Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-02-16

| ''"e' neinoers OF Congress-, az ap-
Pea.e oy The public debates, united W it'll YOU
ascertaining their truth or falsehood The
committee you demanded was ordered 10 be
raised, and you were placed at its head. The
nrst proceeding of the Investigating commit
! Tee Is 10 pass series of resolutions which
though amended in their passage, were. az
understood, introduced by you, calling on
the President and the heads Of The Depsrt.
ments not to answer 10 any specific charge !:
not to explain any alleged abuse not to give
information as to any particular transaction
but, assuming that they have been guilty Of
the charge oileged, calls upon them to fur:
nish evidence against themselves
Alter the reiterated charges you have
made, il was 10 have been expected that YOU
would have been prepared 10 reduce them TO
specihcations, and that The committee would
then proceed to Investigate the matters alleg,
cd. But, instead OF this, you resort to gem
eraiities even more vague than your original
accusations, and in open violation Of the Con.
s.ltution, and of that we'll Established and
wise maxim, "that slI men are presumed 10
be innocent until proven guilty, according
10 the established rules OF law" you request
myself and the heads of the Departments to
become our own accusers, and 70 furnish tho
evidence to convict ourselves and this call
purports to he founded on the authority of
that body in which alone, by The Constitui-
ton, the power of impeathing us is vested!
The heads of Departments may answer such
request as they please, provided they do
mol withdraw their own time and that of tho
officers under their direction, from the pub.
lie business, 10 the injury thereof. To that
business shall direct them 10 devote them
selves, in preference 10 any illegal and UNI
constitutional calls for Information, no matter
from what source it may come, or however
anxious they may be 10 meet il. For NV
self, shall repel all such attempts as an in
vasion OF the principles of justice, as we'll as
of the Constitution ; and 1 shall esteem it
my sacred duty 10 the People of the United
States to resist them as ] would the estab-
iishment Of Spanish inquisiion.
IL, after all the severe accusations contain
Ell In The various speeches of yourself and
your associates, you are unwilling Of your
own accord TO bring specific charges, then
request your committee TO call yourself and
your associates, and every other member OF
Congress who has made the general charge
OF corruption, to testify before God end our
country, whether you or they know of any
specific corruption or abuse Of trust in the
Executive Departments; and if so, what il
a.. III you are able 10 point to any case where
:here is the slightest reason to suspect cor
ruption or abuse of trust, no obstacle which
can remove shall be interposed to prevent
The fullest scrutiny by all legal means. The
Offices Of all the Departments will be opened
to you, and every proper facility furnished
for this purpose.
hope. sir, we shall Of last have your char
ges, and that you will proceed to investigate
them, not like an inquisitor, but in the ac-
cusiomed mode. If you either will not make
specific accusations, or if, when made, YOU
attempt 10 establish them by making free
men their own accusers, yeu viii not expect
me 10 countenance your proceedings. In
| the short period which remains of nv official
duty, shall endeavor, as | have heretofore
endeavored, Ia fulfil the obligations Of that
oath OF Office, 10y which | engaged, "to The
best OF my ability, 10 preserve, protect, and
defend The Constitution Of the u States ~
and Tor this, and other reasons of the most
Solemn character, shall, on the enc hand.
law and justice, TO be given to the investiga.
ton oil specific, tangible charges /; and, ON
the other, shall repudiaie ali attempts 10 in.
wade the just rights Of the Executive Do
parlments, and Of the individuals composing
the same. If, alter all your ciarnos, YOU
will make no specific charges, or bring no
proof Of such as shall lie made, YOU and Your
associates must be regarded by the good Peo-
pie OF The United States as the authors of I'M
founded calumnIes; and the public servants
whom you have assaulted will, in the estima-
lion OF all honorable men, stand fully acquit-
ted.
In the mean time, cannot but expross my
assonishment that members Of Congress
should call for information as TO the names of
persons 10 whom contingent moneys are paid,
and the object of those payments, when there
are six standing committees under the sew
enty seventh rule of the House OF RepreseB-
iatiyes, whose special duties are to examine
annually into all the details OF those expen-
ditures in each Of the Executive Depart
ments. The like remark is applicable 10
some other branches of the information
sought by you, ample details in respect TO
which are 10 be found in The reports laid be-
fore Congress, and now on your fies, and to
which recommend you 10 have recourse.
] am, respectfully, &c.
ANDREW jackson.
To the Hon. HENRY A. WISE,
Chairman Of The Investigating Committee
Of the abuses aud corrup,ions charged "a
gainst the Executive Departments.
] certify that this is true copy from the
original sent. Test:
A. JACKSON, Jun.
Private Secretary, sc.
a Cincinnati paper of the 9th ult.
says the Ohio river is open below that