The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-05-09
ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE MIND AND
CHARACTER OF WIN. HENRY HARRISON
NO. H.
INVESTIGATION ny CONGRESS.
Speech in Congress. :


What, sir the immediate Representatives
OF the people, TO whom the army and revenue
belong, have no right to enter into an investiga-
| ton to ascertain whether they have or have not
been employed in a manner warranted by law
Whether the public force has been directed, and
the public money expended in the manner which
they have authorized! Yes, say gentlemen in
vestgate if you choose; but express opinion
which may imply censure upon the agents of the
Government. That is, if understand the doc
trine that you are to investigate until you are at
the point Of arriving at the only object for which
investigation would be useful, and then you are
to stop. Are gentlemen aware Of the length to
which this doctrine would carry them2 That
you might appropriate money and authorize an
army to be raised for the conquest of Floridal
and the Executive n commanding Genera,
may them IN an enterprise against Canada |;
and that, III such an event, your inquiry must go
no further than to ascertain that something
wrong has been done, but you are not to say
when where, lest it should imply censure on
some The Constitution has been read
and we are asked TO point out the clause which
gives the right to censure direct or consequent
tal. can show no such clause, but can show
the section and the article which gives to Con-
gress the sole power of raising armies, of raising
+ a revenue and declaring the object in which
those armies and that revenue shall be employ
! ed; and does it not follow, as a necessary con-
sequence, that they have right to satisfy them
selves whether they have or have not been SO
employed, and, if they find they have not, to say
so2 An individual places his money and his
servants at the disposal of an agent to accom-
plish some specified object. Has he not right
al all times to oblige the agent to give an ac-
count of his conduct and, if he finds that he has
, misapplied the means that have been put into
his hands, to declare that he has done so? II is,
il sir, self-evident proposition
al RpfS xpa hat tvo hav ha rinhf N
d impeach the President. Granted. But could
we with the least propriety, even if il were our
object pursue that course, until we had ascer-
: tanned that he had either committed a wrong
HIMSELF or permitted wrong TO be done by an
other? In the present case, no one has dreampt
Of such step; the only object is to express an
i opinion upon the constitutional powers of Con-
gress, and the right of this House to guard those
powers from being innovated upon by the other
; branches of the Government. Sir, it is a sacred
o right and il should be maintained with firm
, ness, one of the great republican features Of
the Constitution, necessary, not only for the
preservation of liberty, but for ordinary correct
: legislation. How, without this power to inves-
y tgatc and to pursue the investigation until the
: blame shall rest upon the person who deserves
it, shall the Legislature be ever able to ascertain
the cause Of any misconduct in our military and
n naval operations, which may produce an event
), requiring legislative provision? =
C This right of investigation has always been
e claimed, and never denied TO the British House
d Of Commons at least since the expulsion Of the
y Stuarts. They not only investigate, but they
> point out the individuals who have, in their
opinion, been guilty of misconduct and require
OF the King that they should be brought to pun
shmentp
And yet, sir, the House of Commons have
not as we have, any agency in declaring war.
That is the exclusive prerogative of the Crown.
But, holding the purse strings of the nation,
they clam and exercise the power upon all oc-
! casions to satisfy themselves that the public
. revenue has been expended, and the public force
directed, in the manner best calculated 10 secure
the honor and interest Of the nation But, sir,
the power Of investigation and of deciding upon
: the conduct of General officer. is not only i'm
: portant as republican principle, and for correct
Legislation, but important, also, for the protection
! of the officers themselves. How often NAV il
happen, in time Of war, that Minister or even
!, a President himself, may attempt TO shield their
: own misconduct BY imputng undeserved blame
. to commanding General? and where is he 10
n look Tor protection for his fame and his charac-
ter 10 court of inquiry, designated BY the
c very persons who are interested TO convict hm2
No, sir; but in this House. the immediate re-
e representatives. of his fellow citizens and the re-
e representatives., | trust Of their virtue and their
justice, as well as their political opinions
PuNsIIMENrs IN THE ARMY
Speech in Congress, -- IS
c IF you are not willing, sir, (said Gen. HAIR
\ I..,x1. q Al