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fitted up his h .use f.r the « ..■ivraieuce of his
family, and liven in a style becoirm.g his <>pu
fence. His daughters—the young ladies abovi -
mentioned—xv<Te amiable, * cc^!’hsh^- X
handsome; and, though one of them f.boed a
little about the h'es, she resorted to that a. <1
justifiable subterfuge to get nd of her unknown
guests. When matters were exp.amed tin
thole party enjoyed a hearty laugh at the in
voluntary ernr ; and the genflemen withdrew
in,t. however, b fore the owner had s.dy se
cured bis botde of cordial.
CMStm
(Speech ofi' .Vis’. AUbrd,
(Os Georgia,)
On the Resolution of censure against Mr. Ad
ams, for introducing a petition from sundry
free negroes of Virginia, and for inquiring
of the House if it would be inorder to intro
duce a petition from persons purporting to
■ be slaves, and for declaring in his place that
he would introduce a petition from slaves,
upon the sublet t of abolition, if the House
•would permit him to dose:
Mr. ALFORD addressed the House as fol
lows :
Mr. Speaker. — I have several times attemp- j
ted to address the [louse upon the important
question, but have not been able to obtain the
floor before this, on account of the great num
bei of members who wished to speak ; in
deed, nothing out a solemn conviction of rny
duty to do so, has sustained me in the deter
mination to be heard. 1“ me.sir.it has been
a subject ot the most pat 4’ui excitement, to sit
here and see the cons itutio. al lights of <h ■
Sou h ail put asid. , and die fecii igs of th •
people whom I h.ive the honor to represent i..-
sultedia this House, by the introduction <4 pe.
titio s iom the wild and furious ta al.es ot ;
the North, no >n the subj ct ot ab iti 1.1.
Gr- at stress h is been laid, in this dob. te. upon ■.
th ■ scrcd right of p tition, and numbers oi
our Southern pei pie have been h retofore de
ceived iuto the fatal error of receiving them.
Upon the present condition of this affair, there i
can be io mistake; and all, I hope, at least!
all from the South, feel the same just indigna
tion against the measure now proposed to the
House. The ge .tleman from Massachusetts i
(Jfr. Adams,) has prose ted to this House, and |
it h is been received, it der a rule of the House ;
adopted before I came here, a petition from [
free negroes, and now holds 1.1 ins hand what .
he is pleased to call a p titr e: which purports
to be sig :ed by slaves, and asks o! til■.? Speaker
what disposition h ' shall make ot it. Str, is ■
there to b - : o end of this ruinous ai d i sulti g i
c iurse? Is th ■ gentleman to b • protected i '
a co itiaued ass .u't upon the S u:lt, and 11 a
course of thi ,gs h re, which mu.-t, if perse
vered in, result iii the overthrow ot this Gov
ernment, and I fear in the destruction of the
liberty of the American people? When the
member from M issaehuselts atinou ced hir •
course to the House, I looked around me and |
saw, or thought I saw; but one sentiment, and
that was of u iversil disgust; and the idea
crossed my mind, if it c >uld be possible that
there was a single min in this House that
would attempt to screen him from an expres
sion of that censure by this House, much less
to justify him i i his course? I answered my- j
self, in my own mind, not one, unless the fact !
that free negroes petitioned here through the j
member from Massachusetts, should arouse the ’
ardor of some honorable representatives from
the great State of New York, whose, history
said, had a peculiar regard for negro suffr ige,
and, of course, the right of petition. Scarce
had I forgotten the thought, before an honora
ble gentleman from New Fork, the leader of I
Mr. Van Buren’s friends in this House, was I
upon his feet, and, uot pretending to repeat his i
words, the substance of what he said was, that |
if there was-any thing wrong in this proceed- j
ing it came from the South ; the petition came |
from the South ; and it there was censure any ;
where, it was where the petition came from,
and not with the member from Massachusetts ; I
thus throwing the broad shield of protection
of the coming administration over the m mber
from Massachusetts. Can any one be raout ig
norant of th>; tri e character of those who have
deceived the South? Can honorable gentle
men from the South be any longer i i the dark
as to the course they should pursue ? I hope
not—l believe not. I thi k I see in Southern
members upon this floor a strong disposition
to be united upon this subject at last; and no
man shall say th t 1 have throw.> a firebrand
among them. No, sir, although they commit,
ted the fatal error of voting to receive these
petitions last sessio it th -y are now convin
ced. I for one will receive them as Southern
mo . as citize s of th ■ Smith, with an identity
of interest, of feeli g. a id of honor, u .der
the strong impulse of a commo i feMi ig ot
disgust at the wrongs done to the S >uth here.
Let them unbutton their collars and com b ck
to the support ot their common country and
their old friends, and they shall be receiv'd.
Mr. Speaker, rhe Member from M.issachu
se ts would screen himself from the censure of
this 11 mis -, b cause he has mt sent his peti
tio i from slants to your t ible. Sir, h has sent
the petition from free negroes of Fredericks
burg,and that is as wrong aid i..suiting to us
as if it were Pom slaves. I'he < 'oi.-.titiition
of these IT sited States no more allows th one
th.l4 the oth r, it id bo h ire eq tally i isii’ti g.
Mon ;over, the member his said he would not
refuse to pr se t a pet iti >n fr >m slav s. if th?
H wise did not object. The m mb r from
M issachiisetis says h ? would not off ran in
dignity to this House ; the fact speaks for it
self, and is mom conclusive to my mind than
uil his professions.
