The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-12-15
THE PRIVILEGED QUESTION. !"

Our report of the proceedings in the House or
Tuesday, contained some verbal errors which gave
an incorrect aspect to the merits of the privileged
question" moved by Mr.. Bolts.
We will proceed to rec,ify the error
When MIR. Bolts rose with cunning smile on hi:
face and began to rituperate Mr.. Spencer,
Mr. WISE interposed, and inquired if his colleague
raised privileged question:
Mr. Bolts. l do'
Mr. WISE. ask it to be stated.
Mr. Bolts said he had found in that letter (NIr
Spencers) the two following paragraphs
az may now advert to a fact long known to me
which has been promulgated IN the newspapers OF
the day vouched for by at least one Wing editor stated
by Representative in Congre S from Massachusetts
in speech lately delivered in Newburyport, upon
authoriu and hitherto not denied That fact is tina,
previous TO returning the second bank bill to Congress
with his objections full view of the assaults to be
made upon him, and with the purpose of removing all
cause of agitation, well as to secure himself
az anst unjust imputations the President submitted
to his then Cabinet, whether he should, in the mes
sage then about to be transmitted to Congress, an
pouncc a resolution 10 retire from public life at the
expiration of the existing term and that against his
doing So all the members Of the Cabinet then pre-
sent protested, the ground that such an annunca-
ton would not have the effect to produce peace or
quiet but would only change the direction of factions
that no one had right to expect such step from
him, as he had not been elected President, and OBJ
legation existed that should interpose any barrier be-
tween him and direct vote OF the People"
That paragraph, said Mr.. Boris, shall leave to
the members Of the Cabinet TO answer for themselves
There is one of the gentlemen this floor, who can
answer for himself. know nothing about IT.
But there was one paragraph to which Mr.. b.
would particularly call the attention OF this House.
Ilo bep f,rthe al following
e]n connexion and yet in contrast with the pre-
cediug is another fact Of extraordinary character
which. though known by many, has lately been dis
tinctly promulgated. 1t is shadowed in a letter of
Mr. EwING's in the statement by him OF PROPOSE
ton having been made TO the President that the ma
ority who had passed the first bank bill would con-
sent 10 postpone the second to the next session Con-
GROSS If they could receive assurances that in the
mean time no hostile movement would be made on
the par; Of the President The fui meaning Of Mis
stat ent has noe been eoped by the declaration Of
ember Of Congress that message ards carried from the
Wing leaders in Congress TO me President 10 The effect
that he ,rod engage not 10 disturb amy members IF his
then Cabinet in The enjoyment Of their Offices, the second
bank bin should be postponed. The answer to such a
proposition may be easily conceived The cfe oil
that proposition to prove the identity oil the men,
b.rs of the Cabinet whose places were deemed IN
jeopardy with the hostile members OF Congress and
If the design to precipitate matters, il was most
effectual.
"You will require aid to de'ermine which Of
the actors in these scenes exhibited lofty dsn,e-
rested patriotism, and which evipced any enaciy for
Mace or desire for power. These facts full Of
instruction, and furnish key to many my sterious
transactions"
Mr.. WISE rose to order He submitted that the
paragraphs which his colleague MIR Botts) had read
did net involve any question OF privilege before this
House,
Mr.. Bolts coptcnded that they did, and then Oh
fcred the following resolution in writing;
Rsso'r,d, That a committee of be appointed
to inquire the truth Of the charge entertained IN
the letter Of the Hon. John G. Spencer, dated the
25th October, addressed to Lewis X. Faulkner and