Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1839-01-31

Tor he entertained no such belief. but he
would vouch Tor u, that the partisan
press IN opposition 10 the Administration
~onld not fail, be the complexion of the
committee what il might. 10 attribute IL,
appointment to wrong motives. LIE, the
committee. then, be appointed in such .
way that no such suspicious could be en-.
fcria'ncd with any color Of reason. II,
was great subject. The end in view
was to protect the treasure Of the country
from dhspidaiion. Il had been mos,
shamefully squandered for nitfe years in
succession. and yet the Treasury machin
cry had proved wholly inadequate 10 de.
tect the robbery. This was not n vague
assertion II rested on the authority OF the
highest fiscal officer OF the Government.
the Secretary Of the Treasury himself-
u such were the case, il called for the
immediate interposition Of the House.
For one, he was DESTROYS Of committee
appointed by ballot. in order that the A.
merican People might feel assured that il
would be such n committee, and conduct
the inquiry in such q manner as should
secure TO them the efficient protection of
this House. The gentleman had asked
II the committee should be appointed by
ballot. who would be responsible for IL,
A most extraordinary question Who
would be responsible What did the
gentleman mean 10 throw out the i'm
pu'a'ion that any committee Of this House
rePoscd itself on The responsibility of the
Speaker who appointed it,
MIR. Cambreleng explained. What
he bad asked was. who would be rcponn.
bile for the appointment Of the committee,
II 4, was appointed in the dark,1
Who would be reponsible, The com.
mittee itself would be responsible. let
who would appoint them.
Here some gentlemen. speaking
across. said. lie, them be appointed viva
voce
Yes. sir. said Mr.. NJ. let them be ap.
pointed viva voce, il you will 4; am rea-
dy for such vote but however appoint.
ed. | say the committee. when appointed,
will he responsible for its own acts.
He had dcered il proper that a com.
nittce should be raised in such manner
as TO protect the inquiry confded 10 them
from all suspicion Of design 20 white
wash any body. Let their report 60 10
the American People stamped with the
impress Of bona fide intention 10 redress
great public evil. He went for such
repor!'as should bear the broad seal OF
truth on lis front, and should be wholly
freed from bipartisan character.
In the list Of Ayes and Noes, on the
vote 10 appoint the investigating Commit.
tee OF the House of Representatives. by
ballot, We are surprised to see The name
OF MIR. James NJ. Mason recorded in the
negative. This We did not expect, frou,
his whole course. and especially after
the remarks he made in answer TO Mr..
Cambreleng few days ago. He advo-
Gated. then, certainly. an election Of the
Committee by the House and not BY the
Speaker. We are aware that The vote
was on the motion 10 strike out "viva
voce," and inser: by "ballot"-and Mr..
Nj. may have preferred the viva voce
mode. But, as we understand the case,
according to the decision Of the Speaker
OF the point Of order. had the viva voce
plan been adopted, il would have requir.
ed majority Of two-thirds TO have passed
The resolution--snd, thus. the whole in.
vestigaiion might have been defeated. -
So that, in effect, the vote Tor the ballot
became the test vote. We make these
remarks because our disappointment; in
Mr. Ms vote has. We know, been shared
by others, who are his friends and con
s,i'uents.-.4Ler Go-effe.