A great numb r of these petitions are from
females of good character, says the member
from Massachusetts. It may be so, and I have
no reason to dispute th' - tact; but 1 must say
the member has placed them in bad company,
when he places th. tn on a level with such peo
ple; as tb ■ honorable ge .tlcrna i from ’Virgi
nia (Mr. Potto ,) says his mulatto petitioners
are persons of ill fame n.id i dam ms charac
ter, as fur as he knows th m. 1 ask agai ,
Mr. Spe iker, if this war upon the South is ne
ver to cease ? And if it is to go oi, what ki id
of people are we to Io d< for i i the gr ind cru
sade agai st us? Are they to bi old men and
Voting women? It so, w.j shall not want
Cochran’s riHe to fight them with; we will
conquer them by softer means, if th y are as
clever as their mernb r would have th in to b ■.
But, sir if they are lob the Goths *nd Van
dals of the North, ( io allusions to our friends
io th<-t section of country,) I hope their fate
will not be as favorable us those that i ivaded
Britain. At least, sir, we will do all we can
in our defence. If war ever comes of this,
which may God forbid, we will not recede one
rich; we -.ill plant ourselves upon this soil,
and preset--e our constitutional rights, ot per
ish in th- attempt. Sir, there seems to be
some difference of opinion amongst our friends
here, as. to what course we ought to pursue in
this uwiiil crisis ol our beloved country.—
Soina of our triends, as patriotic as anv, have
urged, in this debate, that we ought n°t to sit
here aid submit to t'ais outrageous course of
things; that if it does not cease, we should go
hum*. No, sir; this must not be: we will
neither submit nor retire. If they prosecute
this measure in this House, by attempts at le
gislnti ig us out of our rights, we will resist it
here by legislative acts as long as we can, and
if at last they preve too strong for us, and
succeed in passing unconstitutional laws to
rob us of our property, to murder our wives
rod children, still we will not submit; they
must change the Constitution before they 7 can
bind us by anv laws of abolition ; this they
never can do, if the South is true to itself. —
And true wo. shall be, I hope in God, to our
constitution, our wives, our children, and our
country. || they still pursue us to th.: ins;,
md attempt to do by force wiiat they can never
do by law, we will not.be found wanting ; we
will not desert this Capitol, nor this country.
I his is the Old Dominion; this land is ours
s wed as theirs; it was ceded by Virginia
nud Aferyland, where slavery is tolerated by
law. Shall we leave it, then, to the dominion
of force, and that, too, inflicted by the unhal
lowed arm of the wild and wo se than savage
fanatic? No. never!
1 apprehend, Mr. Speaker, that the South
not well understood on this subject. Party
purposes and party policy may have prevented
a lair and.hill expression ot the feeling:; ano
o’ i ions of people of all parties at the South,
upon this floor. Fhe spirit of the South has
not b -en felt here as it should have been. Let.
rm: tell gentlemen, it is a firm and unco quera
ble resolution never to surrender one jot or tit
tle of our constitutional rights upon this sub
ject. We have a common inter -st in this
Gover meet; a commo i title in this Japitol ;
it b.-ars the name of the immortal Washington,
and he was a Southern man and a slaveholder.
Shall we, then, ever surrender the one or de.
sort the other? No, never ! Never, u .til
this fair city is a field of Waterloo, and this
beautiful Potomac a river of blood !
?Jj’. Vg'ihatncy’s LeSScr.
To the honorable Select Committee of the
House of Representatives, of which Mr. 11.
A. Wise is Chairman :
On Monday afternoon, the 6th inst. I was
waited on by the Sergeant-at-arms of tin. hon
orable House of Representatives, with a sum
mons. signed H. A. Wise, Chairman, comman
ding me to appear forthwith before you. To
which I replied, I would either appear or make
a communication to the committee.
In adopting the course which I have resolved
to pursue on this occasion, which is, m t to obey
the summons which has been served upon me,
it becomes my imperative duty, no less to the
committee and the honorable House under
whose authority it is acting, than to myself and
my country, as an individual and a citizen, to
state most emphatically 7 my reasons for having
come to that determination.
It has become a matter of too great and exten
ded notoriety to render it necessary for me to
advert to the particulars of a scene which took
place before another committee appointed by
me honorable House, a short time since ; when,
from r< sp. cl to that committee and the House,
I submiited to personal violence and outrage
from more than o> e member of it. One of the
indivi.mills who thus assailed me, and who is
a m mb r of that committee, is the chairman
of the committee to which this communicatio;
is addressed.
My statement of the whole affair has alrea
dy been placed before the public, o er rny sig
nature. Those of my assailants, Mi'. I’cyton
a id Mr. Wise, were made before the House
oi Representatives on Saturday last. It is for
the public to judge from the respective state
ments how far the one is sustained by the oth
ers in the material facts which goto establish
the outrage and violence which I experienced
on the occasion from the two members of the
committee.
On Monday last, the 6th : .st., I addressed
to the honorable Speaker of the House of Reb.
resentatives a communication, accompanied
with a inemoriai, a copy of which is annexed,
which I requested him to lay before the Hous;:
of Representatives. This he could uot do,
because the action ofthe House did not enable
any State usually called after that <4 Massa
chusetts to present a memorial on that day.
It will be seen in that memorial, I complain
of the outrage and violence which I have ex
perienced, and wrongs done me by the two
members of that committee, Mr. Pevton and
Mr. W ise. Also, that I ask ofthe honorable
House of Representatives to institute such in
! quiry into the facts of the case as in their
I wisdom they may deem proper to elicit the
, truth, and thereafter to take such action as mav
seem to be called for at their hands.
I should deem myself perfectly justified,
from the factsand circumstances already sta
ted and referred to in the memorial appended,
to take the stand already indicated to the com
mittee I have resolved to take, were there
none others existing to strengthen and fortify
me in th t resolution. Every member of so.
ciety is familiar with the liability he is under
for the due administration ofthe laws and the
attainment of justice, not only between the
Gi'vernmunt and individuals, but between man
and man, to be subjected to all proper mandates
of any judicial tribunal, either high or low, be
fire which he is ’called, for such purposes.
