Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-02-23
POLITICS..
MR.. HOYTs MEMORIAL

We copy, this evening, from The New York Evening
Post, the memorial Of Nr. 1oyl, Collector OF New York
kug the House OF Representatives 10 direct the nves
iIgs,lmg committee 10 furnish him specification of the
charges if any, which have been made against him. and
10 give him al opportunity Of cross-exumning the
sat"ry Witnesses aud vi making his defence This pa
per presented yesterday, with many other petitions
and memorials and by general resolution applicable to
all of them, laid upon The table
We have only room for very few remarks the case
disclosed b. the memorial, and the correspondence in
cnrpora'd ~ II are they needed, the document
Itself will give TO all vino read clear view Of the lie
gal and tyrannca course pursued by the committee
Nothing can be palmer than that the committee was
not empowered, under The circumstances 10 set foot
On investigation into The transactions and accounts OF
Mr. H"yt lie had not been charged with deialcaiiou
whsn the committee was appnnied on The contrary IN,
Secretary of the Treasury had oscrbed to his vigilance
The detection Of the enormous delinquency of his pre-
Geccss"r; aud b. committee itself, when il entered OIL
him ,v,b uring deauller The resolutions conlin
cd defa!ca,lonsihe debates all related to the DEAL
cations e Swurtwout, Price, Graiot, and others which
on the 9Th of January, 1889, when the resolutions
passed lccre kR0Cn 10 tlS and in all probability
not a sBgls member who voted for them contemplated
the aiiluduarian construction which has been adopt
ed by the committee 1t was even commended tint
there nal time during the remnant Of the ses
sion, To investigate the detalcalinns Of Swarlwout
&c How, then, could the House have supposed
that the committee not only to scruiinse those
cases. but TO enter upon voyage OF discovery, to
certain whether or not some other drIaca alton, not
then known or suspected by any one, might not &C.
tually exist? This TO have been the view which
the committee itself took OF its powers on rs arrival
New York; and 10 this view appears to have adh. red
until the 25,h Of January From that time the inres-
gallon OF Swarwous transactions seems to have been
abandoned, and those Of Mr. H"yt 10 have formed tn,
great subject Of investigation Whether this was prompt
ed by the conviction that DothDg could be found in the
Of Swariwoui that could be turned to political &C.
count, and by the hope that something Of this might
be found by overhauIing the affairs of Mr.. JoyI is
point upon which, whatever may be the allegations o.
the committees every intelligent and unpr, JUDGED nint
will haze little difficulty 10 turning lis judgment.
Mr. Hoyt, however, made ol lection To the power:
claimed by the committee leaving that question To- b,
settled by the committee and the House oil Representa-
lives. he places before them all The documents reqrir
ed, and Offers TO produce all books of account ant
other matters relating 10 his official conduct and this
though charge specification whatever was furnished
by the committee. His request for such specification
not only not coupled with, but the committee begin,
It's proceedings against hIm in secret and by inviting
from winch it must have known was hostile nnr
prrudiced, and which Mr. Hoy offers 10 prove is ppu
ted and corrupt TRADE Of gratunus charges and ns
nuanns, all Of which 10 be recorded in the Journal
and to be placed before the House and the country
malicious Or unfounded they may have been This
m procedure persisted for several days. anG
il Is not until after full materials for suspicion and as
sauit have been obtain q, that the intended victim
be informed OF the ordeal through which his persona
and official conduct and reputation thus passing
When, at length, the commi,teee is compelled whe
thrr by the "Reminiscences of The minority or by SOM
temporary visitation Of Justice remains TO be seen to
pause in lis to send for the accused; and to &c
quaint him with the peril 10 which he is exposed il is
only to introduce further mockery of Justice, and
violations OF candor and fair dealing Mr. Hoyt is
deed permitted tn be present the further examination
nf The wI'ncss-but how? He is himself during the
whole period To be placed The rack; and whilst Mr.
Wise conducting The process, he may watch if he can
Il,o tnc,Itn pf his IL, =, Al
crossexamne him, and may produce evidence to mpeach
contradict him; but he discovers when his own sxam
closed, that the committee is about TO lea the
city, at AL hour early TO render this impossible
tle demonstrates and gets he the
the committee to receive from him written COMMUNE
cation relation TO the testimony of his sccuser Ia con-
sent. by the way, which he not bound TO ask but
be fore be finished is again called before the com
miltce Suspecling-and the subsequent conduct of
the committee shows, justly suspectng-,ha his com
muncalOn will not be acted on, he declines answering
4 question proposed TO him, until this shall be done -
The committee is thus brought a stand; but lis dignity
is wounded. and 1t gravely resolves that communca
ton shall be received from The contumacous offender
until the is reacledas If the error or dscnur
tesy of MIR Hoyt could authorize the committee TO tram
pie his rights, TO dispense with lis obIgoonl
Along with this sentence, however, promise is made
10 him, that if he will rctract the decnatory answer
his communication will be received and acted on. This
is Immediately done and what is the conduct of The
committee? IL redeems its pledge by flying from The CITY
with the communication unaced on and unreceived and
without prop"undng the exon paLory nterrogatnries or
calling before it any oflhe witnesses which
had been named
1t is needless TO dilae on the gross repugnancy &c MI
these proceedings TO The spirit of those provisions If the
Constitution which declare That no person ''s!ial bc
com PEELED, in criminal case, 10 be witness against
HIMSELF; and which 10 The accused the right "o
be informed of the nature and cause of the accnsation
10 be confronted with the witnesses sgans, him; 10 have
process far obtaining witnesses his faror
The violation of these principles becomes The more
in this because committed under color of
authority derived from the immediate representatives Of
he people and the peculiar guardians of public liberty
But whilst the conduct Of the committee finds no war.
ant in the Constitution, and has but few parallels in nur
own country, in any other which enjoys lh- benefit
equal laws it may claim the sanction of least one
conspicuous example. In the account which Mr.. Pres