Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1837-01-12

this doctrine. SIR, in private life, no. one de-
mes the right Of q principal To look into the
conduct OF his agent. What would thar prin-
clpal think of an agent who would slsut his
books and say, clana protection under the
criminal code you cannot examine these
books, lest it may lead to a prosecutions "a
gainst mc2 What honest nian.wottld not say
at once he was guilty2 What Judge would
sustain the objection for an Instant? Take
the case of guardian: motion is made in
court, committee is appointed, and he is
brought forthwith'to n scttleiRent; c0uld be
object on the aecouM that an examination of
his accounts might deyelope crime, abd lead
to punishment? Aud, sir, haye not the Ame~
rcan people the same power over these keep
ers Of their treasure, and guardians of their
constitution, laws, and liberties, which court
Of justice can exercise over the guardian Of
an estate, and the chldren who own it, Sir,
because investigation may lead to such dis
covery,.n it does not preclude investigation al.
together. The gentleman's fancy seems to
be haunted by the idea Of cuuInaL prosecu-
tions and pententary punishments. Well,
sir, his ianeies may be realized; he saey know
something calculated to excite his alarm; ID
may lead to that, aud would. not be surpris-
ed If, in some instances, il did; but we move
no impeachment no rDdlctBaent, no present
ment, at this time. We merely ask that this
House, as the great inquest Of the nation,
shall inquire.int the state OF the Departments,
and upon report Of facts by a eolpuoittee, il
will then be able to determine what steps are
proper to be taken. lfcrime is developed in
any quarter, then it will be proper time to
bring offenders TO trial, and they shall have
all the benefits of the strict rules Of common
laws, and criminal law, and the benefit of cler-
gy likewise. Sir. there is something "rotteD
in Denmark" or we would not have this re-
solute and continued opposition 30. an invcs-
tigation which is calculated to show nsn,an-
agement on the part of agents and officers Of
Government. Al the al djourninent of the last
session OF Congress there were pending mo-
tions and resolutions, calculated to eject OBJ:
,jects siMilar to those contemplated by this
resolution, and they were all sssothered by
the party to which the gentleman belongs,
and II believe, with his assistance. The gen-
tlcman dreads Il select committee, while he is
willing to go to trial upon the certificate Of
the President, and seems to have full conf
dence in the result if the matter be entrusted
TO the Committee of Ways and Means. Yet,
sir, he is alarmed at the idea Of select COM
u'ittee, and says it will be a "JouH finding,
censorious comRsittee." Have. the. gentle
men and his friends any thing to dread in the
appointment of this committed: Il the Speak
er subject to the suspicion Of doing injustice
to any of the party in the appointment Gf
committees? Sir is it nut matter of abso-
bute certainty that a majority OF this commit
tee, if appointed, will be composed of the
friends of these ofiicersa Cannot those gen.
tlemen meet their own friends without fear
ard trembling? Is there not virtue and tai
ent in this House sufficient to guaranty pro-
lection to the innocent, as well as to censurs
the detection and exposure of the guilty.
Are gentlemen willing that it shall be UNDER
stood,and 60 abroad to the country, that they
cannot face such committee, composed OF
gentlemen OF the highest honor and purest
principles, even though they are. their own
friends: And these, too, are the men in
whose hands the Government of the country
10 placed, and who claim to be above suspic-
ion, beyond the power Of this House, forted
in upon all sides by the ramparts Of the Pre-,
sident's certificate. .
There is one other position assumed by the
gentleman from Rhode Island, which is quite
original, and merits particular attention.; it is
this, sir, that the direction given at the last
session to the bill commonly called the Ex-
ecutve patronage bill, is conclusive as to the
views Of this House upon the subject of Ex-
an inference that the House then gave its
sanction to all that had been or would be
done in the way Of Executive patronage in
all its departments. What are the facts irt
relation to that case? A gentleman from
New York (Mr. Mann) on the 25th Of Febru-
airy. 1886, moved 'that said, bill be referred to
the Committee on the Judiciary" Ny col
league (Mr. Belly moved it should be referred
TO a select committee," and pending these
motions, a gentleman from Virginia Mr..
Dromgoolel moved "that The Executive pat
ronage bill be committed to the Committee
ofthe Whole House on the state OF the IN
'ion," which motion took precedence of the
others aud prevailed, aud there the bill has
slept ever since. The question of Executive
patronage was not taken up for considerations
afterwards; and now the gentleman contends
that the House having failed to.act upon the
subject, il was therefore against the bill, and
in favor OF Executive patronage to the fullcss
extent. Sir, during the last summer, in Tene
nessee, endeavored to incucate this doc
trine so far as to hold majority Of this IIouse
accountable for its failing to act upon this as
well as some other important questions, bue
this doctrine was conirovcr,ed by you and
your fsiends. How would it hold upon anoth-
.er great questionable question Of amending
the Constitution Of the United States SO as
to secure the election Of President and Vice
President to the People at all cvents,and un-
der all circumstances? For the last two sos
sions of Congress this has been leading
question, und afforded fair opportunity for
the party 10 show their zeal in carrying out
the measures of General Jackson.' !, and tile
friends with whom act, have ever been in
favor of that measure. At the session before.
the last soon after il was known that Judge
White was a candidate for the Presidency,