But no man can rightfully be called to appear
to giro testimony in a case in which he is the
accused party.
This I hold to be the obligation of the indi
vidual on the one part. But. while there is
n> cessarily this obedience due from the i idi
\'idu J to the judicial authority and power, o
the o her part is there to be no reciprocity?
Is power of any sort to be so exercised as to
call before it an humble citizen in the .private
walks of life, and notextend the same power
to give him protection while before those to
wh nn has b"cn delegated the exercise of tint
power? 1 f so, the.i all <>b igatio sdu ■ and ow.
i .£ asb.'tween i.aiivi ! u its aid judic* J power
must cease to exist. 'l'he individual sum 1 :' ■ -
ed to appear before any tribunal having the
authority to require his appearance before it,
must, it he consents to appear, go arm. d to
defend and protect himself from arty assaults
which may be made upon or against him ; ev
en from those ofthe judges bv whose authori
ty and before whom he is culled to appear !
Such are the circumstances att-tiding rny
case, m the present instance, that I have no
choice left me but to yield to the summons
which has been served upon me, and appear
b<4bre tin committee fully and openly armed
to defend myself from aggressions upon my
rightsofa like character to those 1 experien
c'd while before another committee from your
hairman, or to decline obedience to the sum.
mo s altogether.
Thi‘affair between Mr. Peyton and myself,
which occurred in the presence of another
committee, his not hi-g whatever to do with
the committee to which this is addressed, and
b fore whom lam summoned to appear. Bui
therein irks of Mr. Wise, the chairman of this
committee, in relation to what occurred. and
the part he acted before, and as a member of,
that committe", has# very thing to do with my
appearance before this committee.
In the reported proceedings of the House
on Saturday last. I find it stated that Mr. Wise
declared “the proceedings of the committee
had been misrepresented, and most wofully
belied, by that (referring to nivself) most infa
mous wretch.” So far as n mirds this allega
tion, I do not choose to give it any further no
tice than to state that I have invited in my
memorial the investigation of the House as to
the accuracy of my statements.
Mr. Wise continued to say, he “thought he
discovered that Whitney was disposed to ex
periment upon him and his honorable friend
f rom Tennessee. He had fell his way in th
Globe newspaper. He had tried their patience
there, and had endeavored to enlist a hireling
paper to sustain him in his false and insulting
allegations. They had both failed to notice
him: they had both refused to recognize him >
< s a gentleman i:i any respect whatever. |
His manner, too, when he came Indore the
committee, was clearly, to Mr. W.’s mind, that j
of a superci ious, contumacious, contemptuous |
witness.”
A'lain, says dlr. Wise, after o-iviug Ms own ;
description of what passed between Mr. [’ey- !
ton and myself, ‘•During this tin. ■ Whitney!
stood in the position of a man who had some i
weapon or oth; rin his hand, for he kept his !
right hand in the con esponding pocket of his '
pantaloons. Indeed, I suspected it so strong- j
ly that, standi g in aline between the two par- !
tics, 1 watched the motion of thatarm, and im- :
mediately went around the table, placing my- I
self at. an angle where, H' THAT ARM HAD
MOVED AN INCH. HE SHOULD HAVE
DIED UPON THE SPOT. I confess it,
sir, coolly and deliberate! v, lor I thought 1 saw
the insidious assas-sin in every movement made
by him on that occ-ssion.” This ?>lr. Wise
d 'sig; ates iiiterpw iug in a friendly manner !
a peaceful interposition ! !
I had not my hand in my pocket, as stated ;
by Mr. W ise, on the occasion at all. for both •
hands were put ii requisition to meet and de- )
fend myself against Mr. Peyton, who was ad- '
vanning upon me, with every indication of!
drawi at forth from his bosom a pistol or a. dirk.
N r had 1 then about me. nor have 1 carried ■
about me for many years, any weapon uhatev- ;
er.
Here is the chairman of the committee which !
lam ow addressing, and before which I am
summoned to appear as a witness, deliberately (
declaring to the representatives of the nation,
and to the nation itself, that if I had moved my
“arm mt inch,” I “should havedied on the spot.’
A ’d what led to this self.ackaowk.dged assas
sin like conduct mi the part ol Mr. Wise?
Had I done any thing to irritate and provoke
him? Had he and mysefi on that occasion any
pr vious altercation? None whatever. Hi
s vs “several of his colleagues and himseli on
the commitlee were sitting apart, telling anec
detes in the most pleasant and agreeable man
ner to each other.” Then wherefore this]
ruffian and assassin conduct which he acknow
ledges to have exercised tow ards me?
If. under such circumstances, Mr. Wise,
wko was an ordinary member ol’a committee,
could form the resolution to shoot me do a h on
the spot, what might he not do was I to appear
before a committee of which he is chairman,
by whom all interrogatories to me as a witness
must be propounded, and to whom ail the an
swers given must be returned, if he, “thought
he discovered” any thing like con tumacy? Or,
in case any 7 thing should occur relating to my
looks, or mv manner, while before the commit
tee, which Mr. Wise might take offence at;
or should I accidci.tally pul my hand in my
pocket, a: d attempt to withdraw it. have we
. ot the iiubiic declaration of Mr. Wise that I
hould die on this spot?
To go before a committee of the House, open
ly armed, to defend mvself against similar as
saults, I should consider as offering an indig
nity both to the committee and to the House.
I cannot believe that we are so rapidly descend
ing from a state of civilization to that of an
cient barbarism, that the acts of individual leg
is'ators will be so far sanctioned as to rc: der
it necessary for private mdividualsto arm them
selves to meet the assaults which may be made
upon them by their judges.
If that is the case, it is high time that the
world should know it; for. although the con
stitution grants certain privileges, the immu
table law ot nature, self defence, is superior to
any enactment of man.
