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' ertam evidence of the d; cay cMins Repub
lic, than fbrthis House to sleep upon its privi
leges, at.d qut t!y acquiesce imd r the accu
initiation of Executive pews r. But. sir. I can
upon every get.llunan who ft e ! s himself to be
,-a freeman, the the r< presei.taii.e of a free
people, not to abandon their proud prerogative,
but to claim the high character a.d privilege
t>f this House to know their power, a..d to have
the independence to assert it. Yes, sir, I in
voke the spirit of the entombed Constitu ion
to preside over, and guard the power and the
privileges of this House. lam utterly oppo
sed to this modern doc.tri ie. which makes us
the mere igei'ts <>i the Executive, a seconda
ry branch of the Goveroniei.t only! It we
are indeed thus prosiauteii, lost, and humbled;
if we have ceased to be what the Ccnstitutio-i
intended, it is time -bi.t we should know it.
If we are used merely to play the part of the
Rump Parliament, yie.diug ttpev ry ihi.igqm
etly to the w ill of th< Exe< mi; •, .-hieluL g him
and his agents in every act, subsi rvi.ig-Ins am
bition, and aiding him and his officots to tram
ple down the co st rated barriers of freedom,
and to pursue uucln ck d their law! -ss carter,
'it is time the world-should know the infamy
that Isas fallen upon us !
The amendment of the gentleman from
Rhode Island, is merely a pretext, made I -r
the purpose of evading a direct vote upon the
original resolution ; that amendment pt'ovi les
that, if. in the course of vepts, m.v cause l--r
a specific charge should exist, the i th ■ right
of sending for persons and p ip irs shall be gi
ven. We no uotsta .d in the situation of a
private citizen at issue wi’h .» private citizen ;
we are pot bound t > make an Mii iavit i ■ or I r
to obtain a search warr.iut; we are not bat -I
,to make specific charges i.i order to übiai -
.petjnissiou tor investigation. Each member
acts upon this ti-><>t i > his official capacii, u d
is respoessble bt tore the coil.dry. We ar
the representatives of the people, a ad, as th
source and chief depository of piw -r, we
have the right to demand iuv. stig t-.-n. wi ll
out assigning specific clarg-s. We have th
right to investigate ail the offices and paper.-,
(except perhaps those that can .ot s defy b
made public, relating to foreign diplomacy.;
and archives of the Gover.mien', a >d of a'.,
its .agent# i>> every department; and this right
is esaei-tial to nur.itai i the purity of our Go
vernment and of our institu'io is. “But,” say
the supporters of the Administration, “v. ir.
raise a select committee ? AV l>v incur this
expense?” 1 answer, is it not better for them
to incur this expense, 1 han th it they should sit
under the suspicion of corrupt conduct ? If
the investigation should bri g iiothi g to light,
will it not then have been h -tter for the Gov
ernmeuU by having had this opportu :ity of
showing its purity and es.'ablishi >s its charac
ter? Wifi it not look better to stiff r this ii
vestigatiou to take place, than to let s ispii io
spread, by sufferi g charges of such s -ri< u
character to pass by u -met and unrepelL-d?
Mr. f*. said h e was not one of ’hose <!» ma
gogues-whose mouths are ever pouri g forth
declarstio w of their attachment tothe people,
but I eotif.ns I am democrat enough to pro-,
claim ottr ritrhts in opposiiio t to th rsi li->ii.-
encroachments of Gover-m-mt. I avow th <t
I am fitr the power anti the rights of th ■ i>< o
pie being felt practically in this G tverum" I.
while those who are ultras declaiming fir
those rights seem to com - h r ■ but to smother
and suiipre** 'hem. They profess to b> th
advocates of th • popular cm we, while th v are
ail folnularrayed iu dos ph da x o the sid
of power, p«Hring out eulogies npo t ’he Ad
mi dstratiei ; ncteenitig its officers, jus’ifvi :g
acts of fraud and corruption, a <1 ojrposi- gth -
people! ith 'ir demand for inquiry a d i w«s
tigation! Though ’he p-irtv to which I hive
the honor of belonging has been stigma’iz d
and traduced as the e emvnf popular ri h’s. I
profess. Str, my attachment to’hern. I avow
undying devotion to the liberties of mv con -,
try, anti I hope vet to live to see th- day whe>
the rights of the people, the rights and power
of this House, shall no longer be trampled u i
der foot bv base subserviency to Ex-cutiv
power by those who bow the knee to its man- i
dates, and crowd in eager snxietv to beg th |
crumbs that fall from the table of a royal m is
ter.
Yes, sir! I hope to live toseethedav whe
the doctrines we have heard asserted o i this
floor will be lost ai d forgotten amid the giorv
of purer aud .brighter davs—when the r-pr
sentativesof the people sh di h ive th ir rights
and proudly maintain th ir authority u idei th-
Consti'irtiou —wh -n pilgrims a >d v itaries o*-’
liberty from every quarter of the oppressed
earth shall gather together b r*>, a’d b>w i ■
reverence h-f ,m that m ■ ument which a fr
people shall raise, whose noble shift shall
pierce the very heave is. reflecti ig hick, from
its broad and ridia >t surface, the light of i-v r.
lasting truth and the beams of universal free
dom.
Mr. P. continued. Mr. Speaker! I cmnot
refrain from d clan :g the prafo'i M astonish,
meet with which 1 li*tfti»'il to the extraor !i a
ry facts related on this floor bv ;h ■ ge t'ema
from Teimessae, (Mr. P vtoa.) in r>-lmi.x >to
the electioneeri -g campaign ma • > bv tit • Pre
sident last summer through the Western cou >-
try. W< have hear! 'hat he has b •<•■! z-.•,!• ms
ly engaged in ’he work of s-ciiri <r a soeo-s
sor to his p over h d authority. W-• h -srd o*’
his titerf t • ice i ■ 'his motor, of his I .bo «
aid n tdig itied sp*-ch s in th" con' m >i<‘»l
work of r isi ig i to pow r o. <■ who liv.-.l bv
fawni ig up 11 h's hand. Mortifi iiga <| ’is
gits'i ig as these facts are. not less :wt«» ,ishi o
did it appear to tn *. when i answer to them w>-
heard the gentle.-nan fr >m G -orgta. (Mr Gl >s
cock.) aid the genilomii from Loni-ii a
(Mr. Ripley,) rise i i th-irs*ats, rid its'i-ib/
off tri ig ipol wv -.r de lial, exert th “mse'ves
to justify ad vi dicac- th • i iterf • renew S" '
1 well retnetnb rth : “Gvim litter,” which
indirectly ordered th i Ruckerize.d conv ■ i >.
at Baltimore to do the hid It ig of a m ister. I
knew well that the vice -ss »r h id b • ■ i apn >i it
ed, but I did not. k iow. I di I not b !i -ve. th it I
should seethe day when a reprose tative of ;•
free but betrayed people would rise i his pl ,ce
iu this Hous '. and vi idicate such appoi tment.
We are told, in apology fir an iiterf rence
as unconstitutional as it. his hie un lisgu sod
and shameless, that the Presid >m h t< a i ig'n to
speak his own opi lions, •• th <t h<- is afr ma
as well as any other citizen,” "that he is a
nian who was never known to h siiale tn the
frank assertion of his opini ms,” tec. 'Die
private opit io i of the President is one tht g.
ths public declaration of his wish sis-mother.
