Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-02-08

public eoasideration would consider What each and
every one Of themselves would be subjected 90 II
they undertook 20 pass a vote Of eensure one OF
their members for the act Of which he accused
for presenting q petition in this House. He
hoped the House would take occasion to consult
the precedentsof what had been done heretofore on
charges OF a similar kind. The most opposite case
OF any that existed that of trial for breach
OF privilege, about four years ago, in this House,
upon charge Of cold blooded deliberate MUIR
der OF one o; the members Of this House. lie
had alluded TO that from absolute necessity
heretofore. He now alluded to il in order that the
House, before they came to decide on him, would
inform themselves what the proceedings in
That ease he knew Of none that clearly rescmbled
IL
ttiere message was received from the Senate,
oy i's secretary, A. DIckins, Esq, announcing that
that body had rejected the bill from the House re-
pealing the bankrupt lawl
MIR. A. said he hoped this was good omen for
the decision Of another Of tho avore projects Of the
gentleman from Kentucky. IA laush.l About
four years ago, he continued, q deliberate cold
oooded murder was committed on q member ofthis
House, and, after the funeral ceremonies had been
performed, according to the custom Of the House
upon the decease OF any member, proposition was
brought IN Tor taking up the subject on the ground
oil breach of privilege. Il was referred to a com.
mittec Of the House; which committee, after a req.
sonable time, presented three distinct reports. A
report Of majority Of the commttec-at least such
II purportsd TO be-who were all good sound Loco
focos-ofthat very denomination Of persons, inolu
| ding number OF individuals present, on whom
| the gent sman from Accomac (Mr wi,o) m.ds
such magnificent panegyric day or two ago.
| The majority concluded their report with three 20.
solutions, (which MIR A. here sent to the Clerk Inv
whom they were rcaj.l Then there was minor;ty
/ report Of two members OF the committee who wers
against reporting these resolutions and who assisn
ed their reasons for 1t. And. finally, there was a
third report, by very distinguish and mos, no
norable gentleman from South Carolina, then n
| member OF this House, now no longer So wben
the House came to make up their minds as to thei
right and duty TO pass censurc upon hun he hon,
the members would take care TO read each Of these
reports, and mark particularly and a,,entiyelv tbs
| report of the single member from South Caronr.
| Hc begged leave TO ask that small extract feon
the report Of the majority b. read; (which was ac
cordingly read by the ClerkI
This first paragraph (continued MIR Az e.tab.
shed, IN the name OF the majority OF the commute,
who reported these resol utons that the House has
no right to try their members for crimes over vhcI
the courts had jurisdiction; for it appealed to III,
very amendment of the Constitution of which h,
had claimed the benefit in his own case rs n mot W
and reason for them TO confne their inquiries excu
sively 10 the question OF breach of privilege of IN
House. So far, then, as that would go as a precc
dent, II established ut once the very question an
he presumed the House would consider il as n ne
cedent, binding them in this case.
1.-The Clerk then further read from the report. a
the request OF Mr. Al
MIR WISE addressed the Speaker.
The SPEAKER said the gentleman from, yir,;
ma was not IN order, unless the gentleman fror
Massaehusetts yielded the floor. Did the gcntlsn,a
yield the foor1
! Mr. ADAMS replied in the affirmative.
|, MIR WISE said: Now he had an opportunity r
, saying what he had long wished TO say. He thank
ed God that there was large assembly here TO bca
II. An opportunity had at length arrived for hin, ,
vndicate himself, now and forever, from the cbars
OF lnstsating and advising the duel Of Graves an
Cilley. The gentleman from Mss,,cbnse,,s -.
, charged him with being ins,iga,or and adviser
that duel, and of being moro guilty than "the ma
who pulled the trigger. He was now calling for Nh
reading of the Journal in the case with the vie,
, incidentally of convicting him of that charge. ri
sud hat he was glad to see that the two Senator
, from Kentucky who then lat the tine of the din
r represented that State, were now pre- ent One :
mem (Mr Ciay) was Just sitting Immediately I've
hnd the gentleman from Massachusetts And
could appeal TO them as his witnesses that hi, ad
vice was not the advice relied upon or followed i
! the performances OF that duel-t was the advice a
another, higher, better and more distinguished ma
which was relied on. And as 10 what occurred uno
the ground, he was there an armed second 10 euor
the lie oil his friend, with written instructions in hi
pocket AND the only regret he had was, that h
was induced 10 GO there not approving the prelmi
nery steps which had been taken in that ,ht
, Here Mr. ADAMS interrupted Mr. V;.e an,
asked hum TO DO him the favor Of giving him IN
, name OF his colleague who had told him 4 Mr. w.
tnat he had heard him Mr. Al justify his conduc
. on the merits of the case.