Under these circumstances I peremptorily
decline appearing before the committee ot
which Mr. Wise is ch airman, or a member,
unt 1 the honorable House of Representatives
shall iiave redressed the wrongs which I have
experienced by obeying its mandate, and until |
full protection is extended to me from future !
insult and violence.
I consider this as no common or individual i
case. 1 view it as one in which every indi- I
vidual member of the community has as deep ;
a stake as myself; for what is my case to-day
may be that of any member of the committee,
or anv individual member ofsociety to-morrow. :
In justification of the stand 1 now take. 1
rest upon the verdict of the nation, by which !
I am willing to abide, and upon which 1 am
content to stand or fall.
R M. WHITNEY. I
Trsr.l ol’ WhilßM’y.
Washington, Feb. 16, 1837.
The case of Reuben M. M hitney continues
to occupy the attention of the House, or rather
I ought to say, thetria! of Messrs. Wise and
Peyton,—foi the investigation so far has been
exclusively confined to the “sayings and do
ings” of those two gentlemen. The conduct
of certain manageis of “the party” tn this bu
si ess ought to cover them with lasting dis- I
grace. In obedience to the despicable impul
ses of tneir own minds, or to the imperious !
comma ds of a passio nite old man, they have
ei tered on a course utterly irreconciieable with
of law or justice. The march
ot insolent power Iris been so rapid of late, rhai
the public mind has hardly 7 had time t > recov i
er from the shock of one exercise of despotic i
authority, before another, and another still '
more daring and da .gi rous, and detestable,
have been exhibited. 1 verilv believe that i:
Andrew Jackson were in power six months
longer, and Congress should continue in ses- ;
siou, he would issue his order within that tune
t< have some of the leading men in each House,
Mr. Calhoun and Mr. Clav. Mr. Bell. Mr. Wise,
and Mr. Peyton. Mr. Pickens, and others ar
rested tor speaking their tree thoughts;—and
tn it not one man of the pniiv would dare to
raise his voice against the atrocious act !
1 placed the present proceeding, ofthe I louse
in a proper point of view last evening. I show,
cd you that by party organization and disci
pline, a resolution was adopted which gave to
Reuben M. Whitney the privilege of now ex
amining witnesses, changed the whole scope
of the investigation, and actually placed Mr.
Peyton and Mr. Wise on their trial for a con
tempt of Whitney. Fortunatilv for truth and
justice, we are at last, appro aching the true
issue, viz : —How comes it th it Messrs. Pey
ton and Wise are arraigned ? and that the pro
secution of the charge against Whitney has
been abandoned.
I his is ihe point that is now reached : and
from the cries that were set up when Mr. Pey
ton attempt d to probe it to-day, the iufi rence
is inesistibie that just here is the very heart of
the sore. The party will not, if they" can help
it, allow this to be touched.
Among the questions put the Hon. T. L.
Hamer, one ofthe wiln-sscs called by the ac
cused, was one by Mr. Peyton, requiring him
to state whether he understood the chief object
o l ' those who originated and supported the pre
sent course of proceeding, was to lay the cir
cumstances ofthe occurrence in the commit
tee room belore the world ; and whether he
understood that tins course was the result of a :
arrangement between the accused and certain
members of this House; and requesting him
to state all the circumstances oa which that
understanding was based?
I give you the substance of the inquiry on
ly ; you perceive it comes directly to the point. '
It was objected to by Mr. McKenon.
I entered the Hall just as Mr. Peyton was
replying to his objections. His speech was
brief—but it is universally spoken of as one of
the most powerful bursts of indignant eloquence
ever heard in Congress. I never heard any
©Uf&€Tti SO H t ♦
.thing, any wherein Europe or America n>oi<
efi. ctive ; except that noblest display' o im
passioned oratory, the short speech ol tbi:,..'
[Webster, dmingtho midnight session ofthe
| third of March before last, on the hrac ,»i
! lions amendment.
, Mr. Peyton boldly stated bis object to bo to
! find out the authors of the coiitemjitib.e I.ug’
[now exhibited in the House. He belmw.'.
I there was an odious and disgraceful combina
i tion ri d conspiracy between this pretended ac
! cased, but real prosecutor, and certain mem
i bars of the ! louse. !
Hero several sensitive gentlemen called out |
! “order! order !” Mr. Claib'irne mid, Mr. J '
I were more forward than others, and call'•« up
on Mr. Peyton to name the members. “ Nam: ,
name!” was shouted trom various quarters.
“ Names!” echoed Mr. Peyton, " they nb'j
precisely what I am aiming at —I
names, and, sir, I mean to have them ! Gen- :
tlcmen have boon clamorous for proof. I toil !
them I will go with them heart and soul in pit
suit ofthe proof.
lie declared that if there was now no shrink
i i.ng, they would have names and facts, not on
j conjecture oi suspicion, but given by witnesses,
who, he doubted not, would prove that there
: were secret conclave out of iliis House, where
, the prese.o course of proceeciiog was resolved
: upon, am! uh, je.i !>'.' ' ami fraud it was
; caucussed into and fhsteeed iipori the House.
! O. P. Q. Cushman hens started up and
! called Mr. Peyton to order! But this inter
' ruption was promptly put down : and the ar
( dent and fearless orator proceeded. He said
■ he expected to prove that there was an ar
i rangemertt made between W hitucy and certain
! individuals.
Here again he was iMerrnpted by Mr. Yell.
! of Arkansas, who wish'"! to know whether Mr.
i Peyton alluded to him !!
! Mr. Peyton replied, that ho had never once
thought of the go tl<man ; and if he had not
! risen to interrupt, he would not have known of
! his being in the House. He hoped he would
! now be quiet! What could. Ur. Yei! be think
i ing about ?
| Mr. Peyton continued : There was an ar
; rangement by which hitney was not. to be
■ punuh-M—but to have the eclat, the triumph
of bringing him (Mr. Peyton) and Mr. Wise to
[ this bar. They never had any design to pun-
I ish censure, or molest in any way, this “ accus
j ed.” This is what he wished to prove. For
j this, he wished to exami .e every gent!man
who might know any thi ;g ofthe transaction.