Whe never is opi iio i, w h it- ver it mav b", b
it private or be it public, is snstai ied with al!
the po ver and i tine ice of office, is enfo-ce
from eabt iet mi >ist'rs down to ail the petti
holders <>| offic:, is proclaimed ami preached
by m - iial syenph int-a d a sub adiz‘d press
notori insly u der 'h ■ dietnio iol p iw- r, then,
sir! the Preside it’s urivate opinion mid pre
ferenci-bee ,m a Ivm to n hundred thousand
mercenary foil , We)B . who live up hs w 11.
Every p. op e from th ir history a id edlica
tio.i, have a peeu i w criterion by which io
judge nt lib rty. I, {" rg'and, an idiot or a
knave inay sway tn • sc pt re of empire by the
law of legitimacy, and the plumes 'of a titled
nobility ay wv ■ over stars a>dga • era aid
yet thp E igli-e! n, t m iv proudly c: aim t> b i
freeman; and way? Because th s- thin,
arq sustained by 'he fu i I one it il prin •ip* -s i.|
the British Go .stit>ifim> as part of th ir an
tiuriz, 1 11 aw dfl■■■r un ■ t. Bit wh
Cro'tiw ■!! raise I h>s <ri)'nernin.cnt over th ■ r tiu
of the British Jj is itutiua,aad agaiustthe fun<
dani®ptal laws of the enn ire, al hon ?h h ■ ad
ded to the glory and th- -.r of the B:i;i-h
came-, yet he-was a ■(•’or, i: th-; p. -qile
were slaves so I”- 1 ”; as they ■ ', m sc--.I ia die
usurpation. So it here. Vi > live in a!a a:
of co .siiluuo.ial law. ever principle of winch
sustains the freedom of th elective Iratichis ,
from the high--st to ih ■ low st. 11 lids great
principle of fxmerica.) liberty be viol .led a
d lied by tlx cnlive dicta-io.>, ..o ntuii rwh
characici’ is r;.i-: ■.! up t.silrn success->r oi pov. -
er und. rsuch tidysusty, we are slaves and das
tards if we tamely acquiesce. As f.tr-- j prac
tical lib. rty is co’icemed. there is no difthre
in efl*-ct, as t! ’d’- i ■!.■ rest --1, .
the Govci'anie..t oi him who comes in, Iramp
lie." overlhe freedom es election thio’.iyli die
ialm:, bribery.a >d frm:.!, a:id he_ -i--
I into power waving over the desojated h . . • ot
iiis country th ' bloody’ sword of a eouqu.wo-r
and usurper. As to edl practical eflects, laey
are the same. , i
Isth -re any man in the House who d
aot know that the President elect c.uil : .. -
have b eti chfiseii but by the direct ioli mnce
and iuterier<;ace of the Pr. side t ’ Let no
ma i say there is no proof of this i .iei iarcr.ee.
1 d. po.ideiit of th.' facts stated b. my fric .<!
fr-in. i’caacssi e.( *h’. ? Yt > -.) an > th ■ piibitsii
.•ti 1.-ilet’s, toasts,die. of ih • i’t'esi.i ■it Inmse'd
I will now call the .’.it ■dm i of tins II ms ,
ados tins country, 1.0 some facts, npo.t which
{w. uid dfy any sw jury < f fr.-- men o
.•nrihti> bri ig ia a verdict ot “ not gnilry. ” J
will introduce a witness against whom hire
lings h .VB poured oui. th ir malig ity and ca
litm .y. bat who- v. racity .«:i l pr.vate : tegri
tv’ no mia (Lire impeach. I will give tii .
gunge ot ihe disti i-msh ■ I S>r Irani I ■
kss .... (Ju Ige While.) ns it is pub:.-di dii Li
«p ech at lx .oxviiie lasi s;;;n:n r. li-'.i tn
President was o i a visit to T. messee, in ih •
s iaimer ot 1834, and “afier the its ot tin
Suite Co..ventio .. ma ay m-mb-rs wished to
:,omi ale m- for the Presi i. ,cy. but alia .do ■
e I :h‘ ‘atiempt after they uadvrst I thai r
would incur th- Pr.n'.de t’s d spleiisure. On
his journey to Washingtan ;h- President con
versed freely with som -of my trie ds, and
remo st rated ugai .st. any attempt to nominate
ne; said th-rb must b■ a. national co -.lion,
md Ur V.m Bur.-.iigh: to !> • i:mn ,n I foi
the Pi’esidcccv. and I forth.; 'v ice Pr .id-ir 1 -.
a .d, whe > his eight years w .;; expired, th .t I
was voting enough th ' to b.-tak ■ . up as Pr ■
-i.ie .t.” * * * - 4 After I g.ive er-, co
to the people to rti a-Id b.-i a-.- th . meet; gol
h B i tim >re f! > ive .ii >i. I was rep, e-Tiiy
fore war ned wli al I might e:: : 'ecl it my name
was not With Irawa,” <Sce.
S ich are th-' u >v..r-iish- i facts of the case.
And who is ih. r • bold enough ro my thatth-
President his i t-rfered ? Sir ! ll'.e iactsar
b yoad the possibility of d- >■ '.hat he ha.-
>p -iily ia i-ril-red, a.id us. i! - >wi r a-. 4an
ihnrity to noun at.- his suec- ..-.-or, a,.d io do i
by b irgain a.d arm geinenl. Ev-.ry paltry
intrigue and profligate proposition b.afe b e
us.-d and employed toeff c. ihis purpose. '• h
chief oflie- s of th • republic h ive been barter
ed w iv, a.nl th ■Pr .-i:l -T, through th- tre
m -ndiius powera: d path; t:...ge of h-is position,
ii is called up a b tr.iycd c«-i try to receive its
ial is from the h i nis < f master.
Tu see V.l -b>l- -a d b :ri g-f these pro
positio s which lit Preside t mad -, a d l
sh w th -t h ■ fuliv -i alerstoiid his pas-lion a :•
thi ir profligate, t.-nde cy, I will ,-ow refer to ;
■c.i-iie i . ;825, v hen his pr. dtfi ss.'r - . 'ho.
s . by this rloii ■ la two kl ; , by
Ge i. Jackson, the one d .ted . .t ie 5, tot 27
a id the oiher dated Julv 18, vve h ive the fol
lowing < xtr -ordi -ary dev I .pme t :
E riv i . Ja nary, 1825, a memb. rof Co. -
gress of high rcspvctabi.ity visited me [Ge
I o-kso ] i e mor. i g, . d • t-serv. d th it h"
h ,d i com mi icitioa lie was : siroustomak
t>in ■; ih it he w.is informed i-' was a greai
i trigu ■ goi -g on, and that i -v.-.s right i should
b■ i d’orim-id of it; (how very kind!) that he
cam ; as a friend ; and kt m • n ceiv ■ th ■ c mi
muaieation as I might, th ■ friendly motives
hrougb which it. was made, he hoped, won'
I pr ve.it any clia ge ot’ friendship or fe-ii
| wita regard t i him. To w’hich 1 repli d, from
' h s high sta ding as a gentleman a id memb.-;
oi’ Congress, tn.d fiom his uniform friendly a c
ge.ntletnaiily conduct towards myselt', 1 cou.c
■ot suppose he would ni ,ke any commu .ica
i>i to me which ii • supposed w.is improper.
