The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-09-23

Rssoiu<1. That select commislec be appointed by
bao. 10 inquire into the cause OF the Florida war and
into the causes OF the extraordinary failures. and the
enormous expenditures which have attended the prose-
euiion Of that war and the manner Of s conduct,
and the facts Of les history generally; that the said
committee hsse power % send FOR persons and papers
and that have power to Ia the and that It
make report 81 the next session OF Congress
Mr. GI.ASCOcK rose and stated, that he did not
desire 10 take up the tune OF the House o. the present
session, which was called for another purpose, ~ az
GUESSING this resolution, there wood he time hereai
ter more appropriate for doing 20. Mr. o. then moved
to amend the resolution BY striking out oil after the
word !. Resolved" and inserting the following:
THAT select committee DO appointed 70. inquire
into the causes OF the Florida war, and the Of
the extraordinary delays and failures, and the expend
lures which have attended the prosecution Of the same,
and oil the facts connected with s history generally
and that said committee have power 70 send Tor persons
| and papers, ss
amendment. by striking out Z select committee and
insert the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed
the effect Of which would merely be 10 transfer the duty
Of investigation from select 70 standing COMMITTEES
1 Of the House. Mr.. H said that his opinion had been
more than once expressed that, a. general rule
was proper to refer all matters which might come before
them TO standing committee, whenever the sub
ect was within the range Of the duty which the rules
Of the House enjoined upon that committee 70 per-
/ form.
MT. MUHLENbENU SAID, winch tuis Iesouttou was
under discussion yesterday some remarks were made
by the gentleman from Virginia my LEFT, Mr.. WiseD
which he regretted TO hear, because he thought they
were in bad TASTE and reflected but little credit either
upon the head or the heart Of that gentleman.
The attack made upon absent gentleman, unable
10 defend himself certainly 70 say the least OF IT,
neither Just generous Il reflects no credit upon any
man 10 insult fallen foe, or to strike and dirk him
when unable resist In this light nust view the
attack made upon the absent gentleman from Rhode
L l. l..x fhowU amid
be 20 cause for complaint for he amply competent TO
defend and take Of himself He would have given
the gentleman from Virginia Rowland for his Oliver;
measure for measure, in every species Of attack
But. sir, have not risen to reproach the gentleman
from Virginia The goodness Of heart with which
know that gentleman 70 be largely endowed, has no
doubt before now induced him TO regret the hasty and
uncalled-or remarks made yesterday have risen to
correct some misapprehension into which he has fallen
He stated that the clerk Of the Committee Of Inyesga
ton alluded to- had egned sickness, in order to gain
time for drawing up report Sir the clerk was taken
i'll shortly after the committee had been organized and
before il had made much progress in its lsbors long
before report thought Of could then say
what would be the result Of the Investigations gong on
The testimony Of the attending physician, and the EVIL
dent marks Of disease remaining after that persons re-
turn the committee, might have satisfied the GENTLE
man from Virginia that the dis ,ase was real and not
fegned At all events il could not have been ieigned
for the purpose stated because there at that time
no maerials for report
When .the proper time for making report had ar
rived, the majority Of the Committee directed Mr..
PEARcE, being the first named Of the majority on that
Committee, draw up report for their consideration;
and believe each member of that majority furnished
him with his peculiar views on the subject Know
positively that this was done by myself and others The
gentleman from Virginia pressed much and 50 nces-
sanity for report from the majority, that it was sub
mtted to the whole committee before the majority had
had opportunity Of hearing read, and passing an
opinion thereon. When read in Committee, am free
10 confess heard il with no little surprise and regret
Immediately, with majority Of the friends Of the adj
mnisration the Committee, protested against its
adoption and insisted upon its being amended. II was
accordingly returned to Mr. PEARcE to be 90 changed
to meet the views then expressed When again pre-
scented the Committee, it met with the appreciation OF
the majority, and complaints were heard from the
minority
Does the gentleman from Virginia recollect that his
report met with fate similar 70 that Of the MAORI
ty that al his colleagues Of the minority refused 70 sign
AS the bitter expe rience Of -heh IN. s.-.i-s-.
from Virginia complains OF having Md on the stocked
committees Of investigation, ne 70 pleased TO call
them, have but little to say This will however
say that never before heard him complain OF the con-
duct Of that committee, Of which he was the charman
certainly such complaints uttered during rs
sittings. When the committee was about TO close It's
sbors vote Of thanks TO the chairman was unanimous
" passed and the which stood in his eye when he
made his acknowledgements and the apparent good feel
ings with which the committee finally separated, would
seem TO tell different tale.
regret that before the gentleman from Virginia had
yesterday concluded his remarks the orders OF the day
called, and that thus prevented from making
this statement Immediately. It would not have been
made IT, as member Of the committee spoken Of, had
not been called upon for il
Mr. WISE said he was happy, extremely happy, that
the gentleman from Pennsylvania had had time to sleep
after the remarks he had heard yesterday and pre-
for Tho
was glad that the gentleman was not called upon on
Yesterday when he unprcpared to meet the state
ment which he (Mr w had made But did the gen.
tleman contradict the he had made yester
day. in the important particular in relation to the clerk
Of that committee writing the report He inquired OF
the gentleman from Pennsylvania whether he put pen
on paper in writing that report The gentleman may
have furnished Dutee j. Pearce with notes. but Pcarcc
turned them to Hallc and Hallet wrote the re-
port
MIR. MUHLENBERG said that this was a matter
between the gentleman from Virginia and Mr. Pearce,
He (Mr. M presumed that M Pearcc wrote the re-
port
Mr. WISE. The gentleman presumed that Pearce
wrote the report Now, he repeated what ne SAID on
Yesterday and called upon the gentleman from Massa-
chusetts Governor Lincon) say whether Dutee J.
Pearce had not admitted presence Of Col Campbell
and himself that Halett had drawn up the report and
that the notes were furnished him by Abijah Mann and
| Mr.. Pearce himself!
Mr. LlNCOIAN stated that Mr. Pearce mad Admitted, I'D
personal conversation, that he the author of the
report and than ths that upon reflection, he dis
approved Of language lie would further that be
believed whatever had occurred Of unpleasant charac
ter that committee IN consequence Of the unrend
" disposition Of the clerk Of the committee, and the inn
pertinent ofcious and irritating course pursued by him
and by persons out Of the committee in connection with
him. He bound, however, in candor, to say. that
when majority Of the committee ascerained the Lam
guage in which that report was drawn up, it as
severely reprobatcd by them as by the members Of
minority. as+
Mr.. WISE hoped that the statement which be had
made fully corroborsted to make itpcrfecty
satisfactory to every gentleman who heard him He
would leave j, to the House. TO every gentleman in the