: Mr. Peyton dared them to let him have an on
! portunitv of getting proof- Let him have it,
ami he would perhaps make those who now
: hold themselves so high, and use so lofty a
tone of exultation at anticipated triumph, stand
i before the house and the country inthecha-
I racter of accessories and allies of Reuben M.
! Whitney. Ik said be cared not how severe
I was theor : ahe was to be subject-
i cd; buttle:! - f '.'i-d that he also might
! show by v ■■t cours;- oi
proceeding u... ■> i. .—a : wished to
expose ail th • ii :rk disgraceful circum
stances connected with it.
The party did shrink from the inquiry, A
! cab of the House was demanded for the pur
i pose doubtless of getting force enough to vote
: down this question. Bm. it was discovered
: there was no quorum; and a motion to adjourn
prevailed.
We will see whether the party’s managers
will dare to let this question !>■ pet tomorrow.
> If they do nst, the coir trv wilt believe that
there have been disgracifil conspiracy and
! combination with Whitney to put down Messrs.
H ise and Peyton.
Washington, Feb. 17, 1537,
Case of R. M. Whitney.— The question
pending when the Hous- adjourned last eve
niiisf, was on allowing Air. Pei to i to propound
! an inquiry to the witness, (Mr. Hamer, ot O- (
! hio,) relative to the combination and conspira-1
1 cy which Mr. P. said h.■■ had good reason to j
! believe did exist between R. M. V> hitney and
j certain members of the House. The traiu
! bands mustered full and strong this morning, to j
prevent this question being put. It was 100
| searching. Mr. Peyton, with a view of as- |
[ fording no room for cavi or objection, altered (
; in some measure the form of >he interrogatory, i
! and requested the witness simply to state who- i
: ther he had heard any member of the House
i declare that some proceeding shoul I be adop
ted in order to bring the occurrences in the
committee room (which have been so often re
ferred to) under the notice of the House; and
if vea, then to state whether such an opinion
was expressed by many members ofthe House;
and whether any member had suggested that
the proceedings against \\ hitney for a con
tempt would be a proper mode of effecting that i
obj-'Ct. _ j
This question was manifestly so fair, that, j
; not a man of ‘he party had the front, at first,
Ito take exceptions to it. It was handed to the I
i witness. He prepar 'd his answer, and retur- i
tied both to the Chair. N.w began the lint- i
teriug arnoi'g the Royalists, and just ns the'
clerk was about to read aloud th.? answer, one |
of the Regency men screwed up his boldness, j
’ and objected, o.i the groitad th;it it implied an
! imputation on the motives of members.
J Mr. Pevton raised a question whether st was
m order to object to a question alter the au-
I swer to it. had been returned?
i The Speaker decided it was in order,
j Mr. Peyton then refuted the objections taken ;
bv Mr. 'Furrill, of New York lie wished to |
[know whether the real object of g< ntlemen
! was not t'» ali’ect certain members of the
i House. Ho believed he could prove that
i Whitney, and those connected with him, are
j practising a gross deception on this body and
the country. He demanded an opportunit, to ;
adduce evidence to establish this fact.
Such was the force and impressiveness of
Mr. Pevtou’s appeal, that the House refused to
i obey the mandates of th- Regency; and'
! agreed that the question should be put, by a
' vote of 89 to 85. Well done for once !
I Mr. Hainer’s answer was most, important. I
1 He had heard some members say that the pro
! ceediugs in the committee room, which hid
been referred to, ought to be brought under
the notice of the House.
.Mr. Wise then put. uquestion in order to eli
cit the fact, that the object of the present
course of proceeding was to affect him and
Mr. Pevton, anil requested Mr. Hamer to
! state all the circumstances ami objects connec
( ted witlithe m :.v: Elions, meetings, mid re
'[marks ■’ -eM. r- mid Reuben M. Whitney
, that go ' ’'■■ “ ' ' ’ ob .H cl ’
This', -
Mr. Wi< riud lotlie remarks of Mr.
Pevton yesterday, and said they expressed his
retisims fot' wishing to put this question. He
was on trial he said, and uot Reuben Whitney !
The issue had been made by the House, whe
(her he was such a character that a peaceful
man dared not appear before him. He had
not the remotest doubt of the connivance by
which the present course of proceeding was
brought about —and he proposed this as an in
dui'iii" question to bring before tile House and
the country the truth. But Im meat t to go
i farther, and show whether the Executive I’ow.
' er was not to be brought to bear against two
I humble members of that House. He denoun
ced the con luct of the parties who had clus
j tered around Whitney, u ider the pretence ol
I sheltering him from injustice. 'V h;le the}
'! thrust themselves forward as the champions o:
'. justice, they are openly mid flagrantly viola
j ting every principle of law and right, and try-
ing him without notice—without accusation—
without arraignment—without even askiim
him whether he is guilty or not guilty. He
lemanded an opportunity to unmask his acctt-
This question was rejected ! Ayes 73. noes
The young A irgiman then put another quo
ry, framed with exceeding precision and per ;
tin-1.. }, to ascertain if the witness knew vi he- t
ther the President had not advised mid r<.com [
mended tim 'present courueof proceeding, and j
■ wheth-.r that functionary did not. directly or m- ;
j directly assign as a reason for it. that tins j
’ would try the conduct of Messrs. Wise and [
Peyton in the committee room, urging that it j
; was necessary to condemn thm. conduct.
| Mr. Vanderpool, of Kinderhook, objected to
j this inquiry. The President, he said, wr.s not. i
(■at the bar: and he did not see what light this j
j question would throw on the point at issue. I
■ Mr. Wise met this objection with great '
I force and directness, and made a most vigor- I
i otis mid effective speech in reply. ‘-I know.
