The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1837-02-17

their truth or lalsshOnd. The committee
you demandrd VAS ordered 10 be raised.
and yon we're placed u il head The
hrst proceeding oflh investigating COM
mlslee - 10 pass series If resolutions
which, though amended IN their passage,
we're. . understood. lnIrnduced hy y0u,
calling On tile President aud the heads of
the Departments not TO answer In any
specific charge: not 10 explain any alIeg.
ed abuse; moi 10 give information az 10
any particular Transaction; but, assuming
thai they have been guilty Of the charges
alleged. calls upon them 10 furnish eyi>
dence against themselsesl
After The reiterated charges ynu have
made. IL vas 10 have heen expected mat
you would have been prepared 10 reduce
them 10 specifications. and thai The coms
mIstee would then proceed 10 investigate
the matters alleged. Bnt, instead III lhls,
you resort 10 grnerall1ies even NOR vague
> than your original accusations. and in
open violation of the Constitution; and of
that sell'eslablished and wise maxim,
" that all men are presumed To he innocent
until proven guilty. according In the esIa-
blished rules oi Law" you request myself
/ and The heads Of the Departments To- be-
come our own accussrs. and 10 furnish
the evidence 10 convict ourselves; and
this call purporls TO be founded on The
authority Of that body in which alone. by
| the Constitution. the power of impeach.
ing Ne il vested. The heads Of Depart.
men1s may answer such request as they
please. provided they do MOI allhdraw
their own time. and tina, OF the officers
! under their direction. from the public
business. 10 the injury thereof To that
business l shall direct them To devote
themselves. IN preference 10 any illegal
and unconstitutional calls for information,
70 matter from what source il may come,
ar howeser anxious they may he To meet
IL. For myself. shall repel all such al
, Temps as an invasion of the principles of
/ justice. as we'll as Of The CONSTITUTION;
and shall esteem il my sacred duly to
the People Of The United States 10 resist
them as | would the establishment of O
Spanish inquisiiion.
II, after all the severe accusations con.
tanned in the various speeches Of yourself
and your associates, YOU are UNIV llllng of
your own accord to bring specific char
ges, then | request the committee To call
yourself and Your associates. and every
other member at Congress who has aade
the general charge al corruption, 10 hs~
nfy before God and our country whether
you or they know Of any specific corrups
tt"n or abuse ol trust 10 the Executive
Departments: and II so. what il - If
you are able 10 point to any case Were
there is the slightest reason To suspect
corruption or abuse Of trust, TO ohs.acie
which ] can remove shall he Inlerlosed
to prevent the fullest scrutiny BY ali le-
gal means, The Offices OF all the De-
par,ments will be opened To You. aud
every proper facility furnished for this
purpose.
| | hope sir, we shall at last have YOUR
charges, and that you will proceed to in.
ves.lgate them. not like an inquisiior. but
in the accustomed mode. Ii you either
will not make specific accusations or il
when made you attempt TO establish
! them by making freemen their own &C.
cusers. YOU will not expect me to eoun-
tenance your proceedings. In the short
period which remains Of my Official du-
! ~, shall endeavor. as | have heretofore
endesvored. TO fulfil the obligations of
that oath Of office, by which engaged,
10 The best of my ability, to preserve,
protect and defend The Constitution of
the United Stales;" and for this, and
other reasons OF The most solemn charac.
ter. shall on the one hand cause every
possible facility consistent with law and
justice, 10 be given Ia the investigation
Of specific. tangible charges. and on the
other, shall repudlate all attempts to i'm
wade the just rights of the executive de.
partmenls, and of the individuals com.
posing the same. IL after all your ella.
NOR you will make no specific charges,
or bring no proof of such as shall be
made. you and your associates must be
regarded by the people Of the United
States as the authors of unfounded ca,
lumnies. and the public servants whom.
you have assaulted will. in the estimation
OF all honorable men, stand fully acqui,-
ted.
| In the mean time, cannot but ex.
press my establishment that members of
Congress should call for information a.
to the names of persons TO whom cnn,in-
gen. moneys ara paid. and the obIec. of
Of those payments, when there ar six
standing committees under the seven.y-
seventh rule Of the House of Represents
lives, WIN special duties are to examine
annually into all the details of those ex-
pendl,ures in each of the executive de-
par,men,s. The like remark 10 applicable
l., SINE other hraaches ut ,he information
sought BY you, ample details in respec. u