Th refore. his motives b-ing/itzre,let me think
is I might ol the commiviicatio ;. my f • 'lings
towards him would rem ,i i u -a't r. . i’he
i>e- t'emaa proceeded, lie said he had bee;,
i formed by fl e friends ot Mr. Clay that th'?
frie idsof Mr. Clams had made overtures to
h -in, sayi ,g, it’ Mr. Clay a..d his friends
would u lit- i i aid of the election of dfr. 1
mis, Mr. Clay should bo Secretary of S ite.
That the friends of Mr. Adams wereurgi tg as
■ i reaso i to induce the friends of Mr. Clay to
/kt de to th -ir proposition,that, it I was elec-
e! Preside..t, Mr. AI mu wou- lb- continual!
Secretary of S ate. |-1 neado, there w.i.jl I
’itio room f>r Ke.ituck. .’] That th ■ frie ds
f Mr. C!>\ s'«n th .t i. • West did not wiMt
o s p tr tte from the West ; nod if 1 would s.iy.
■ r p rmit a v of my co file ti.d fri inis t..
<.v, that.i ..-.S' I W.’is -lectod Pr sid -nt, Mr.
kd ms should no/. e intima'd S cr.-t.irv in
State, by a <• imp et.; u it i i of .Mr. I’lav a d
us frie ..is, th -v wou ! pu' an end tn the Pr .
a i,l co t'-at i o eii inr. And he u::is >/
I p'.-iiuo 7 ;r,/v/•■’ea/.'<> :nch. ' iciilt
!t.eir mi'll weai>»us. To which, i substa e .
t r-Mt d, that i . politics, as ineeeni '.’l'/ig eb;e.
n‘. gnde was prineijde: i'd. country to the
expressed a>i‘liinbiiisscd itvll of th- p ople, or
heir -o-.sii tiled ig ts. 1 never won t st. pi i.
•th P - side dial ch lir; and reqnes'ed. hi’n to
ii>/ i f Mr. ( 11v ai <. ;>.s fi i - ><is. (for i did sup
ose h Ii id e nne from Mr. Clay, th nigh he
is d h • term of Mr. Clay’s friends.) that be
ar.-1 would reach the Pr sideotiil 'hair bv
s’mc/i iiieans of bakcain and cor ! ' ption. 1
voiild see ihe e.irih op -i an swi'llo * h-j h Mr.
Ciav a id his frie ,ds, a id iiivseil t":!h them.
Dus disclosure was mad - to m ■ by Mr. Jn.-i-es
Buch r >a i, a memberof Congress from '* mi.
sylva ii.i, h g “iitlemaii of the first respect.ibili
v a. d i d.el'ige-ice.
‘■The ev -iu g before, he had eomtnut eated.
s ibstti dially, th ■ same proposition t - Major
Eit it, mv col'eagu ’ in tli ■ .senate, did
t'.e General know thatT\ w th a d- stre, warm v
maiiifysted, th it he snotti I cotnii'.-imcnt- w.t-h
m", and ascert.it i my views o - the stibj-ct.
this lie ilecli-ieif doi .g stte'esu g to Mr.
B <cb man that he, u-s w " • ■ himself, could
co v rse with m■. and ase -r ■ s mv views o
b - matter; though', from his knowledge ol
in--, he thought th it h ; could well conjecture
mv answer—that 1 would cuter into no e-ege.g".
incuts whatever. To be thus approached b
i ge dl< min of Mr. B.ich i iaa’shighchar ic
t r ami. standing, with an apology proffered at
lie tim,; for wh it h ■ was ab-.m to rem irk to
ne; one who, as I u id-’rst >o-!. had always to
that moment been on famtllmr and, Irieudly
I.- mswi'h Mr. Ciav, as-ttri 'g me th it ouci.-i.
ti i i-ntH mid conditions h i >g ass.■ -led to on
n . part,‘th ii, bv a union of Mr. Clay n d hi.>
friends, th y w uld pit' an end to the presi
le dial co test, in one h nir,’ wb: oto. con- I
chisio ior inf'fence waste b. ' 1;! that I
ha sp >k ■by authority either < i Mr. Ciav him I
a ! f, or SOlll'i of his co.iii le dial fri ■ ds? Ihe .
ir icterof Mr. Buch : an with me f >rb;ds ,
iie id -a th th »v.. • tel i gonhi: c wo respo. i -
■i bi itv. or th it, i ,:r v ' ircti s- he
• hi' I h :v“ he.'-. ’’■’.- ' a!i ar-
r.i ugem nt u | ss p »s.-...:ssm itisfi&t irvas.
surtuices that, if accepted, it would be carried
■ hiily mto eltiyct. A .veak mind would seldom I
j or ever ba thus disposed to act—an intelligent
i 0 u-‘never. Und ' all the circumstances ; o- i
i p.'.iri.'o’at the time, I did not. resist the > •>- I
• nressio-' that Mr. Buchanan mM approached :
I nr;. Oil the cautiously, submitted preposition of)
■i une atil'iiorizeil person; 0.'.-.!, th-,an , in ;
j i ivrng him mv a tswor. ilid so. rocn-sti."’- hi; ; ‘
’to say to :.i ('L lv and bjs f... nds,’ w hat that
I answer h d In cn,” y-c.
Gbs- rve what. Mr. 'Pielnnan says in his
1 letter ol explanation. August 8, i 827
‘ _ “/viler i i>t)djn,\,’;<l in-{1 ra! [Jackso’i]
y.-c'nred he, had hi'! the I’u,- ! idfl-riion In an.
\swerniy quest ion. Th it ho thought w-'.! <.!’
! t. Adams. !>■;! Zt.-r.? ;?#T'T v t.'.Z or inl'i i.ited
| ''nit lie would or that !; ■w-- 1 ~• ■■■ i- .Mm
~ •■■eretnrv of State. L ~;n -a- were se.TfZ.v
iroidd keep to n . wo i!d conceal
j tii 'iu from the very hairs oi 'ns head. TI; it
I il he b -Ii ■.••• I his rig!'.,’ hand tlmn kn 'w whti!
i his left would do upon i’.ie subject of appoi :t
--mi-n’s io office, he I cut it i-fi’ai. ! cast it
, into ill ■ lir . That if eve ri; > sliotdd be elect-
I ed Pr-siderit, it. should bn without solicitation
' a id without i trigne,” <sv ■.
■ Mr. mk :r, it i.-, -ot mv purpose 'o expose
p o i>. si, or to d •!’-id those ag-ii st,
i «h. ’■-sc cliarg s were mad -. But I call
jup tnos'’ scenes tlrit th- world mav compare
di- mock sentim ■ ..; of r. If-clod purity then ex- |
:nr nd. wini the coudii ’.i am] nct-nrious facts I
:of tile pres- '-i ty. Aci I h -re ink- occasinn
: to sav 'hat, t: it be tru-, ns th • President staf-s
I that ho was approached :■> January, 1825, with
| such propoi’-itions from age- tletnan who de
j c!aredb> him “that he th->ii'_>ht it. was right to
I ii-ht such i trigums with ’!i ir own weapons”
I —l sav. if this b • true, it proclaims that he
! who c i'll-! avow so a M i ifimous a sen- |
timenf was u’tcrly d-stiin' • of all true concep- .
ii sos private honor or pnbie integrity.
j [f th ■ Pr; sident. in 1*25. had such a high !
s’w-e of honor and respect, “tor th • unbiassed ;
will of the People” as to refuse to let it be
k ow - — not I'hct he, W'ud.l appoint any parti
cular individual, bn l that lie would not ap
point a certain gentleman Socmtarv of State— 1
where was his honor, wh r- was his deiicacv '
• ■ 1831, v h- : h ■ propo.-i •! to Judge White and
“kis friends” to regulate and control the whole
election by a Ruclcerized convention, and thro’
“baiumin and. c^>rrupi!6n ,, to produce acqui
escenc.e bv off. ring hints .if the first office in
the Republic to o -e. and rccoucili g another
with the setbv’d office? Little did he think
that, m 1535, he was uttering <ienu iciations
against his own course in 1834; little did he
'ln'ik, when he penned those declarations in
'827. that he was writing epithets to be called
j up. lik- bur -i ig letter?, over his own conduct
; and character in 1836.