MIR WISE. 1t was not one only. but two co,
leagues. '' '"' Two Col
Mr. ADAMS. Iwould thank the gentleman 70
the names OF both. ~
Mr. WISE Both are present in this Hall. he be.
heved. One he knew TO be present, who told him
that, at public meeting at some place the nam,
OF winch he did not remember when there was :
large assem6age OF people in Massachusetts, where
ne han oeen arTaigned before the moral people OF
New England on this charge, that had rested on him
now Iong enough, the gentleman from Mossa.hm-
setts Mr. Al indicated him on the occasion and
pledged himself that he mir WI was innocent Of
sne Snarse as made. Whether this was true or not,
| Mr. ADAMS asked for the names
oil WISE. As TO the names | leave that 10 the
gentlemen who gave me the information 10 rise in
!heIr places and declare them; they are present
snail give them the opportunity TO disclose the
names And for further proof that the pen,Ie,,.n
did defend me on the floor at the time ard 10 What
extent, he (Mr W. referred TO Gales & Sea,on,.
report oil the speech Of the gentleman at the Tina.
,S a'so 70 'he chairman, (Nlr TosceyD who made
me majority report, and who is not no " member
VINO, when called on 10 say whether there was
seiniiIa OF proof Of any thing dshonorable on ms,
part on The ground, promptly and fully declared
Ins' mere was no such proof Of such conduct He
referred to that mans feeling, (Mr Toucey,s1 who
was personally aSsailed-a man whom he tbouebt
'lcum OF consumption, and whose personal n.
pearance should have excited sympathy in anv bo
som Tor MS maiady-most brutally assailed for the
IsePucnraI tones of his voicep by the gentleman
from Massachusetts. Such was the ardor xeal and
impetuosity with which he (Mr Al defended him
lhr w j on that occasion. He declared again IN nj
not one only, but two, and he believed three of The
gentleman's colleagues, had informed him tbs, h.
old defend him on the occasion of the public n.e,
ing referred TO. And no again declared that n. yvns
not responsible Tor the advice on solitary nrerni
nary oil the duel, and that he was responsible n,r,
~ Tor being concerned in the duel at all contrarv N
ms own Judgment, and for acting on the advice nd
judgment OF others given TO Mr. Graves.
lie SAID MIR John J. Crittenden and MIR Menefe.
the colleagues Of Mr. Graves were both n,esen, IN
| .he ground ms his sub-seconds, with whom he was
oouhu and obliged to advise every question which
occurred there, and with whom he did advise and
couhse on every point, and that there was no, n
sinSe point on which Mr. Cri,enden and MIR Meme.
ice differed with him, [Mr WI 1.-The was resoon.
slo'e' they were responsible. Mr. Jones had 10 %
20 nus Two ubseconds, as had TO go TO Mr. Crl,
tenden and Mr. Menefee
lie was ready TO meet his God in tbat ease so
aI as being responsible for murder, or for inst Ca
tng the dueli though, far as the sin of dueI1oy
was concerned, he confessed he was not ready IN
meet Him. 'S''J W
lie would add one word. lie believed tbs, n.
gentleman from Massachusetts, (Mr Adams1 nj
Ihe Time he defended him mir W. so strongly.
was convinced and believed, and is now convinced
anu believes, thai he (Mr W. was not Irresponsible
,or mat duel. lie then knew the facts. and he
SHOWS them now; but, from subsequent causes of
hoshlIty, with malice prepenso, and without the
Tear oil Zoo before his eyes the Speaker hare
called MIR W. to order, but he concluded the sem
tenceI-or any regard truth in his heart he seeks
every occasion TO reiterate the chirge.
Mr. ADAMS. Amiable discourse toyvards , , ,;r,;.
l n nj 10 faNN 81 4.