of that
body, i,he H. Of r. from 1850 to 1884,
a period of shrty,fre years. is now TO be
found! Il is thus apparent that after The
journal was printed. it vas considered and
treated as sras.e paper! Mercy on us! what
a eommeus is that upon Wing orators. and
the expunging panic-makerss Whist be-
comes Of the ocean Of words, poured
fourth about The distraction Of tie rrccd-
u,olafed oaths-and na outraged Cdastitx-
sioa! Many of the present sn.i-erpunging
Senator's, such as Clay, Calhoun. Tylcf,
Webster, &c, were members Of this
same House of Representatives, during
tl,is period. and Of course were ihe gHar-
dams, the "keepcrs," the aprsserrers Of
this defunct journal. Good sirs. how can
you again look honest men ia the face,
after having thus. according to your own
showing. suffered these saeTcd rcMres to
DO thrown army and destroyed for moro
,han the third Of century. without once
raising your voice TO prevent the sa-ri-
lcgc,
Z" Mr.. Benton tells Us that the Journal
(of the Stnate) which it has all at once;6e-
comes 50 sacred daty for tho WhigSto
presove, be found carelessly stored aaay
in the attic stsry I.hc garrett Of The espii.
lol, wi.hou, heePu, prey TO RUS and
every kind Of vcrmin that choose TO nakH
war upon il. We learn that there arc
ore Mgrsaad and ten copies Of the journal
printed. which are distributed among tho
Colleges and Universities OF the various
States. and all the States Of the Union,
Tor reference and pseserudioa-and also
throughout The woild-astwo copies each
are given 10 all foreign governments who
have resident ministers in this country;
and these printed journals arc admitted
into every Court OF the United States rs
true and regal records. How then can
Tho journal be destroyed by drawing
black line around resolution on the
manuscript journal, and writing half
dozen words across the face Of i,."
So far from lha, excellent paper, the
Danvillc Observer. The documents which
we now lay before our readers confirm TO
title the statements Of Mr.. Rires, and,
show how notably the journals have been
krpt for the space Of IS years. according
to the swelling doctrine Of the modern
Wig. and how completely the ConsG-
tuition. in their sense Of The keepsag elsusc,
has been violated by all parties, and
through every epoch. What ddes the
following statement show, but this: Tkat
the original Manuscript copies Of tie Journal
of the House Of Representatives,, rds not
preserved before 1924: and that tie naax-
script copies noao in the Horse Of Reps esen.
tatires, are copied fron tie p,lated eepiss7
,chieA are considered the oFeial and perfect
copy, beins printed xnder the order Of tie
House Of Representatives,, and all errors
corrected IN it. And YET Notwithstanding
the original journal was actually destroy
cd in the one House, and carclessly
thrown by in the dust Of the garrei, in
the other House. wha, a holy horror have
these guod Wings poured forth a. the
very idea of marking lines around the
present manuscript. copy, and writing
across "Expuneing." SO as not to Sefaec
line or letter!
(coP1.
1 flousr OF RrrRE.IsrAIwEs or rur Z. SrAIks.3
.iprH 6, 1885. !
DEAR S,n: In answer TO the enquiry
contained in Your letter Of this morning,
have to state, tha, the original rough
manuscript Journals "f the House Of Re-
rrcsenta'ives of the uniicd States, Chose
read in the House on the mornings,J have
no, been preserved 10 period anterior 70
the commencement Of the first session,
eighteenth Congress, ls33-a)
For your further information, enclose
you copy of communication from Mr.,
; Rrrr',, or nc subject,