! sir,” said he, “thatthe Presid-.in. is not at the I
bar—neitheram I! —yet 1 am on trial as much, I
; and for a more heinous offence, than this pre- '
I tended accused. lamto be tried for the most :
! atrocious and detestable designs—and all I ask !
lis to let me know my accuser! I call for.
him—be ho high or low—base or honored—
j the tool and minion of power —or the 'l'yhaxt
| himself! Is this a land of civil liberty'!—and
I do you seek to try a man without allowing him i
i the poor privilege of confronting his accuser ?” I
i “I am told the President is not on his trial,
i No, sir ! But let me ascertain wh ther nt; has (
put us on onr trial? Has he called certain
gentlemen tohmpalace, and there by appeals
to their sympathies and complaints of injuries
and persecution wrought upon th ir feelings—
and then pointed to two troublesome fellows in
i the Horse who have constantly trespassed on
! his reputation, and who must be killed off ?
'j Yes, sir, that is the word—‘killed oil’!’—‘kill- I
! ed oil - !’ —‘ Let them be indirectly tried and con- ■
demned as assassins!’ —was th ■ command.
The ardent, young orator here seemed streg- ■
sling to express the emotions that tilled bis I
breast. lie could not speak as ho felt. His !
form assumed its perfect hei'.'l't —his expres
sive features were anim by the bold and I
indignant spirit within- . . ' .meed scorn-
fully towards the managm a m this prosecution
j —and in tones of energy and di.liui.ee that
| pierced every nerve ol’ every year, he exclm
i med—
“ I stand here alone !—and I wish to know
how many base-born tools ot powerth;? Tyrant
has i i this House to do his bi.'M :ig —Let tin I
serfs of this Turkish Despoti.im' stand out ami .
show themselves!’
This question shared the fate ol Lie prece- ■
ding. It was rejected of course.
I Mr. Peyton then put a question, in ord >r to
elicit the truth as to membersol (’.-engross
; counselling Whitut-y respecting the course h.:
' should pursue in the Committee and it: In
House; and also as to their expressing tin
wish that he would refuse to appear and testi
fy.
This question was rejected also.
Mr. Peyton put anoth-ar query tor ths pur
pose of ascertaining whether certain members
had not declared that th v would vote tor th
| present proceeding, forth ■ r ’asoa that ii eco
duct and decl irutions of Messrs. Wise a .<: ■
! Peyton would be brought under the review o! ■
the House, and that these gentlemen Would be
thereby disgr. ci d.
This was objected to likewise.
Mr. Pevton. i i maintaining the relevancy
and importance of the question, said, he only
wished to silence the member or m inkers who
had already made declarations of this kind
against him. and prevent those from sitting i .
judgment on him, who had thus disqualified
and disgraced themselves. Tiw was I
(rejected. . . .
i I trust vour readers will ponrtcr well o:i [
j these questions which were thus summarily
■ thrown out by nn organized and disciplined
’ majority. I'hese are refusals pregnant.
■ 't he next querv brought something more sa
tisfactory still. Mr. Hamer was asked w’ne..
I he had first seen the wrilte i testimony of Mr.
I Fairliel I. He ansumred that he had seen it
| several days before he was examined in thi
j House!
So; —the matter was all arranged before;
hand. Die suggesting of questions was c in- |
tinned for some time bv other gentlemen ; but I
were not permitted to be put.
The Counsel for the accused then put. a few ;
questions, and they were fellowed by Mr. Vv ise. [
The testimony of Mr. Hamer corroborates the i
statements made by .Messrs. Vv ise and Peyton j
in the House, as to the provocati ai given by j
I Whitnev. and the entirely pacific iuterposition I
j of Mr. Wise.
’ Mr. Martin and Mr. Gtllet were then called ]
I upon successively, to give tn their written an- |
i swers to the questions put by the Counsel of'
; the accused te the ether witnesses. But ow- |
' ing to the lateness of the hour of adjmirmne; t, [
! I must defer any notice ol their testimony till;
j my next.
Washington. Feb. l-h 1*37. (
Saturday Evening. W o'clock. )
After a long and exciting session, the House
has just adjourned. lam glad of it ; tor more
than once this evening have 1 felt apprehen
' s.ions of a recurrence ot scenes similar io tlrose ,
j which disgraced some ol the mid-nignt and afl
| night sittings of last year.
If any thinu- were wanting to convince eve- ;
ry candid and riaso table man that thus ile oh ,
ject of “the party” in t e course they have ;
adopted and peitiiiaciously adhered to, has b ei.
| to impeach the conduct of Messrs. VI iso a -d .
Peyton, and hold them up to public odium, the :
proceedings ot this day would abundm tly sup-1
plv the deficiency. AJter spendim.'- four en-j
: tire days in the closest ■ ■ -m nati .a oi w loess- ■
les respecting the “c- : -me m Messrs. «> ise
! and Pcvto:i, and fixing public attention on ad '
[ these gentlemen said a:.d did in moments of
high excitement, produced by a series oi ii- :
suits and provocations, a proposition is made ■
to suspend all furlht r pioceedmg ami discharge
/feuhen M- Whitney, without permitting these
gentlemen to produce any testimony in vinifi
cation of themselves. This is the candor and
justice, and honesty of men who make a clam
our about “oppression and persecution’' wn<
a regular appointed committee seek to cAM»-.
out the injunctions ofthe House in investig'^ s
ting the character ofthe agency anti trmisactior®
i ofthe “Treasury Familiar?
