Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-05-11

uunn 4 subipc, of a totally different character; pending
that resolution, a gentlemen from Kentucky, tar. 'iai'
LAM offered an srn"ndmen', calling ua'n 'ir brP"iti
men, Gop information upon lmr identical subject Te!e1ieu
l." The committee. Failing In d,scmHarrass my frsniu
lion from this amendment. and feeling well Sa''s'!tu ""'
any answer from the Department, however c''''e',
would MT be satisfactory. the Department "rlhs :"
Iupi'catsd. | determined 1" propose an !n4ultf /" I'm
which worId he =, our. ,tiecl,vc and satIs!lc!"ri; anu
with that view, proposed 10 hlr Harlan 10 "'.,"i""
his amendment. which ne old, and cfiefc" We ! 'o,'S
organizing the committee, which was
adopted For this act. forced upon me as IL N"s u! o'
cunst,pces and for The course which felt II my GUY
[, pursue upon that committee. AIN informed " F
ter now in ray possession, from Il highIE ci'I'''o'
source. that a newspaper cnt!es P"!lc:h' was caitu upon
and earnestly rrrsd 10 GCUurrce me ii:f"ngh NE en-
l,,r,s or ,,c Albany Argus" Notwithstanding the
resolution was unanimously adopted, and that me T'so
luton which organized lie committee O.! winch Nhy coz
League ialr WISE was chairman. embracing 4 LnHcn
more general and extended scope OF inquiry. Sas clt!eu'
and lis adop,icn earnestly pressed By Mr.. VanderrorI,
a decided friend Of the late Administration, and ad'P'tu
With Iut seventeen d'ssen!ients, ltseri!s l "as the "hiy
yic;:.n-i was 10 be destroyed.
MIR. Sp, akcr. never discharged any duty. eiihcr Pno-
lie or private, committed In my charge, inote iaitiiiriiy,
moro jIunpgl!y. or more consc:c nl:auslr, IN my he tia"
did uyon that occasion. When resolutions t lhc sai''
character were previously offered by my colleague WI
W,sel uniformly voted Tor their adoption, because l
thought if the char-rs which tad been made, a"a 'h1'
too from such high and respectable sources, were t'ur,
i, was dus to The nation iha; hey should be detected and
exposed; # moi, that i, was due !" the Administration
and the head Of The Treasury Department, that VIZ"
calse Impressions y hich existed should ne removed, ana
entire cInfdence restored. When offered the Te'c'u
tiun which was adopted. stated mos; distinctly ana I'M
eqa.vocaIIy, that did not t,.uk The charges wcie iiu''
bn,. If they were, that every friend Of The h5minis':a
ton, and of The purity o! OCr Government, Should ot
sire 10 know it; if not. that then the rcSpons'oiilE "oNiu
ia! OF those who had made the accusation.
Highly distinguished representatives Of The People
upon this flror, men III whose honor and sinceiHy l n'u
-,s- -. -. ..r..,,I ,,r, Ia nrilnrir OF luiOT-
nation v lilch they bad rccei''d, 'hciT tei,e' III '' cA'
is;ence OF the iiiIcI; connection " !lIch was charged l" TX
ist brlurcn an individuslund the Treasury Department.
This though, sufficient, not only TO justly, but impefl-
uusIy TO recaire the investigation. In the PROGRESS OF
the Investigation was delIca'eiy situated; was i ifieno
OF He Administration; was the mover oil the resolution
organizing the committee; / was It's Chairman. and. II !
had been controlled By policy alone, It would have been
s.,cid, i in me 10 have opposed the most lau'uGinous
inquiry Of which the subject ~as suscePtihie; 5ul ! was
no, controlled by policy; ! was controlled ny a sense OF
duty to the country, as well as 10 the parties Implicated,
ana by this rule shaped my course. The differences OF
opinion which arose as To the admissibili'y of testimony
were natural and to he expected Mr.. Sp'aker. VIII
state to the House that General Jackson himself desired
these Investigations: and. although ! did mol know 1t IN
III AFTER had taken my course, vet | am Informed. 90
indubitable authority. lhs, he had pre- pared a paragraph
in his annual Message, inviting Congress tn institute m
vestigaticn into these very subjects; but, upon r'hec"on,
determined 10 express his confidence III the ability and
integrity wi,, which the Executive Departments bad
DStn dUililisltItu' W a N''S'''S 10Y 49,"
course which it might deem mgst ~exPedIent.
