The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-05-12

sP.i,aS9 yVbat purpose is TO be answered by the
printing! Do we want IL printed Tor our use what
pssf What have we 10 do with IL, except to shut
our ewes and our against its improper and un-
timely attempts TO bias our Judgments In case which
we have not yet begun to tryl DO we want II PRINT
ed for the use of the people, For what purpose
To enable them TO Judge the case, and condemn the
accused Are they the constitutional tribunal TO
Judge and condemn In such easel But even II
they were are they 10 do II upon the sienSth oil
report which we are not at liberty TO make the blsis
of our own judgment Shall we send them the case
imperfecily developed, in mere preliminary inqui-
ry for their judgment, while We bound suspend
our own until there be full hearing at our bar
What can be more prepoSterous than this
But may be asked, are you unwilling 10 trust The
people with this case answer, no. Whenwe, ON
VIII is thrown the responsibility OF trying II, shall
have discharged that delicate and painful duty then
let the case 60 TO the people just we shall have
had IT, and let them they may rightfuliy do, sitin
Judgment on Us, and approve or condemn our de-
cision.
Ihaye heard the resistance of the motion 10 print
characterized effort 10 suppress the truth, and
keep the people in darkness on this subject But
gentlemen may as well spare themselves the trouble
of making such suggestions They will fail OF their
intended effect They mistake that portion of The
people who feel deepest, though they may not talk
loudesi, on the subject OF the duel II they suppose
them be thus easily msled, then they equally mis-
take them II they suppose that they VIII thank
us for sending them as the whole OF this case, an
imperfect report Of IT, for the purpose OF precpitat-
ing their Judgment on il. They have too much good
upon the strength OF an excitement produced by
report sent forth tor party effect They desire 10
such report. They thirst Tor the blood OF no
body. They are willing 10 wait our decision; and
they would as decidedly condemn US Tor sending
them this report il they understood the ease, (and
they will understand H. as they would court oil
justice which should before trying cnlprit publish
the indictment, the evidence taken before The grand
Jury a recommendation by it OF a conviction and
sentence and its argument 10 sustain that recon-
mendalion Their common sense and right feelings
would revolt at such proceeding; and so they VIII
at this.
There may be those among the people who desire
this course but they will generally b. found to be
men who care less about putting down dueing than
they do to make the present occurrence an occasion
of political excitement They have morbid appe-
lite, which nauseaes at nothing, however foul and
loathSome which may crafty the voracious, al-con
Stunning desire of party triumph. have most re-
pulsvc example OF this in the Globe of this morning
which friend has just put into my hands, contain
ing an article copied, with appreciation, from Phi
ladephia paper in which the people are called on 10
get up petitions TO this House, praying that the re-
port Of the committee, under our consideration,
NAV be immediately adopted. Yes, sir, before even
seeing the report the editor Of the Philadelphia pa
per, having learned from that part OF IT which has
found its way into the Globe before being read IN
this House, that pronounces sentence on the persons
implicated in the duel, calls on the people to ask US
to sanction the report before they have even seen
what il contains This sir, is fair illustration Of
the spirit which prevails in certain quarters on this
subject, and is clear indication of the use which il
is desired TO make of the publication of the report
now asked. Sir, will have no part or lot in such
project this. Irecoil from il as from the embrace
of serpent, and wash my hands of it now and tor
ever.
Mr. Speaker, there is nothing which the people
more value and venerate than the forms and uSages
designed to secure fairness and mpartiaity in the
administration OF Justice. Nowhere will they more
readily and spontaneously lay aside their personal
and poll ica animosites than when they come with
in the atmosphere of judicial tribunal The bit
hP ted tiralr I'm
there sanctuary from every avenger except the
laws stern and steady minister. The Of jus
uce! how deeply Is 1t seated in the human BOSOM
Beware sir, how you trihe with il. You know not
how soon its perverson may visit you with its in
fictions. temporary triumph of bad passions may
be achieved and even a desirable result sometimes
reached by overlapping its barriers, and breaking
down its detences But the temporary good is far
outweghed by permanent and enduring evil. The
same barrier which you break down 10 reach, sum
marily the guilty, may be overleaped, TO perSecutc
and destroy the innocent
Mr. Speaker, Justice clothed in her ermine robes,
lifts up her monitory voice and warnsyou beware.
She points 10 the Constitution, the great charter OF
our liberties and The guardian protector Of the weak
against the strong and admonishes us by all that is
just and wise in its great principles and by all that
is pure and holy in her own noble nature, to pause
and cause and consider before her veneraed
forms and sacred name TO sanction even the slightest
injustice. Let Us, sir, heed this ddmonltlon; and,
instead Of asking by what means the greatest party
effect may be given to our proceedings on Tins sub
1ect, anxlOuSly seek 10 know Dy Wnal means we may
exert the greatest moral power against duelng, and
most eHectually contribute TO Danish 1t from the
country. Let us disengage the as much as pos
sble from all party entanglements, and frown ndig
nany on every attempt to divert the pure stream OF
virtuous Indignation excited BY the late duel into the
muddy and polluted channel of parry. Let US send
back this report 10 the committee and direct them 10
report The testimony and nothing but the testi-
mony. Let us deal imparially in our animadver-
sons on the dead (for we must speak Of hm,) and
our infections on the living Let us arraign at our
bar, for fair and impartial trial, erery who has
participated in this duel, and unmoved by clanor,
and unawed by menace-if menace there shall be
without hope fear favor, or affection, pronounce our
judgment on all the actors in this bloody tragedy.
Such proceeding and such Judgment will tell on
the convicted, if convicted there shall be; and will
tell on the public sentiment throughout the land.
But sir, il is in our power 10 mar this whole work,
SO that it shall go from our hands piece Of detor-
nifty which shall consgn its authors TO the contempt
and execration of the world. And such, sir it will
be, it must be, II this prosecution is carried through
in the manner in which il has thus far proceeded
Let il be arrested, and turned if possible into d.
recon that may lead to results which shall not
utterly defeat the pure and honest purposes of the
People, by whom the judgment Of this House upon
the acorSn this fatal tragedy has been invoked.
MORE ny Mr. SLApE -Whet, the foregoing remarks
were made, the report of the committee supposed
to be within the control Of the House. and its publica-
ton to the world with the exception Of the resolutions
at its close which had strangely found their way into
the GIobc) was supposed to depend on the decision Of
the House upon the motion 30 print, This however,
has turned out 10 have been mistake The committee,
seems, had ordered number Of copies of their pro-
ceedngs sufficient, merely, for their use, TO be
printed at the Globe office, under injunction
that other copies should be printed This injunction
however, has been dsrcgarded. by publishing in the
Globe, on the evening OF the day which the foregoing
remarks were made, the report OF the committee, with