I 'Mr. P. continued, Mr. Speaker! it. is with
| gr 'at pain and reluctance tliat I am comp-lied
to speak of those trans Ttjans as 1 feel that I
ought. Noth: g could i ’.-.'tic- me to do so at
;ir< £.e-it but. the solemn conviction that I be
hove th-y are deep!}’ id-iMfi d with the liber
ties of this country. I speak of the Preside t
•is officially connect. .1 with th ■ instihitio s of
< fr, cdohi. I scorn to excuse him, and to hold j
tip his mi ions and it d rstrappers for respon
sibin'y and d nit ci ition. No, sir! I disdain
to use mo! rite !-n;g'i.ige. [ shill take his
-■i n epith t.rf. I bto th >!i charge that the
P ■< si !e: t h s wilfully and openly i iterfered to
: appoint his successor, a d ’bat he li is end->.n
'v >r to acco.'nplish liis o.bj ct bv sham ’ -
i ■■iiai'g".: : an. , rruptii :; ’’ lie has snee i
! I, and now, standi g on the defaced and !
-iiiir ed Constitution, w. ves a'oft the u ire-1
j s r ined sceptre cf empi e ever a d< c< ived and ■
lotraytid'country. Let us be rich and oros-|
>p r ais; let ih be h ippv and free from rson
! al res raint; let us retain all the forms of a Re. |
i pub ic,yet arc we slaves, and history will hold :
l opour infamy u..d degradation, if we acquiesce
a;u submit to t ,-s lawless dictation. Rome
siill id.lined the forms of a republic, long as- ■
- •r her co quori ig generals from devastated I
provi cos br-ught in the plunder of sacked ci- j
ti s. to b.: divid- d am- -gst those wi; . re :
j styled “Roman citizens,” Iler people still j
. nominally elected the r tribu ins, lo g after the
j v ry sources of power bad b urn corrupted and
I polluted by the bribery mid profligacy of cap
tivating chiefs and ah i idoiied demagogues.
I Tli -so tribunes, who were at. first ( leeti d to
| defend, as th -y nobly did, popular rights, ifter-
I wards became prostituted, and, although os
’ tensibly appointed still bv th" People, ve' they
I k r i"w the hand of th- r m ■, an! prostrated
i the liberties of their con . ; before his wi’l.
■ They were arranged and app int.ed beforehand
j by th ise wiv> held th •. power of the Republic.
I We, too. may still boast the forms of a free
j People, and long preserve them. We have
seen the nomi alio > and appointment of a suc
! ct s-w to the chief Executive; we have wit
j. -iessed the success of that, appointment. Ail
i th : popularity and i .flu nice of the President,
■ with his hu tdred thousand dopenda l y all the
w i '. t and pov er. and inlhi - ice of the Gov-
i ermu. -i in all its vast and exte. sive ramiff'a
; tio is, 11-.-- be.-, b -.ugllt io b ur upo i th • ap
I pointm at. of a sticcess-ir. Aid 1 ask, sir, if
I w • co dirm, by re-cle ui in, this fraudulent ap
p-ii tm: t, will not posterity say we, too, are
j free o ily in name? ()■ r countrv has been
j I'otdly d ceiw-d; we have been b isely deluded
j b-. all the arts of "mlrigu.’, bargain, and cor
- rupiio i.” Let it not be said that those thi igs
-ire of io import,! ice; that th ‘V h ive no effect
; opon practical liberty. Look to their conse
j que.ic.-s in the future. In physics, in morals,
i-id i i politics, those causes are at first small
I which produce the most tremendous effects
i upon the destmy of ni m. Th" collection ol' a
i-w slnlli'igsi t shi n.mone:/ brought the head of
i i in •■march o the block, a a! changed for a time
j the g ivernment of Great Britain. Go into the
j t..r y\ '-st, and trace out, if you can, the origin
iot the vast Mississippi itself; you will find a
j -ibblo at the foot ol perhaps some nameless
nil!, from wh.ch runs a stream, at the rpule of
, whose waters not a living creature turns aside:
j birr follow it to the vallev below, arid it swells,
| and it deepens, -.ivul it. w-idenf, until the wealth
i of a : <uion floats on its. surface, and at the
i angry voice of whose stormy wave the hardy
j mariner trembles. 1 need not say that this is
I a full illiistraticoii of the history and progress of
I political affairs; that from apparently a small
I l> gi ni-igthe most tremendous results are pro
j luc id;, that one step over the great landmarks
j I tn-‘Constitution will lead to the overthrow
i of al! law, to the prostration of liberty, and the
- aba do ied reign of arbitrary power. A drop
i o wilt -r. oozi .g through the dikes of Holland,
j if unnoticed, would desolate the fairest regions,
a I spread terror through a ruined country.
1! now, in the i dancy of our Government, the
Preside t h is it m his power to nominate and
appoi it his successor, the day is not far dis
ta t when was: all live u ;der a power more
odious than hereditaiy monarchy, because it
! will be exercised under the deceitful name and
| habiliments of a Republic.
- yV-. are told that the South is to be “recon-
i cded by th ■ successor falimg into Southern
| "H eiples,” and that it is policy to acquiesce
I i th appointment. Sir, there may be at h‘ art.
: traitors in tin Souih. but it will be Ir:-
i the Go stitution and t. » the cou trv to submit
!to the dictation. No! never, never. We have
j been ion ly bl rayed, a id against the principles
- B the succ s<ioa we d dare uncompromisini r .
unextingflidl bio war, “wnrto the km: , it
may b ih.it we shall be but f-w in . :.!.bms;
i -ly b ■ that .>.:r flag-st-MFshall be shattered
an ' or d<on. but w" will nail the {la.rtotlie gun
wale, and. conq: ■ or perish u ti -r it.
