The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-01-15
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEBATE IN THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES..
TUESDAY, December %.
(Coatinaed.)

TUESDAY, December %
(Coutined)
[Mr. WISE here modified his amendment BY striking
out the document No, Ill altogether he wanted lie
two others, 10 show that, without going one inch be-
yond the date of the present administration there had
been not less than from 80 to go Of dcfacaon
during The incumbency Of Mr. fancy and Mr.. Wood
bury, Mr.. w. inquired whether the gentleman from
Maryland would now vote for the resolution
Mr. I, said that he could not. He objected to tho
publication OF 10000 copns Of document No 1877 at
any time. II was very volumnous. II contained four
hundred pages. Much Of the correspondence in it was
valueess, worthless The circulation generally Of such
document could be Of but little service The public
money would be more adyantageously employed in the
printing for distribution OF one single speech illustrating
TINS correspondence than in the publication of te docu-
ment itself BY printing il would furnish lucra-
i've Job to the public printer and do but little service
he public interest He opposed, therefore, to print
ing twenty thousand copies at any time, and hc would
not vote Tor the printing Of any number Of copies
ne document is imperfect Before it is published, we
should have from the Secretary of the Treasury fur
ther information MIR. T. urged similar objections to
the publication Of document No. Is relating to Swart-
wouts defacaton, He in favor of referring thar
subject to committee empowered to make searching
examination into that stupcndous fraud in all its ramif
cations When that has been completed the House could
publish full information that important matter
aud no man he hoped would be disposed to oppose the
proceeding.
In conclusion Mr.. T. denied that he and those who
acted with him. desired to up hide any Of these
defalcatlons He prepared TO expose these plum
derers Of the public Treasury. Bnt he would not be
forced to vote for resolution involving useless and
extravagant expenditure Of public money from ap-
prehenson that by withholding his sanction from such
measure he would subject himself to unworthy and
unounded impntaons. He had the moral courage to
obey the dictates OF his own Judgment on this or any
occasion; and he presumed that all other members
would do likewise .... 5. +..s..... u
Mr. LEGARE rose to express his establishment at
what had fallen from the gentleman from Maryland.
i was uncomfortable to him that any gentleman should
have serious objections to the printing Of important
public document.
[Mr Thomas said he had no objection to the printing
of document No 297 1.-THE correspondence, but was IN
willing to vote for 20,0 900 copies
MIR. L. said this somewhat diminished his astonsh-
ment though it did not wholly remove it. For, with
out pretending to say whose head the charges made
would ultimately fall, what would be the verdict Of
the public after seeing those documents he must with
all due respect to the gentleman from Maryan say
that he had shown good against the printing
1t to him personally matter Of profound ndiffer
whether party the other would be condemn
ed for their shameful depredations the public purse
it was of immense importance at the present moment
that all the light should be shed on the public mind that
could be brought to bear the great subjects before
the country. He was amazed at what he had heard
And it. indeed, that the country fallen
that, if the Government administered ought to
be- could not be found fill public offices in whom
the public could confde He had hardly ever listen
ed to any thing with awakened interest than to
the very extraordinary correspondence which had been
read in his ears He would by all means have it spread
before the world 1t the very thing he wanted to
see. He wanted to whether amy axlty
remssness manifested by custodier OF the pub
lie money, he was frowned upon by the Government,
whether its organs bowed TO deaulter and treated
him with criminal eny because he was powerful de-
magoguei Were they ready to sacrifice the principles
of the Constitution the interests of party! The gen.
.teman from Mississippi had amused them all by the
ner which he had exposed some Of these transactions;
it impossible to listen to things he had said,
and resist the force of his humor but still it was
most grave and serious matter and Mr.. L. had left the
House deeply and painfully musing the disclosures Of
official maeasance which had been brought to light
And what his establishment to hear, at this parcu
lar moment of all others, the principles Of economy
sorted against printing these matters and
sending them abroad into every part Of the country =
Never there expenditure which would better pay
for itself in the good would effect This was docu
ment which, above all Others ought to be abroad
all the WINDS especially at this moment, when new
system was proposed by the Executive for the custody
Of the public treasure, and the people called to
compare the two schemes between which they by
their Representatives to choose. He hoped the print
ing would be ordered :...
Mr. WISE said he DESTROYS Of saying few words
in reply to the remarks Of the gentleman from Mary
land, (Mr. THoMAs) That gentleman assumed that my
object in wishing for the printing of the Secrearys
respondence (the important document among those
proposed to be prnted) merely to show that defa
cations existed to large amount
TMr. THOMAS interposed to explain He had not IN
tended to take any such position he then went into
recapitulaton Of the points he had made in his speech
Mr. WISE. | understand the gentleman | under
stand him most perfectly should not understand
him any better after he had made five thousand expla
nations of his speech than did before he made it,
knew that that genteman's party instincts would lead
him to oppose the publication Of these documents
say this without intending TO impugn that gentleman
motives or his integrity speak only of his party In
stincts Modify the motion as II may, well know he
will never vote for it. IL the gentleman had patiently
sat here with the other day for six hours and half
until had pretty fully eviscerated this document No
297. containing the correspondence OF Mr. woodbury.
with his Land Office Receivers, he would have found
out that my object had not been to show, as he says
what every body knew before, viz that great and nu-
merous defacaons do exist but TO declare in the face
of day that if had the least hope OF either being sus
tanned by this House, Of getting an honest trial In
the other branchI would not wait twentyfour hours
till filed articles of mpea chment, and rely other
proof than is contained in this document And will
agree to forfeit forever my public station, to turn my
back upon these Halls and again dare to offer
myself to the confidence Of my constituents if Oh this
document No 297, and on this alone, cannot convict
the Secretary of the Treasury of wilfu and corrupt
gect and violation of his official duty. And ask was
there such offer publicly made, such challenge
openly proposed, in Parliament Congress, in respect
to Cabinet Minister, without his friends accepting it,
and calling for charges / say again, give me twelve
honest Of the Secretarys party, and let them
be put upon their oaths render verdict accord
ing to evidence and pledge myself to convict him on
an Indictment at common law will show, not merely
that defacatons have taken place. but that the Secretary
himself the chief offender. do not mince my terms,
| speak coolly, deliberately once more repeat the
avermen. that the Secretary Of the Treasury is guilty
of wfu gross, and corrupt neglect and violation his
public duty. And | say that this document No 297
will prove the fact under his hand 1t is to furnish
callnd for Tho Of thcsn