Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1839-02-14
From the South Caroliniap.

people Of s. c. will read with pleasure
the following brief but spirited and high
toned remarks of the Hon. F. w. Pickeus,
on the Resolution Of Mr.. Wise, TO appoint
a Committee Of investigation into the de-
falcation of Saml. Swartwout. They are
characteristic of the mana true hearted,
chivalric, and faithful Representatives. of a
generous, high hearted, and coa6ding peo-
ple-and admirably in contrast with the
mean aud selfish evasiohs, doublings aud
twis,iugs Of tho miserable hacks and tEralls
of party:
Mr.. Pickens inquired of The Chair whe-
ther il was a rule of the House. as lately
established, that the election by uira uoce ap-
piled to committees of the House.
The Chair replied in the negative. 1t
applied to officers of the House alone.
am in favor (said Mr.. P.) of the most un-
limited aud unrestricted investigation thai
the case demands. Ny only objection is
to change in The mode of choosing COM
mittees. II is The established practice Of
of the House for the Chair to appoint them.
The reason of this, suppose has been to
enable the House 10 act with energy and
decision. 1t is impossible, in practice, to
bring so numerous body 10 act, other
wise, with any decision. Especially is
this the case in the short session. YET, al
though am opposed 10 the resolution Of
the gentleman from Virginia, on principles
of expediencv and policy, and though be-
lieve the difficulty ofthe inquiry 10 be SO
great that il cannot be gotten through with
this session, yet will vote for The. resolu-
ton because gentlemen who are clamorous
for an investigation wish the resolution to
pass in that form. vii. give them all
they ask. LIE, them probe corruption TO The
very bottom. | will not shield the guilty
/ will hold up defaulters TO the sun in the
heavens, and let the flies blow on them,
and let the world gaze at the corruption
that covers them. The gentlemen shall
have justice done, SO far as my vote
can 90.
I should not now trouble the House.
had / not been referred 10 by several gen.
tlemen, who have been up. What! do
gentlemen suppose that, because choose
to support an Administration because it
supports the priuci piles of The Constitution,
my mouth is to be shut when corruption
is to be exposed? Ifthey do, they have
greatly mistaken me. Neither the smiles
Of party favor, nor the pitiful denunciations
of party malignity, shall deter me from
treading the path Of honor and virtue.
do believe that there has existed most
shameful corruption in the country. Take
your committee, and 60 and search il out.
and purge the country from such con-
taminalion.
But, when you attribute this defalcation
and that tdefalcation.io 10 this or that peculiar
system Of managing the pnbic finances. |
enter my protest against all such deduc-
tions. As well might you attempt to make
God responsible for SIN, because he has
breathed life into human beings. No, sir;
whatever gentlemen may charge upon the
sub-Treasury scheme, believe that much
Of this robbery is chargeable on the legis-
lation of this body. You have thrown
millions upon millions into keeping Of tho
Treasury, and human nature is not always
able TO Withstand the force Of temptation.
| did moi vote for these measures. ln,lS35
the House voted to place three millions,
in one gross sum, in the hands Of the Ex-
ecutive, TO be disposed of, at his discre-
tion, in the public service, without speci-,
flying single object to which it should he
applied. Thank God no man can say
tina, | sustained such proceedings. The
gentleman has quoted Shakespeare. I
will say TO him "Thou canst not say did
it." will Dot screen any man from iu-
vestigaiion. 60 for the strictes, respen-
sibility Of every officer Of Government 10
This House. Those principles have al
ways governed me-; and no temptation
shall seduce me to depart from them. Let
no Que suppose shall abandon them for
party considerations. scorn il. will
express my sentiments here with the most
perfect freedom. No party ties shall bind
me down 10 questions of corruption. Take
your committee. You shall have my vote.
Take it. But still believe The thug will
prove a failure. I desire that the exam
inatiou be full and prompt. l should think
that committee, if appointed by the
Chair, ought to have upon tia majority of
those who are heartily in favor Of The in
quiry. But gentlemen desire another
mode of raising the committee, and they
shall have it. As to the poor miserable
party tactics about whether the defaulter
has been Wing. or Conservative, or
friend Of the Administration, it is to me
a matter of the slightest interest. would
not turn on my heel to save the President
himself, if be is justly chargeable. Again,
say, take my vote.
A Poai Office has been esfahlished at