Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1837-02-09
DE Il ATE IN THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

wi
/, condition Of The Erecuiire Departments.
Delivered in the House Of Representatives,
/ on the 4th and 9TH of January,lS37.
/, Mr. ROBERTSON began with observing
that, although entitled to the floor, he had
not intended 10 interrupt the business in
which the .Iouse had been just engaged, by
n call for the order of the duy. In truth, he
should have preferred that the subject now
under consideration should have been per-
mitted to lie over until his colleague, who
had presented the original resolution, Mr.
| WIsE) should be present to defend IT. But
it had been the pleasure of the House 10 or
der it otherwise; and, concnrrlng, as he did.
in the propricty Of that resolution, he should
Reluctantly assume the tack, which his col
league would have so much more ably per-
formed of viAdicnting it against the chico
tions urged in debate, and the insldious at
tempt, by way of amendment. to defeat 1t.
/ The present discussion (snd MIR. X. has
| been pronounced by n gentleman who took
part in il, (Mr. MANN, of New York one of
| the most useless that ever occurred in tins
| Hall. And so far as respects the success of
the proposed measure, the remark. Judging
! from the fate of similar efforts 10 obtain the
/ privilege of inQuring into the condition OF the
| Executive Departments, may be perfectly
| Just. But that gentleman regards it as use
| less, because, he tells us, no one now objects
| to the passage of the resolution III some shape
or other. We shall see, Sir, how this ls when
| the vote shall be taken. But granting IT to
be true, still it is all-important that the shape
| Of the resolution be such as will attain the
| object in view. Ifthe form proposed by my
colleague be adopted, it will justify n thorough
| investigation; if the amendment prevail, all
inquiry may be suppressed. Gentlemen, how
ever disposed to investigate, may be unwil-
| ling to assume the character OF accusers or
witnesses. They may not personally know
| the truth of the facts into which they would
inquire, nor choose to vouch for the suspicious
|, which are abroad. TO demand a specific ac-
cusa,ion before inquiry,is to reverse the or
der Of proceeding. The very purpose OF an
investigation is to ascertain whether there II
or is not ground for accusation: for, If specific
charges could be made and sustained. with
out previous inquiry. inquiry would be un-
necessary. We might proceed, at once, to
impeacb the officer or correct the abuse
The shape of the resolution, therefore, Is mol
matter of form merely, rs gentlemen would
seem to imply. In one form 1t will throw the
door open to inquiry; in another It slams II IN
your face. II the form be SO very immatcrl-
al that all discussion is useless, why, sir, was
the resolution, originally proposed by my
colleague, not accepted at once? why has
an amendment been offered SO unacceptable
to him aud to those who concur with HIM
Unless this amendment was designed to pre-
vent the full investigation they ash, what pur-
pose could it answer, except to provoke that
useless debate, Of which gentlemen complain,
and in which they have taken SO large share!
Instead, however, of taking the vote upon q
resolution which, il is said, all are willing In
some shape to adopt, it has been vehemently
assailcd, and a multitude OF objcciions, utter
I ly frivolous and inconsistent, have been ar
rayed against it.
Il The gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr
PEARCE) objected TINT it is not bold enough
4 TO use his own elegant metaphor, sit doe'
not take the bull by the horns" II gentle
men have any thing to say against the Pres,
d dent. he desires it shall be done in due form
and then, we are to understand. full latitude
would be allowed. But he Immediately re-
flutes his own objection: for he ndds that, il
passing upon the acts of the Presidents n,tniS
iers, we necessarily pass upon him.
The gentleman from Louisiana, Mr. RIP
LEY on his part, objects to the resolution ex-
pressly upon tho ground that it is direct as
sault upon tho President himself: that II i'm
putes to him taschood and corruption; ant
declares, that to institute an inquiry would be
to sanction the charge. Thus, sir, one OBJ
iects because the resolution is not bold e
nough, the other because II is too bold; ont
because il does not take the bull by the horns
the other because it does. 1t is impossible
THAT both can be right in the reasons assign
: ed, yet both will concur IN voting against tn
' resolutions; and, shape our course as va may
we cannot reconcile the one without dlsoblig
ing the other.
None will contend that my colleagues re
solution is not sufficiently broad. That, siI
is the fatal objection; it was designed to b
ch'ectual. Gentlemen complain that It rs to
broad; not specific enough. 1t is very much
suys the gentleman from New York, (Mr
'' NAM in the nature Of a general search -nar
rant and the gentleman from Indiana, MI
LANE) is opposed to n roring, unlimited, an
restricted committee. Let us suppose thes'
objections prevail. and that n committee ls ap
=. noipted under the restrictions imposed by tn
amendment. My colleague, as chairman
proceeds at its head In the Treasury Depart
'e ment. The sign of Reuben NJ. whitney, y
y large capitals, attracts his notice. My col
'r league, you know, sir, has always manifesto
n strong desire to investigate the nature ,
b the alleged conncxioh os'~eeh w hithcy q"
the Treasury. lie is about to enter. Stol
.. say the gentlemen, specify your charges.
. :, make none, my colleague replies; ! come
!" !" institute an inquiry. Then ,ce cannot procee'
" ire are mol roring ,uniimited, ,unrsstric!ed,con
nntiee. Besides, sir, this Mr.. Whitney Us
priroie gentlemen, he occupies a barber's shol
BARRIERS shops doubtless may be found some
times very convenient appendagcs to bank
E. TO enable them TO shave their customers; bu
I'd my colleague might be at loss TO understan
what occasion therc could be for ono, u II 0
ofthat dcscriptiot,, 80 near the treasury