1 have not thought it. important hitherto to
encumber your columns w ith the questions and
answers put to the witnesses cailefi by tbi
prosecution, as it mav properly bn styled, or
the ostensible accused. —because on a deliber
ate review ofthe testimony so far 1 do not per
ceive that the clear and minute statements ot
Messrs. Wise and Peyton, in the [louse a. fort
night ago. and which were then complete!'
corroborated bv Mr. Garland and Mr. Hawser,
have been affected in anv material point. 1 h
examination of Mr. Martin and Mr. Gillet wa
completed to-day. The latter is a mere parti
sun of a most convenient memory. 1 lie for
mer’s evidence was lull, fair, and satislactorv.
He testified most distinctly to the provoeat'o
given by the insolent demeanor ot Whitney.
His scowls and trowi.s—o:s disre pectli:! tom
nd bearing on several occasions, -and partie
■ ilarlv on the evening of the collision; —au<
also to the purely amicablo inter;: • Alton of Mr.
W ise.
When the testimony of these witnesses was
finished, .Mr. Peyton submiited a motion which
■ixcited a great deal of attention ; and deserves
particular notice. It appears that among the
documentary evidence sent to the “Whitney
Committee” by the Deposite Banks, are copies
of some very extraordinary correspondence
between Whitnev and the Bank of Burlington
! Vt. Whitney wrote a letter to the President of
the Bank applying for the situation of agent
i of that institution, and enclosing among other
I recommendations of himself, an anonymous
! letter is referred to by him as coming from one
I “high in the confidence of the Executive.”
| The letter recommends Whitney in the strong
! est terms, and expatiates on the advantages of
| having such “an organ ofiuter-commuriication”
I for the purpose of corresponding with the va-
I rious depositori 's of public money, and thus
j controlling the currei cy, the domestic exchan
j ges, and promoting the whole fiscal operations
'of the government! Yes : the whole fiscal
I operations of the government, the currency,
j exchanges, ail placed under the thumb of R.
!M. Whitnev ! All this power, in the exercise
' of which every man in the nation is more or
less interested, placed in the hands of a person
! in favor, as well as irresponsible ; and vet the
' r> presentatives ofthe people are not to ask who
I he is, and what he does, on pain of being de
: noui.ced as “Spanish Inquisition.”
Mr. Pevton now moved that the accused, [
I be required to testify either before ths House,
i or before the committee, whether Amos Ken
; dal! was the author of this anonymous letter?—
1 and if he was not, who was? He stated, in
; explanation, that it. was importantto lave these
I questions answered, without delay, as the in-
I v< stigatii g committee were preparing to make
! a report. The House refused the application!
; Let your readers mark this—another refusal
I pregnant. Be it remembered, too, that Whit
nev raised the cry of “inquisitorial” oa every
! question propounded to him touching Amos
! Kendal! !
The counsel of the accused then examined
■h • reporter of the (•lob ■ —a id Mr. V> ise ques
tioned th rc poiierot the National Intelligencer,
in order to test the accuracy of (he reports giv
en i ■ these papers ofthe statements made in
the House by Mr. Wise. At this stage, Mr.
Dawso’i, ol'Gecrgia, lose and again protested,
in an eioquent and impressive manner, against
the whole course cf proceedii gs adopted b\
the majority. He particularly objected to the
! atti mpt to question gentlemen for what was
! coetiiiiied in the reports of newspapers. He
state: 1 the point distinctly, that either Messrs.
Wise and Peyton were the accused or they
■ were nut: arid if they were, as all the cou: try
i believed they were really the accused, let them
j. know it —if tiny were not, then let. them be
j called as witnesses to testify to the matter now
! in question. They were certainly the best
' judges now is question. They were certain.
liv the best juiges of what they did say. The
I examination «f the reporters was, however,
1 insisted on by the counsel, and the House
! sanctioned it.
The Cotins;! then made a proposition to put
I in evidence Certain extracts tiom
' made by Messrs. Wise and P&yton at the last ;
j -s well as the present session, for the purpose
lof showing the intent, the quo animo. The
I exit acts wore read much to the amusement
of every one bit the ‘immaculate’ Whitney
j himself. Mr. Peyton rose and declared he
■ was i eadv to p’ove all the charges against the
] accused ; and demanded an opportunity to
i adduce the pro«f. This startled “the party,”
! and th 'v resolved that this dangerous rjj.at.tej'.
■-'no'i'.d not !>.: tnide evidence !
flfr. Patton. < f V.ri-iui.:. *W
J.irt'ii r proc.H -ri'js id t'p- <*
This movementexcited the
tion on the part of every House
who had the smallest pretensions to fairness,
j Mr. Wise protested against it with uncommon
) force and eloquence. Mr. Bell made an ener
( getic remonstrance also ; and exposed the in
justice and meanness of such a proceeding.
Those who supported it complained of waste
oftime. Whose fault is it but their own?
Had they not violated Ml law and precedent j
in permitting a nan charged with a contempt, |
to turn the prosecution against others—had
they taken the only proper course, put Whit
nev on his oath, and required him to answer
interrogatories, tie whole business would not
; have consumed r t dav. But they were bent
| on bringing odium and disgrace upon two high
I siiirited voting men, who often have made them
; quail beneath the lightning of their eloquence,
j Vain endeavor ! Poor miserable spite!—the
! poisoned chalice will be commended to the
; lips of those who prepared it for Mr. Wise and
, Mr. Peyton.
j From the Chronicle and Sentinel of February 25,
SS. M. Whitney.
The trial of this worthy before the Houseof
' R-nr 'sent-.fives, for contempt of the Commit-
I tee, in refusing to answer its interrogatories,
■ has been concluded, and he is now discharged.