Let not gentlemen suppose that the present
' & m u t Be r w g© fe i 5 ♦
itat -of things is to last fm'ever—!■■(. them not
simp-.sn tliat the domin.-mt party of to day is
t-> b ■ the dominant partv’ of t >-morrow —let
il’.ern not, in the arrogance of power, forever
Im’get right. These thine-s th(’7 m-v not. per
haps i ’c! in their day and but their
Mik; en may live to see the day whti they
.-.hall e’.irse, in the bitterness and deep anguisli
of tli ir hearts, the mm-.irv of their fathers,
f>r h;.vi-g brought db’.t .a -p-.i them d.’grad i
tion and ruin. Even Rob’spien'e hintsell
would have paused ia his bloody career ofam
bition, |( he could have f>r seem that the same
gnil!ot::m, which he r iised over the neck of
Dant )•', was so soon to he brought down with
,i just vT-ge.i .<’(> n po n hi s Ami th ■ Duke
>f Orleans, imprincipL'd as h ’ whim he
sat in that infamous a.-semhly which vo'<-a th
d-ath of Louis XVI. wit! I have tremble
n.nrri r, as he pvave his vote for the d-'.ith el hi ■
ow 1 blond cousin, if he con'd have known that,
nailer the desnotism he was .lidi ig Io raise,
his property was so soon to he confiscated and
!us dripping head held tip bv th- executioner
to the vengeance ofa lawless mnb.
j How can the South accni-see under an Ad
ministratior, the head of which h is admitted
i that this Govert'.tn”nt has the cons'i’utional
j power to abolish slavery i : lhe District of Co-
I himbia? f tell gentlemo;) they will yet be
brought t-j quail and tronibl ■ under the tre
mendous power of this doctrine. We will vet
see the lightning flash, and f -el th ' earthquake’s
heave. The issue will be made, and we must
be prepared to meet it like men, or to crave
mercy from one. who is against us in sentiment
and in feeling.
The coming Administration has elements of
weak - ■ which it will bn difficult to recover
from ■ .. uov, r be satisfied
w’i'h the corriipt ..a: p- : 'fig . principles un
der which it has been dictated. Look around
and see the strength that is to be put forth.
'-’■. Imr,” is old Mass;ich'is”lts'? Th to she is.
firm as her granite and everlasting hills, ready
for anolhor contest. Look '•> t'hoi-e people on
both sides of the Ohio, who have raised their
flag over their country’: ramparts, and have
so nobly defended themselves against, the mer
cenary bands of power: look lothose intrepid
people, through whos- bosom run the waters
of the Tennessee and the Cumberland—where
are they all? Readv and eager to step forward
in the breach that has been made over the bar
riers thrown around tan freedom of the cZec/inc
franchise. Look to those people on both sides
of the Savannah, and where are they ? United
in feeling and in sentiment, with one banner
streaming aloft in the breeze—that banner un
der which the Constitution was made—the
banner under which Jefferson fought his way
to victory and to fame—the only banner under
which this Government can be reformed—the
noble banner of free trade and Slate rights, un
der which defeat is no disgrace, and victory is
redemption and liberty.
W<> may be defeiited, but not conquered;
we have yet the undying spirit of freemen.
Then let us come to the rally, and the Repub
lic may yet be, safe.
Mr. Pickens then concluded bv moving the
adoption of the original resolution.
T ’ . FsBKItARY 3,1837.
Mr. i ’ . L r.i Com; liltee on Com
merce, r el tioiis pronos
ing to si. • < 1 ■ - ■ ■ -x, by char-
ging the .it-,: ~ / 1.:.’., •'?koUgt'JO, upon the
Treasury of the Liiitcd btaies.
Mr. Calhoun, after hearing the resolutions
road, said that he was decidedly opposed to
the-whole subject. Its tendency was to in
crease the prevaili-g disease of the Government
the .accumulation of patronage and power in
the hands of the Central Government. This
was the commencement of a system which
would lead, no one knew to what excess of
patronage. He was solemnly impressed with
the necessity ol curtailing patronage, to arrest
the tendency' of all measures to increase the
central power here. Reform mu tbe pressed
to the utmost. This Government was alrea
dy surcharged with patronage, and it. must b.
diminished ; and he now entered his solemn
protest against the system proposed by the bi!!.
It is a proposition to i hange the o d system
and tends directly to the increase of the cor
rupting patronage and power ofthis Govern
ment. Mby should the Government pay the
expenses of one classof men rather than anoth
er? Shall commerce and navigation be take-:
ia favor, while oth-r interests are left ■ .
own resources? M'hy not pay’ ffie doct
bills for the ric ’-growers, and cotton planters,
as well as the class engaged in navigation?
He was opposed to al! such schemes. It was
time to hail. The patronage and corruptions
of the Government were rapidly undermi ii .'.’
our liberties, and it is time to provide for our
security, by cutting off the fatal courses of
corruption and despotism.
Aller some remarks by Mr. Davis in reply,
the bill and resolutions were ordered to be pri .t
--ed.
A bill from the House making appropria
tions forth.) exp,ms:.-s of the Indian d-part
; inent for the current year, was read a first and
second time, and referred \i the committee on
1 ilia i affairs.. Also, a bill making appropri
aiious for the support of the army for the year
1837, referred io the Committee on Finance.
Also, a I ill for the relief ol John E. Wool, was
The Seriate then pr •■■eodi il to the consider
ation of the special order of the day t.hc
amendm "t propo.S"'! by Jfr. White, of Ten
nessee, being under consideration.
From the United Slates Tr. graph of Feb.'.}.
EMMNGS VSIIE JIOrSE.
O i Wednesday, Mr. Bi ll’s motion for leave
to bring in a bill to secure the freedom of elec
- lion came up m the morning hour after the
i calling for reports. Mr. Graves had the floor,
mid addressed th< House in favor of the bill.
.He adverted :< the very active part taken in
[ all the-prominent conventions bj the office
holders. Os a convention held in Ohio by
the parti/, out of one hundred and ninety sev.
. en members one hundred ami six were office
holders, and twentv-two of the remaining
members were appointed on the nomination
of office-holders. 01 the convention hold in
Kentucky in 1834, most of the members were
office-holders, and the whole movement was
the work of office-holders and office-seekers.
Hu adverted also to the well known fact of the
part taken by th-' sumo class in the getting up
of the Baltimore Convention.
.VI r. Graves referred to what h:td been done
in Great Britain to promote the freedom of'
election, and asked wliv the same or something
similar could not be done here, when the of
fence was openly practised by tiiose in power.
Unless, said he, the power oi the Executive
to act thus be taken away or lessened, we shall
never si Ider exercise the rights
of afr - ma' .. i’hwill soon lied out, and
it will s-ioa b. i, i!i U hey will all be
appo;• t’.-u' ■ -■>< . , i- : purpose—that ol
election -. h .--.ii-pi..-"ii i" caudioates
of the Executive. 1 ask. said he, if tile Gov
ernment can long endure where these things
are permitted and e-:"'ouraged ?
The slate of the el' Clond vote at. the last
election iu several oftbe Stales was instanced
by Mr. G. as showing the operatio i of the,
practice. He showed that from the mujon-■
tiesi.i .Mississippi, L iJisiuiKi, ami ('ounce icul, .
a change cfsarne s-.-.en h.u :dr.d votes would;
! have changed the Presidential election. The
j iffice-liolders in those States could have made.
I ,d most probably did make, the President.
