Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1837-02-09

en''eu WIKI you IN these ac-
eusahons; and for the purpose of asrer-
Tang their truth or falsehood the Go,
miuee you demanded va, ordered >.
oe raised. and you were placed a, ~,
mead. The first proceedin, al a..
vestigalng committee Is 20 ms
nes OF resolutions, which ,ho,1.l.
amended IN their passage. were a. a.,
derstood. introduced by YOU r,lr,as
on the President and the head. Of rs
dePaitments-not TO answer Ia NV
ssPe0ihc charge; not 10 explain any al.
'esed abuse, no, TO give Informaroo
as 10 any peculiar Transaction. but a,
suming that they have been guilty ~
ue charges alleged. calls upon them =,
iutnhh evidence against themselye.'
Alter the reiterated CHARGES ,,,,
have made. II was 10 have be-,
peeted that you would have bcenr,c-
pared To reduce them to specification
ana mat the committee would then
proceed To investigate the matters al
i'sed. hut instead Of this. YOU re.or,
10 generalites even more VAGUE than
your original accusations. and in open
violation OF the Constitution. and al
that well established and wise m,x,,,
that all men are presumed 20 be IN
nocent until proven guilty. accord,r.
10 The established rules OF law" you
request myself and the heads of The
departments TO become our own acc,..
sers, and To furnish the evidence o.,
convict ourselves; aud this call pur.
ports TO BE- founded on the au;horit, n
mat body IN which alone by the Con.
s"'"uon, the power of impe aching u,
IL vested, The heads OF department,
may answer such a request a, tho
please. provided they do no, wi,h1ray
'heir own hme. and that of the office,
under their direction. from the pub,.c
n"''neS'' 70 the INJURY thesrof I.
that business, / shall direct them :.
devote Themselves, in preference. =,
any illegal and uncon>,itu,ion,I c,tr.
'or information, no matter from what
source 1t may come. or however any
'on' they may be- TO meet II. For nv.
sell, shall repcl all such at,emp,, as
an invasion Of the principles of ius,ic.
as well as Of the Constitutions: and
Nha'i esteem n my sacred duty 90 tho
people OF the United States, 90 resi-,
ihem as | would the establishment, ol
Spanish Inquisition.
H. after all the severe accusa,,oo,
contained IN the various speecbe, -,
yourself and your associates. Won ava
unwilling OF your own accord TO br,n,
'Pecihc charges, then | request your
committee TO call yourself and your
associates, and every other rember a,
congress who has made the general
charge OF corruption. to testify before
Zoo and our Country, whether YOU or
'ney know OF any specific corruption or
ABUSE OF trust in the Executive Depart.
ments; and II so, what IL is. If ,,n
are able TO point TO anv case vbsrs
'here IS the slightest reason TO susnee,
corruption or abuse of trust. no obstacle
"hich l can remove shall be inter.
posed to prevent the fullest scru,;rv
by all legal means. The offices of ain
'he departments will be opened 10 YOU
and every facility furnished for TIN,
purpose.
nope sir, we shall At last have your
charges and that you will proceed ,o
investigate them, not like an inouisitor
but IN the accustomed mode. III Won,
s !. VIII not make specific ACCUSE
lons.or It, when made, YOU attemp, 10
establish them by making freemen
nelr own accuscrs, you will not EXPECT
"e 10 countenance your proceedings.
IN the short period which remains ~
ny othcial duty shall -fI>jeaver ne
rave heretofore endeavored 10 fulfil
ne oolIgations OF that oath of ofFie,
~ which. / engaged Ito the best RI
ny abIlity, TO preserve, protect ana
ieiend the Constitution OF the Init
yates and for this. and other reasons
u The most solemn character. I shall
N the one hand. cause every possible
aciiily' consistent with law and ius-
'Ce' 10 be gwen 10 the investiOat,on
specihc, tangible charges, and ora
ne other, shall repudiate all a,,emp,,
? invade The Just rights Of the Execu.
We Departments, and Of the indiy,-
uas composing the same. Ifafter an
our clamor, YOU will make no speciG,
harges, or bring no proof OF such a,
hall be made, YOU and your associate,
,nsi be regarded by the good people
lhe . nited States as the authors Of
hiounded calumnles. and the publir
'rvants whom YOU have sssa,led viii
the ESTIMATION OF all honorable men
and fully acquitted
In the mean time. I cannot bu, ex
res ny astOnishmcnt that members
Congress should call for Information
70 Tie names Of persons TO whom
'h"hgtnl moneys are paid. and the
gecI' oi those payments. when there
" 'iN standing committees under ,l,c
'en'y-scVenih rule OF the House Of
rpf"'en'ai'ves, whose SPECIAL du,,.,
= 10 examine annually INTO all the Je.
Us o. those expenditures IN each II
executive Departments. Tho ike
marx - applicable 90 some other
anches OF the information sought by
70. ample details IN respec, 10 wh,eh
'" be found m the reports lad be-
- congress. and now on your fle,
q 10 htCh recommend y.,u In h..