Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1837-03-02
REUBEN nj. WHITNEY AND THE
house OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

| Much has been said about the earnest de-
sire of the administration party to have
thorough investigation made ol alleged abu-
ses; with what sincerity need not be told to
those vino have kept the run Of passing events
at Washington.
\ How extremely apprehensiye they are that
some disclosures may be made which would
place certain prominent individuals in rather
all odious position, and how determined to
shield from condemnation or rcproach, Reu-
ben M. Whitney, against whom there ccr-
tainly lie some strong suspicious OF having.
exercised under government power and
control, to which he legally and justly had
no right, must be evident from the subjoinod
letters; the first being from the correspondent
Of the Baltimore Patriot, aud the second from
the New York Daily xpross.-LProv. Jour.
\ Correspondence Of the Baltimore Patriot.
\ WASHINGTON, Feb. IL.
Il The question pending when the House ad-
journed, last evening, was on allowing Mr..
Peyton to PROFOUND an inquiry to the witness,
Il (Mr. Hamer of Ohio,) relative to the conibina-
ton and conspiracy which Mr.. p. said he had
good reasons to believe did exist between X.
Nj. Whitney and certain members Of the
Il House. The train bands mustered full and
strong this morning, to prevent this question
/ from be ing put IL was too searching. Mr..
i Peyton, with view of affording no room for
cavil or objection, altered in some measure
the form Of the interrogatory, and requested
the witness simply to state whether he had
heard any member Of the House declare that
some proceeding should be adopted in order
to bring the occurrences in the committee
room (which have been so often referred to)
under the notice of the House,; and if yea,
then to state whether such opinion was ex-
pressed by many members of the House; and
| whether any member had suggested that the
| proceedings against Whitney, for n contempt
would be proper mode for eilecting thot OBJ
| ject.
\ The question was manifestly so fair, that
| not man of the party had the front, at first.
totake exception to it, 1t was handed to
! the witness. lie prepared his answer, and
returned both to the Chair. Now began the
tluttering among the Royalists; and just as
the clerk was about to read aloud the ans,cer
one of the Regency men screwed up hIs
boldness, and objected, on the ground that il
implied an imputation on the motives OF mem
bers.
Mr.. Peyton raised question whether ii
was in order to object TO question after the
! answer TO it had been returned?
Il The Speaker decided it was in order.
i Mr.. Peyton then refused the objections ia
| ken by Mr.. Turril Of New York. ie wish
! ed to know whether the real object Of gen.
| tlemen was not to affect certain members Of
| the House. lie believed he conld prove that
! Whitney, and those connected with him, are
practising a gross deception on this body and
! the country. He demanded an opportunity
to adduce evidence to establish this fact.
Il Such was the force and lmpressiveness OF
Mr.. Peyton's appeal, that the House refused
to obey the mandates Of the Regency; and
r agreed that the question should be put, by a
5 vote of 50 to IS. We'll done for once!
Mr.. Hamcr's answer was most important
:, lie had heard some members say that the
j proceedings in the committee room, which
d had been referred to,ought to be brought un
der the notice Of the House.
! Mr.. Wise then put question in order t
elicit the fact that the object ofthe presen
course Of proceeding was to affect him ant
Mr. Peyton, and requested Mr.. Hamer t.
state all the circumstances and objects con
nected with the conversations, meetings. anc
> remarks of members and Reuben NJ. Whit
ney that go to show such was the object.
i This question wss objected to.
!, Mr.. Wise referred to the remarks Of Mr.
Poyton yesterday, and said they expressed
his reasons for wishing to put this question.
He was on trial, he said and not Reuben NJ
Whitney! The issue had been made by the
i House, whether he was such character thai
peaceful man dared not appear before him
He had not the remotest doubt Of the contrir
ance by which the present course of proceed
ing was brought about-and he proposed thl!
as an inducing question to bring before th'
House and the country the truth But h'
meant to 90 farther, and show whether th'
Executive power was not TO be brought Il
bear against two humble members of tha
n House. He denounced the conduct Of th'
parties who clustered around Whitney unde
! the pretcncc Of sheterng him from injustice
:, While they thrust themselves forward as thu
d champions of justice, they are openly ant
S flagrantly violating every principle OF law ant
right, and trying him without notlce-with
| ont cusaton-without arraignment-wlth
out even asking him whether he is guilty ol
= not guilty. He demanded an opportunity tc
unmask his accusers.
J. The question ,cas r9iectcd Ayes 73, noes
J. 95.
.lj The young Virginian then put another
|: query. framed with exceeding precision an,
i per,inacity, to ascertain if the witness knew
4 whether the President had not advised an
D recommended the present course OF proceed
| ing, and whether that functionary did not di
rectly or indirectly assign as a reason for j,
that this would try the conduct of Messrs
Wise and Peyton in tho committee rooln,urg
ing that it was necessary to condemn tina
conduct.
Mr. vanderpool Of Kindcrhook, objecte
to this inquiry. The President, he said, wa
not at the bar. and he did not see what ligh
l. this question would throw on the point at Is