I Mr. €7. the: went on to show what Gen
I Jacks >n had hiins If thought of this matte;
when he was a. candidate, and when he fearc’.
that perhaps those i i office might use their
i. fluence against him—and with this opinion
of the President then, mid the practice of the
Government dmiugthe f.irtv preceding years,
he compared lite practice of Ge inral .tacksou
when be came into power. During those for
ty years th re had been dismissed from office
for misconduct or for some other cause, ii
there were any other cause, seventy iudivid-
| dais. During, the first year of General J.tek
! ton’s administration there had been dismissed
> about nine hundred ! Talk not to me of th*.
t mdom of election when oae man can turn
j ihis way or that way a hundred thousand vo-
I ters pist as he may will it.
v> i have been told, said Mr. , that a rna
' Grity of the office-holders arc opp wd to the
Government. It is altogether incredible. In
the Siata from yvhie!) he came he could say
that there was no! a single office worth hav
ing that the incumbent had not beei’ swept i
away to give place to one who would support I
thepartv and the E:;eeut;v.’ candidate, fir. I
G-.'stated an instance how t!> : thing worked j
i ', we believe, the village wlier • he resi k.d. I
| The postmaster was either removed or resign- !
ed, we did not dissi.ely u iderstand which, i
a .d there 'were some five or six applicants, j
There was but one man in the village, contain- I
ing some eight hundred or a ihousand inhabi- I
tauts, who could not write, and this individual I
was selected as the most tit and proper person |
i-r tile office—and -such were his other quail I
tic.itions for an ofiice. of trust thut ho could not |
get security, in the party or out cf it, forth” |
t t' ; keeping and payment ’■> theGovermne.n !
lol’the money accruing from the postage,
I It.has also been said in this House,said M.. I
I G. that the majority' of office-holders in this I
I city are opposed to the admmts 1 ration. Did
I gentlemen expect to be credited when they
I made such a declaration? Is there any mem-
I bur, except those who made it, that can cred
it it? It is incredible. 1 do know, said he,
I that there are those here, who approve not of
I the course of the administration, but even their
I yvives and daughters dare not. open their lips
Ito say so. They d ead the dismissal of their :
' -ii-''.aids and father.-, il’a whisper gets abroad '
|of what they may say i.i disapprobuti j
i This is, said Mr. G. a system ot slavery that .
I will sweep every tiling b< lore it. It will pros- ■
I irate every thing best calculated to p<n petuaie j
i our institutions.
Before Mr. Graves h ' '■ 'uchit' - I his re- ;
j marks, on motion . .. - ’.tiubreleng, the
House took up the ’ .tt appropriation bill. :
j On this an animated (Lscussion took place, in l
i which Messrs. Cushing, Halsey, Glascock.
I Dawson. Everett, Parker, Lawlor, and Lew is
I took part.
Mr. Dawson rose-to defend the citizens of
i Georgia and Alabama from imputations cast
| upon them on account of the frauds practised I
lon the Indians. Who was responsible, said |
j he, for these frauds ? Not the citizens of]
j Georgia and Alabama, but the Government, i
I These frauds owe their origin to lhe Indian |
I reservations. Those reservations were not j
:in the first treaty. They were put in the se- I
| cond ; a d why? Ecr th..' purpose of opening j
the way for the perpetration ofthese frauds. |
By whose iiiflnence was this done? By lhe
agents of tile G >ver:!immt —bv urti'iii,
i.’g me;:, who had these wry frauds i.i view.
The time will come when the actors in the
scene will be made known, and it wiil be found
that the friends of the Government are ia the
enjoyment of the fruits of these frauds.
- Mi’. Hulsey thought that the same resistance
! to emigrati on would have been made if there
had been no reservations.
Mr. Lewis said that it always happened
hat when any thing relating to the 1.-diansj
was brought up in the House, imputations a d !
insinuations, more or Esspoimed, were always I
i made against the people of the South. In no j
section of the country, said lie, is there telt
more disapprobation of these frauds, than by
he very people among whom they areperpe- j
rated. The memorial on. w hich the enquiry I
to them nad been instituted, had proceeded j
Irom those people. .Most of those who signed |
hat memorial were his constituents. 'l’hey j
Held those frauds in abhorrence, ami he repre- |
seated their sentiments m hen hi: proposed the |
1 ■ nquiry. If I were not, said he, to take this j
’m public sentiment among my constituents
would pul me down.
The appropriation sought bv the bill was
granted with a very siigi.t opposition.
On Thursday, the appropriation bills were !
he principal subjects of action. The discus- ;
;ioa continued on th” litdian appropriation bill. |
vlr. Grenneil address d the House on the gen I
rid subject of our Indian relations, and was :
followed by Mr. Alford in a renliy eloquent I
sp ■( ch that did honor both to his bead md bis
heart, reeling that censure, i xpressed or |
implied, had been cast upon the citizens of|
Geor.'pn and Alabama in the course of deb.i'e, [
lie tell called up.in to defend them. Lie re.i’ r- I
red to what had been said as to the sufleri >gs j
ol the I ndiatis i i their emigration, and ask d ;
u bat was the sou d.ition on which this sympa- !
thy was based. No.king, s:-iJ h”, but a news- !
l paper paragraph tn the West—a letter from
I no one know s who.
Mr. A. acknowledged that there had been
I frauds—gross, outrageous frauds—and there
I were citizons-of Georgia who had purticipa
i ted i.i them—but not citizens of Georgia alone,
j I bey were frotii all portions of the country,
j Georgia,oi course, had her share. He might j
I ia turn, say that the people of the East were j
. the cause of the war, for the first man of the j
hostues taken w’as a \ awnce. To be sure, 1
I said Mr. 2xltord, the gentleman has been hung. I
I We Stopped his future i■••ichinalious.
Mr. A. was so ry to see so much sickly ;
' sensibility, lor such he must deem it. towards j
i the poor Indians, if the gentleman had sot .
ash” had, the bleeding women and children
butchered and mutilated—if he had been di
for dead, weltering m Ins own blood, as hi had
| been, he hoped ami believed that their symp.i- <
tmes would have been more fur our women a.id j
| children than tor the r.’u; u’seless Iti-dan. J i
i The great fault, of )as
with lb’! Govermni agent
geut to remove tin They
I removed. They 5..- L , : _r -m ; /
vent irauds. i !);■ -. were not .
' sooner do the agem's arrive, (ha i, imab'e to re. I
-;st the tempt.l ions offmed tiiem, tliey yieul, i
ami no frauds are prevented.
So lie oae or two were disposed to report
j and prevent, lhe frauds. And what was the
I consequence? They .soon received the omin
;' oils notice “that the Government had no fur
' lher use for their services.”
As to the distress of the Indians in their
, emigration, J/r. Alford said, their transport;:.
I tioti w s given m charge to men who w’ere
honorable and humane. Some i:;ay have suf
: I'ercd lor clothes, but they could uot. he said.
I have carried oil’wiih ih- m less than a hundred .
, laousuisd Collars worth of merchandise, pimi
dered from ‘he stores of tbai lolw, in Georui”,
! mid from stores in Alabama. He was eye
. W to t bl' fact.
Mr. Alford impressed upon the Mouse the i
fact that the frauds | lepetr-ited were not b\ i
lhe settlors. ibe Liih.ms hud no complains
to make ofihem.—The perpetrators w-'-re tin .
large laud speculators an I their agents ilt,e!-;i. g ■
I from a distance. Mr. A. explained the dtl
; rence between an honest speculator atd a
■ inti stealer. The former paid the India
| nouey, a-id, aft-r getti ;g the sale certifi'd,
! <>ok back the greater part of the money.
I i he Litter got another Indian to personate the
real owner. u.-H claimed and got the ki.idcer
■ ried under his title.
