The Arkansas banner., 1848-09-05

Banner he was little salty felt rather upon the wilmot Proyiso. and was perfectly asionished al; ycur "anhlasbing impotence" ia rinning it ea to him. The Colonel was repeatedly and leudly cheer ed and the bag of marbles raItled away most clever ly. Col. Newton is popular speaker, and were he not whig it would have afforded me infinite plea sure to have voted for him. What followed next, some other correspondent, must communicate, I observed you took advantage of Pause in the storm to eyaPorate, and extremely sorrow at not hearing our astronomical friend devoar the gallant Eleotor, your example was followed by
 QIN THE coSSER-
 P.S Since writing the above have heard tlS, the learned friend above alluded to, Gid actually apply the keen knife of sarcastic criticism to Col. Roane and Gen. Hempstead taking of each of their scalps with the utmost sang froid and perfectly coriaiing every inch of their political bodies Stars and AImanacs how he raked them. Oh! my coun- try. ..
 Extracts from the letter of Henry l WiSe.
 It has been charged inconsistency by the vsl.ss pFs~s shAt ME Miss of Ya. had once charged Gen, l.. CaSs with corruption in office and was electoF in Virginia, battling for him for ;he Presidency. This has induced Mir. Wise to explain. and he states the ground upon which he made the charge that it hsarsay evidence upon which he then formed his opinion and that he now be- lieves Gen Csss patriot and statesman, and lends his eloquence and influence to his support
 "lt will be remefsbered that Gen. Jackson, tn his last annual message. iDec., ls36) thought ft to speak of the mode in which the various executive bad the highest terms of praise, and he rendered the heads, chiefs. and suborinates of the department compliment for Integrity, intelligence, industry, and efficiency the most exalted.
 al, representative of the people in the House, deemed that truth and the duty which 1 owed to Ghe country, required that an issue should he Joued with the President this part of his message, and l moved and obtained committee 10 investigate the condition of the various executive departments It was composed of six of the administration and three Of the opposite members of the House, and appointed late in short session, there being nc- cording to my memory, no: more than siA weeks to conduct its inquiries.
 The mode of proceeding which contempatrd on the part of the committee was 10 take up the most important subjects of executive administra- ton such those of public lands, Indian affsirs revenue, receipts and disbu ments extra allow ances, public contracts, the Seminole war, the ap- piicaiion of moneys appropriated, Sc and tc send fer persons and papers, or 10 go by uh-commiteas 10 the departments and bureaux, and to invesgate their true condition and to report npon whate, CT was found 10 be corrupt, or wrong, maj admin sterei
 This course of proceeding Gen. Jackson deem ed to be "inqusitoriai.n differed from him widely n that and ciainled the executive offices 10 be pub lie, and tho c,ficsa conduct of their officers to bc properly subject to INQUIRY, not bqusition, by the representatives of he people He, however iusis- ted that, BEFORE investigation should eommpHcs SPECIFIC CHARGES of malyersaiion, and corruption, , and violation of duty by officers named, should be made, verified by affidavit BELIEF MERELY ia the truth of those charges, by way of pointing nvesti- gation to thosc deemed guilty, and of lay yiag pro- per foundation for inquiry The majority took this view of the President, expressed by him in letter aa dressed 10 me, chairman oi the committee.
 When, therefore. submitted resolutions of in- guiFy in the form which proposed. the majority of sle committee called upon mc, as upon others for SPECIFICATIONS of NAMES and CHAKsEs. and TO VERIFY the same oN NY BELIEF in the truth of the same, oath. Thus l came to b. sworu The proposition 1 regarded extremely insulting and offensive te Representative, and t was certainly very exciting its effect upon the committee. Bat 1 determined that investigation and inquiry should proceed, and submitted to take the oath that BE- LEVIED THERE WAS GOOD GROUND FOR BOTH ISvEsrI- CATION AND INQUIRY.
 Many and serious charges were brought by per sons of all description against executive officers and among the rest Gen. Cass. The nature of those brought .ainst him may be seen by the declaration which l made under oath. was chairman of the committee, and an opposition member; of course, most of the charges alleged against the officers of the Executive were submitted by statement 10 me Some of those statements made an impression on my mind, and induced sincere belief in the truth of some of the charges. Bai tine real intention and true effect of my oath was, as the Journal Of the committee will show to lay foundation for pro- ceedings on my responsibility, to inquiry into aud investigate the truth or faisehood of the charges named ia my oath. That oath itself did not and does NOT PUsFosr TO VERIFY THE TRUTH OR FALSE HOOD THOSE CHARGES. l knew, of my own knowledge, nothing about their truth or fasehoad. spoke Of my belief ohy the information of others, and the oath which took youched only that which belief and information would justify, and called upon the committee to inqnirc into the mat ters aeged. and 10 report theron. Such was the atent and effect of ihe oath
 "1'he committee cii not deem the specifications and verihcatons of charges sufficient 10 proceed up- on, and tAey b reTy partially aAd meager- iy trquired into at all The main and mos, serious charges against General Cass, as Secretary of War were never touched, and ne tra.h or fd'seAood of them never tested.
 ''So far, then. as Gen1 CAss was concerned, my oath did not and could not coR6tct speH asct hi It was HEAasAT only, and an atFi founded on igfoSa1toa from others, 1hO tRemselpes tccrs neusr scorR, except to of the minor cases specified and inphss in its oery f,rm and aaisse that its in- tent was not to verify the truth of charYss but the mere fact of he erlsteRcs of ehaTgss
 But it Is urged that beiiered in the truth of these charges. l did at the lime, most sincerely: and the Whg party now would have il supposed that I continued in the belief If do, in what a category Of degradation must they suppose the Whig party itself to be placed, in my humble estimation uaea they sHgpoftng sc,tb Sea maa hsis eoqdeyaa cd 5y me for tAs Presidency rather Uaa aniie se,th htt parfg n bringing into PotoeT t5 be abhor Ted prtnclpies sRd praeilees confess that a can dictate would have to be fully us bad as once thought Genefal Cas- to be, before could be driven from the Democratic party al this day, or 10 take even nentrai stand in the coming contest for the Presidency
 Ny support of Gen, Cass, at present, with my convictions of tbe past to his chayaclcf sfIect MI OWN FRoPmErr CONDUCT. Nor His, and, at the worst conSlcis me only of being driven 10 a choice 0. evils It would prove. ali most t,4t pre-. Ter the democratic party. with Gen Cass al it's head 10 the dire alternative of electing the whiss and