Mr. Speaker, the report Of that COMMITTEE, md The TO-
suit 0: its Investigation, are before Tie cHln'ry Tor lis
unbiased and impartial judgment. VIII express no
opinion concerning 1t, Only that iiS '1uors were aFnuo"S
and incessant. not surpassed tv those Of any committee
when was ever Organized by iiis House and hat The
information which The TepoT. lur?afts 10 the country,
whether as affecting tie ;narnccment ct the Treasury
Department. or The Stat" bank c"roSl'e Systena'Is "o?ln
infinitely b. y0uG he pGl,ry sum which Il cost the nation.
Mr.. W!se. call upon my colleague, in sincerity and
candot, 10 say whether the production o; The "~o"i cap
letter is not IL i's.!f worth the Whole ccs':
do not ROW recol!ec, with sufficient accuracy the
contents Of The = rcoOi clip" lrrer, To- answer ny co!.
!engue satisfactorily. | recolicc; thai that letter made q
very strong impression upon my mind.
have no inclination, Mr.. Speaker, 10 assume re-
spons Grlity tina, does not belong 10 me. / certainly am
NJ, entitled 10 the credit Of originating lhn; invcs,lEa
lion: but If il suits the views 0i any 10 place the 70.
saonsibil,v OF either the paternity or expense Of HAT
commi,'e. on ms shoulders, frr 9oCd or for crH. for Teai
o. for 1cG, | an, willing 10 take II TO IN" utmost c1IHat.
and, wnan called to account, will discharge that re
sprnslbli,y most amply. by pointing To The contents oi
the ,eport Itself wiI. say that TINT dncnm"Gt sill
disclose the fact ara, the Secretary of the Treasury was
giving iha, Identical nrganizl'ion TO the State Bank de
p3slle system, which now. whsn offered b" another, Is
called a league IF benks, dangerous 10 tie Liberties Of
the country.
The Speaker here irteTposec, aHc SAL" hr. VI. was owl
of order, and he desistrd.
aiy h]onogahte colleague, OR Dromgoole) in the re.
marks which be submitted to the House in favor Of his
gtueudment nj. on Yesterday, stated. thai in eubiuitiinE thHt
amendment. hp had other aud more important objects lr
view than 10 ascertain the ul "a expenses Oi these com.
miuees. He contendct. that iIese committees, under
the authority to send for persons and papers, had eSei'
c;sed powers in issuing snhpCGnS. which DID mol neres
sarily or properly crow ont ui that authority, 0nd that
his amendment would bring That subIec, 70 the vicw "i
ihe House. How, under TIE authority II ascertain the
expenses uf these investigating committees, the COM
m.,lec proposed 10 be char trd with the inquiry, car en-.
Ter into Tie investigation Of The powers OF iLis House.
or of investigating committees 10 Issu" ~subieAas and
Summon witnesses, ! cannot, for The iIc 81 me. per
caIvc; the one has reference merely to The addition
Of dollars and cents; The other. 10 most Important
pnwfIs necessary 10 the ctfrcii:a exercise o! the
right ul investigations. differ with my honorable CT
league totally md essentially upon this question 81;
power. regard the power If this House. either by il
self or through is committees. 10 investigate corruption
and abuses IN It's own 'TembrtG or in the Executive a"G
judicial branches Of the Gavernr"n, as absolutely and
essentially necessary 10 the preservation Of tn" purity
Of the GovcrUm"nt, and tn. STABILITY OF our IG.'!'r'iGns
Strike IL down 2! render II ineffective, ana cJTTGp-
ton. hrazeu faced. unchecked. and uYcnu''olrd. will
stalk through the laut N the face nf day. TIE Ccnsti
luton has wisely armed 'Er representatives uf the pru
pir With this power. TO check and control those who '!@
more dlslaaliy removed from responsibility 10 them |
would ask M honorable Colleague hos tbs ro"cr
rouid be exercised with nav. effect unless this House
had the power to bring before them amH conpc! 20 les
ify the individuals who bad knowledge ni the facts or
documents wh!c! would prove ia" corruption or o2lS",
or ~yindicaie the innocence of ilr accused; il would hC
a mower without he means of execution, which. Ike i
BODY without Il soul. wnnid be inaujnra'c and useless -
The very object Of ins,ilu;iGg such Inquiries aud making
such Investigations Is Ia ascertain facts and there ~"
no means by which 10 ascertain facts unless the pro-.
duclion of documents az The ,"si .lica,ion Of witnesses
can he enforced. The power Of Congress 10 investigate.
is commensurate with the jurisdiction Of the Govern.
mrn;. and necessarily carries with 1t The po"er 10 rive
effect. by sending for persons md papers, The truth Of
this position is daily illustrated ~ the jurisdiction and
,,st,n al 81 ~ Tho pu-, .kp have he plp A Dgu