.Mr. Gi’e:m”H explained; while he 1 It f r
ne whiles who self‘red during the contest, yet
having conquered, humanity required that as
i little suffering as was possible should attend
I them in their emigration.
j Mr. Everett also addressed the House in
' mswerto some remarks which had been m ■ le
j ihn preceding day i-, the course of th discus
' sion on the same subject.
i'ff'he Fs'esfedejst’?; Glw
Comaaaitlre.
| [Cony.] Wasliington City, Jan. 26,1837.
Sut: I received on th; evening of th” 24t1)
. inst. your letter, eoveriiijr a copy of certni >
i resolutions, purporting to have been adopted
I by a committee ofth” House of Representatives
lof which you are ch irman, and request that
! von will lay h fore that committee, this, my
: r ply, which I hasten to mak ■.
I If npp sirs, by the published .proceedings’ of
‘ h i IE urie of Representatives, that the commit- !
I tee, ofwhich you are chairma i, w is app >i it ’d {
lon your motion. The resolution offer’d by
i you, and finally adopted by the House, raised
j a direct issue with first part of my annual mes
s 'inge i t which I held the following language:
j “Before co chi ling ihis paper, I think it due
' to the various Executive Departments, to b: ...
j estimonv i's their prosperous condition ; and
I to the ability and integrity with which they
j have bee i co: .'lucl 'd. It has been mv aim to
I enforce in nil of them a vigilant and faithful
■discharge of Ibe pubiie business; and it i-
• gratin ing to me to believe that there is no
• just cause ofcontpiaiitt, from any quarter, at
the manner in which thev have fulfilled the
object of their creaiion.” Your resolution
is in the following words: “Resolved, That
so much of the President’s message as relates
to lhe ‘condition of the various Executive D ■-
partments,. the ability and integrity with which
they have been conducted, the vigilant and
I faithful discharge of the public business in ail
! of them, and the causes of complaint from any
I quarter, at the m maer in which they hav iful
) filled the objects of their creation,’ be referred
j to a select committee, to consist of nine niern
j bars, with power to send for persons and pa
i pers, and with instructions to inquire into th”
• condition ot the various Executive Departments
I the ability and integrity with which they have
I been conducted, into the minner in which th ■
: public business has been discharged in all ol
them, ano into atl causes of complaint, from
at;y quarter, at the manner in which sai.l de
partments, or their bureaus or offices, or any
ot their officers or agents of every description
whatever, directly or indirectly connected with
them in any manner, officially, in duties per
I taimng tq,the public interest, have fulfilled o
; iailed to accomplish the objects of their crea
j tion, or have violated their duties, or have in
ijtircd and impaired rhe public service and i.i-
I tci’est; and that said cotn; ;-?:ee,iit its ii.qttiries,
| may refer to such periods of time ns to them
I ma;,’ seem expe lie it and proper.'' It also ap
j pears, from the published proceedings of the
I House, that this resolution was accotn > i ii
and supported by a speech of co Md.’ra'.’e
length, in which you preferred ma v sev.- r
but vague charges of corruption mid
the Executive Departments. The
ol >|-li-d by \vi
.itro duct-
gives a ch. ract rto t!“> I g
When thus r.-garoM, it. is obvious th it. by th
resolution of th ■ House, an issue is made wiih
lite President of the L'uited Stat, s : as tie h
j alleged, in bis a ninal message, that the he.id.-
! of th” Executive D- partments ha I perform ■<
j their official duties with ability and i .teg’ ii\
j Iny-.ur speech you denied this; you charge
ith m with manifold corruptions, and abuses
of trust, as you had do ie in former speeches
I to which you referred ; und y«u demanded a
! investigation through the medium of a commit
j tee. Cvrtui) other members of f'ongress, a
j appears by the publi.-hed debates, united wi h
! von in these acci'sat.ioiis ; a id for the purpos
I ofascertai ing their truth or fals hood. th<
j committee you demanded was ordered to be
I raised, and you were placed at its head. Th
first proceeding of J ■ ■ niugcommitte
is to pass a series m resoluiious, which, though
amended in their passage, wero. as understood,
introduced bv you, calling on th ? President ami
the heads of the departm -..-ts—not to answer
■ o ativ specific charge cot t.i explain i y a!!e-
i ged abuse ; not to give inform::: ion as to a :;. |
. particular transaction ; but, assuming that th”. !
■ have been guilty of th ■ charges al!edg”d, call .
I upon them to fur ish evidence, agii. st them
j s. Ives !
Aft r the r it.-ra’ed charges you hav ‘made,
j it was to have been exp. cted that }cu w old
I have been prepar d to reduce them to sprei
j ficatious, a.id that lhe committee would tli-*'
I proceed to inv -siigate the matters alleged.
! But instead of this you resort to ge lerahti os
' even m >re vague than your oriffi lai accusa
tions, and in ope i viola,mn of the coastimiion.
a d oftbat well established a-d wise max
‘•that all men are presumed to b? i -■ ocei t unti'
proven guilty,according to th.: estab'i.-heil rules
ot'law.” you request myself’ m.d the heads of
th 1 di’par’ments to b; come our own accusers,
mid to furnish the evidence to convict oursel
ves; and this call purports tc be founded o:i the
authority ofthat body, i i which alone, by th
; constitiition, the power ol impeach! '.g us is
I vested ! The heads of department:" may mi
i swersuch a request as they pleas:), provi led
: they do not withdraw their own time, and
I that of the officers under their direction, from
| theptiblicbusi iess.ti’. the i jury thereof. To
that business I shall direct them tn devote thetn-
I selves, in preference to any illegal and u i-
I constitutional calls for information, no matter
I from what source it. may come, or however
. anxious they may be to meet it. ."c-r myself'.
| I shall repel al! such attempts ns an invasion
<>f the principles of justice, as well as of (he
i Constitution ; and I shall esteem it my sacred
i duty to the people of tins Unite ! States, to re
sist them as 1 would the cstablishmc.it of a
. severe accusations contaia-
_ - of vourself and
"WS>»- ’wi 11i -gofyo'i row. i
■_, 'os, then I re
quest voiirf ~,7ours:-lt'and as-
■ * TX lb<
sociates, u’W.-' a j.» rol vongr ss
who ha: Jsttei Cl,i l ’"l’’
tiou. to tesliWi • ffne./od our cou-try.
w h.-iher yon tiny specific cor-
ruption oi
partment; and if StWfgfWTt is.
If you are able to poi i any case, where
there is the slightest rcas-m to suspect corrup
lion or;'-’ -e of I rut, no obstacle winch 1 can
remove, shall be i '.teiposed to prove, t. the full
est scrutiny by all legal means. The offices
ol" al! lhe depariments will b - opened to v-. u,
and, every proper facility fur isbed foi this
purpose,
1 hope, sir. we sh all at last have vour char,
ges. and that VOU will proceed to i iv -sligate
lh un. lot like an inquisitor, but in the aceus
t imed mode. If you either will not m.di
qiecific ac<.tisaiions. or if, when made, veu
attempt, io establish them by making freemen
dn ir own accusers, you will nut expect me
to countenance your proceedings. In the
. short period which remains of my official
: duty, 1 shall endeavor, ar; I have heretofore tn
' d -avored to fulfil the obligations of that oath
* oi otii'.e, by whir-b, I engaged “to the best of
;iy aliihty, to preserve, prot< ct,and defend the
: Go ; ;t;tutio iof the L iled States,” and for this*
mid oth: r r.-asous of the most solemn charac-
■ | ter, I shall on the one band, cause every pos-
stbi ■ I icility, co sist mt with law and justice
: to be given to the inv.-stigation of
- iaugilde cbm’gts, aid <,-n the other, shall re
. pudiat: all attempts to invade the just rights
of th- Executive Departments, mid ot the indi
| viditals composing the same. If, after all your
i clamor, you will make no specific charges, or
: bring no proof of such as shall be made, you
and your associates must be regarded by the
j good people of the United States as the authors
oi’ unfounded calumnies; and the public ser
vants whom you have assailed, will, in the es
timation of ail honorable men, stand fully ac
quitted.
