Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-02-16

He was not prepared say how far the conduct OF the
Clerk Of the House had been proper or improper upon
that subject we had contradictory evidence from the
members of the same committee, who proiessea 10
know most about IT. in favor of fact there were two TO
one in favor of the proper conduct OF the Clerk oil The
House yet it appeared that the House was called upo
and by those too who appeared to know the least aoou
it, TO cast unmerIted censurc upon the Iielk an"
this too upon the most insufficient evidence OF near
sau Now, this was the principal subject that nc
had risen notice, and against the course pursued
in relation 10 it, he entered his most solemn protest
that had been adopted during this and the last
Administration against the public officers OF every de-
partment of the Government; which, i'll his judgment,
was as unjust The would not say dishonorable) it was
lliberal and unstatesmanke. Sir, said he what was
that that had become Of late so much IN pracce
III this House, Ii that the most inexperienced OF
the members who had not been IN their seats long
enough to become acquainted with the most ordinary
modes of the transaction Of business either by the 9TH
GERS of the House the heads OF The Departments mad
attempted to make themselves leaders of their resPec
tive parties, by arragning and denouncng every officer
in your Government for corruption misstatemen mai-
easance &C. arising nine tunes out OF ten out Oh tet
own want OF experience upon those subjects, and their
inability TO understand them. Such has been emphat.
,ay the pursued in this House for the last several
years by which your DID, experienced gray hared men
have been thrown entirely in the back grounds or they
| have been wofully derect and negligent in their duty
20 their constituents and some OF your best public OH
GERS have been condemned BY the public without hear
ing, and before being called on even Tor the slightes
eSplanation which might have been the fullest justin
cation of their statements and conduct and thus have
gone abroad many of the most unounded and unjus
mprtati against the best of men without contra
dc,ion He put it the candor of gentlemen, It sucl
a course was fair Was it honorable: Was It just o.
sa.esmanke: Would it not be revisited on gentlemen
with rer,butve JUSTICE and, if so, could they, will
any grace complain
Again, he commended that it was practice both un
statesmanlike and unparliamentary-of recent date
adopted TO effect party purposes Heretofore, 1t na
been the case when the conduct of an officer was I'm
peached or assail. special Committee was appointed
10 examine intn nd report the fact to the House, or Al
explanation called for by the House from the accused
before either cond emuaton or Remuneration by IN
members of this b,dy, by whom he was to be tried
But how different now, when condemnation and de
nunca,ion always plecedes either trial, explanation
justification or defence and conviction is entered upo
some second or third handed hcarsay' For instance
your Clerk ordered supply materials for staoner
10 this House. II is presumable that ne does 1t al
reasonable rate the nature of the case admits
After it is done, q Yankee nutmeg maker, pei
haps writes to some member of the House that had
been applied to- or elected Clerk TO the House, he wou
have furnished those materials at much cheaper ra,
than your present Clerk has furnished them. Withou
doubling this without calling your Cer
for any explanatiou-without calling on Il committee
report the facts 10 the House, you call up your Cer