In the mean time, I cannot bitt express my
istonEhment, that members of Congress should
call for information, as to the names of per-
■ sons to whom conti: geut moneys are paid, und
j the objects of those payments, when there are
jsix s :t i<ii g .-ommittees under the seventy-
I seventh ml • ofthe House of Representatives,
i w!; s : special du i s are to examine annually
I -nto all tli-’ det ils of those expenditures in
each of the Executive D partments. The like
remark is applicable to some other branches
of the information sought by you, ample de
tails in respect to which, are to be found iu the
r- ports laid before Congress, and now on your
files, and to which, I recommend you to have
recourse.
I am, respectful. . <V<’.
Signed, ANDREW JACKSON.
; To the Hot). lleniiv A. \\ tss,
Chairman of the Investigating Committee
ofthe. abuses and corruptions charged against
the Executive Departments.
I certify that this is a true copy from the
crigii.al.
Test: A. JACKSON, Jr.,
Private Secretary.
From the Correspondent cf the Chronicle and Sen
tinel of Feb. 13.
AVashington, Feb. Sth, 1837.
Monday in Congress v.eli deserves the name
.>ll>i:t"k .viomiay, for d- g nearly the whole of
the. last session, and ’he greater portion ofthe
present, this day of the week has been given ujs
to matters respecting the condition ofthe blacks.
Last .Monday there was the eternal topic of abo
lition in the House, and also in the Senate, and
the members of the former were engaged, both
on Mondav and Tuesdav, in a debate of a most
unpleasant and ex'citetl character, on a propo
sition to censure Mr. Adams for an alleged con
tempt of the House. That gentleman has, as
usu I. presented a host of petitions from various
quarters, pravingfor the abolition of slavery in
the »trict of Columbia, which were received
and disposed of under the rule, according to Mr.
Pinckney’s resolu ion. Mr Adams still retain
ing the floor, said fie had in bis possession a
petition from Slaves I and he wished to know
whether it would fail under the rule? The
Speaker said the question was new, and he
therefore declined io give any decision, but
would submit it to the deliberation and judge
ment of the House. This step of the Speaker
was, in mv -opinion, the chid cause of all the
tumultuous excitement and all the embarrass
ment that followed. H d a man of high intel
lect and independence been in the chair, fie
would have decided promptly that such a paper
could not be received, as slaves have no right to
-but. bv leaving the matter to the det.er-
House, Mr. Tolk opened wide
■:
HE&-.> i tit’:'. C. offered a resolution,
' smtitestion of Mr. Lewis of Ala.
]* was modified, and provided that John Quincy
i Elams, having presented a petition from slaves,
' praying for the abolition of slavery, had commit
ted a gross contempt on the House, and that he
t.iereibre be called to the bar, and reeeiw acen
sure from the Speaker, in presence ofthe House.
fins motion was supported in a speech of
great spirit and force, by Mr. Thompson, and
-:y various other Southern gentlemen, who de
nounced, tn uuini asured terms, the designs and
lomgs ot the Abolitionists, and condemned
-trongly the whole course ot' Mr. Adams. The
greatest excitement prevailed ; and frequently
were heard cries of” Let him be expelled”—
’’Lf l h* !U De brought to the bar!”—Mr. Patton
oi V a. t hen rose, and entreated the House to a- t
with caution in passing a resolution of censure
on tiie member from Massachusetts. It might,
he said, turn out that Mr. Adams did not present
the petition, and that the petition itself did not
ask for the abolition of slavery. This intima
tion produced a revulsion offeelingin the House
ami wtien Mr. Adams rose immediately after
wards and began to address the House, the
members crowded around him, and filled the
area and aisle, ami ail the passages in his vicin
ity. Air. Adams th ti said he had not offered
tiie petition, but only had mibrmed the Speaker
that he had in bis possession such a paper, pur
porting to come from slavi s, and asked what
would be the order us the ilot se upon it. He
had not taken a single step beyond that. The
gentlemen who moved the resolution of Censure
were mistaken up- n one important point. The
petition was not for the abolition ot slavery, but
the reverse! Instead of that, these petitioners
asked tor the very tiling which the resolution
was calculated, in some measure, to accomplish!
He then defended himself t' -r presenting peti
tions for the abolition of slavery, on the ground
of the right of petition, but he avowed he was
an I always had been, averse to th? prayer of
sue,: petitioners.
Mr. Thompson 'hen modified his resolution so
as to omit lhe statean :' that the object of the
petitioners was the abolition of slavery; but he
<■ .intended that the presentation or attempt to
p. sent any memorial from slaves, was insult
in'. to the House, and to the Southern people.
Mr Pickens took the same ground. Messrs.
G lascoek, Pinckney, and Lawler of Ata., all sup
ported the resolution of censure. The House
adjourned without coming to any decision ; and
it was then reported among the members th: t
the petition, was signed by persons ca’ling
themselves sZurcs, and prayed that Mr. Adams
and every abolitionist be expelled from the
House! '
The question was again taken upon Tuesday,
Mr. .lenif r rose, and reading a report of the
remarks of .Mr Adams on the day previous, of
which I have given the substance, he asked
whether the report was correct? Mr. Adams
replied in the affirm—: , anil with the consent
of Mr. J enifer, proceeded to explain his remarks.
No man, ho said, had a right to infer from his
.emarks, that the petition prayed for the aboli
tion of slavery. At the same time he declared,,
that the mere circumstance of a petition being
from sitrw would be no inducement with hint to
withhold its presentation, but he would not
have presented it if it had prayed for the aboli
tion of slavery. He meant not to oiler any dis
respect or indignity to the House—he meant
not to trifle with the feelings of anv per i, n of
the country. On the contrary, he had asked
tie q stion, in consequence of his determina
tion to ah.do by the decision of the House what
ever it might be.
Mr. Jenifer then addressed the House in strong
terms of condemnation of the conduct of Mr.
Adams, and in support ot the resolution of cen
sure.
The debate now assumed a great latitude,
Messrs. Dromgoole. Lawler, Ilford Bvnum, and
1 hompson, spoke in support of the proposition
to censure Mr Adams. Messrs. Philipps, and
Cushing opposed it. Mr. Kobertson. of Va.
also opposed the passage of the resolution, but
condemned in the strongest terms lhe conduct ot'
■ir. Warns. 1’ :o House ag,a n adjourned with
out coining to any derision—the pending ques
tion being on a resolution of Mr. Patten. ofVa.
condemnatory of the presentation of any petition
or meme -.al :r<>m slaves,but proving that in con
sideration ot Air. Adams having disclaimed all
i.ii 'nticn to show anv disrespect to the House,
ad tart >r proceedings in his case should be sus
pended j
I do not think it probable that the House will
adopt any resolution of censure.