■ Thus liave the servile and partizan majority ot
! that bod 7 , 7 sanctioned his course in contemning
j their own authority, and setting nt naught their
! committee. When will the outrages of the
party in power have an end ? When will our
cou.it 'v be r: deemed from the misrule of se
cond rate demagogues, who are prostrating
before them ail that is noble and dignified in
‘ its institutions. When will Georgia be re
-1 deemed from the deep and lasti >g degradation
i to which, she has been reduced by the vassal
! age of'the delegation which has misrepresented
I her for two sessions of Congress? The pro
! ceedings will be found in the following letter
I of our Correspondent.
Washixgton, Feb. 20, 1837.
' This contemptible business is over. Reuben
[ M. Whitney has been discharged without any
! rebuke or reprimand ; and yet without any at-
I tempt at exculpation ; for his cou isd gave up
■ the only ground assumed m justification of his
contumacy, namely, the fear of appearing be-
I fore Mr. Wise, The majority have therefore
' decided that a contempt may be committed on
them with impimity. They might have gone
one step farther ; and resolved solemnly that it
was impossible for <iuy one to commit a cou
tempt on them ; and I doubt whether they
would have found one honorable and candid
to gainsay the assertion. The Mock Trial
jfro; and now all that can be done is to place
crable the Party, and their
“• ( atiike" %£ss. as manifested
‘ Throughout lb' . " g,strongly be-
> - fore the pub!, 7 ' ’<■ understood,
I ! hev cannot ft ' ~ 7 | disgust and
indignation, x , . ■
r The imports* . 1 Van Buren
managers 4'yty organization
. .nil dXcipline, to^ r '-V* R *™I'’ 1 '’ week in the ex
f miiiiaiioa of v it;iesses,'i’.i?thiiig matters in no
way connected with the real question ht lj sl ’'
he House —and only for the purpose of injur
. ' i <?, if possible, the reputation of two ardent.
[ mqiettKHis. but highly gifted young men ; who
I ho parly know, are of more use to the cans-
l"|he opposition, than scores oi milk and watet.
‘ifthe road should be pretty safe,” adversaries
>fthe Adininistratio.i. That after spe ding a
veek in this manner, equally idle and disn-spu
able. a proposition was made by a V an Bare
memrer to slop all fnrthi r proceedings, vv Inch
would effectually depiive those gentlemen from
■ iddiicmg any testimony in their vindication
1 .md that when a member offered a resolution
for allow i g the in to examine w itnesse? in their
own defence, it was laid on the table by a par
ty vote!
But this is not al!—nor a tithe ofthe sum ot
their contemptible and odious practices.
It will be readily acknowledged, that if it
could be proved that the President had said tha.
Messrs. Wise and Pevton ought to be Hous
tonized, meaning thereby that they ought to b<
assailed in the street, —ifthePresident did use
language so strong and stimulating, so well
calculated to nerve the arm and directjjthe wea
pon of some daring ruffian, it was the duty oi
these young men—a duty they owe to their
wives and families, as well as themselves—that
they should prepare themselves against insidi
ous and treacherous violence by going armed.
It is a matter of common notoriety that Jack
son did use this language. A question was
put to Mr. Fairfield, in order to ascertain
whether he knew that the President had thus
spoken. But the majority would not allow it to
be put! A pregnant refusal. Conscience made
cowards of them.
Worse followed; and I ask the attention of
all who do me the honor to read these letters, to
attend to the conduct of the majority. The
committee appointed on the part of the House
to examine witnesses had summoned Messrs.
Vanderpool, Cramer, Page, and Maim of New
York, Mr. Gholson, Mr. Muhlenberg, and
Amos Lane. It was expected by the testimo
ny of these persons toprove the alleged decla
rations ofthe President, and many other things
the party would prefer to have undeveloped.
Just as the time arrived when their witnesses
were to be called—at that precious moment—
Amos Lane, himself one ofthe witnesses, mov
ed that the proceedings be stopped, and Whit
ney discharged; and demanded the previous
question on his own motion, which cut off all
debate and remonstrance.
The call was sustained; and the trainbands
voted in solid column for the motion, and of
course carried it.
Tuesday, Feb. 21st.
The partv have idenlifi ! themselves still fur.
ther with Whitnev. Mr. Peyton to-day submit
ted a motion that R. IM. W. be required by
a subpoena signed bv the Speaker, toattendjhe
Committee of which Mr. Garland is Chairman,
and testify to certain matters which he men
tioned. His reason for this motion was that
the Committee h id decided they had to issue a
subpoean ! The House refused his request.—
He then asked that Whitney should be brought,
to the bar of the House; and there be requir
ed to testify to the matters mentioned! This
was also refused. So Whitney is absolved
from attendance onti’her Investigating Com
mittee. The party thinks he has already dis
closed 100 much fortheir honor or reputation.
INDEPENDENCE OF TEXAS.
The resolutions reported last week by the
Committee on Foreign Affairs, providing for
the recognition of the Independence of Texas,
and fora salary and outfit of a Public Agent to
be sent to that country, were taken up to day,
and after a brief debate laid on the table. The
test question will be on the motion which Mr.
Lewis of Alabama, intimated hts intention to
make tomorrow, on calling the resolutions from
the table.
The remainder of the day was spent in the
consideration of the Navy Appropriation Bill,
which was finally reported to the House.
The Senate have been engaged during the
most of the day with Mr. Wright’s Bill for the
reduction of the revenue. It is still under
co isideration in Committee. It is extremely
doubtful what will be the fate of this measure.
of npi ion that no material reduction
mmle at the present session. The
holds u Levee tomorrow, and has
amTounced he will entertain the Democracy 7
with “ Cheese..”
■Ssoutlum
Athens, <»a. Saturday, march 4, 1837.
S. M. Johnson, to whom we sent a paper
to Lexington, Geo., has removed without pay
ing his liabilities to this office.—He is indebt
ed to us 12 Dollars.
Andrew Jacksen.
The time for which this illustrious man was
el c ed :® fill the office t fPresiden: oi lh’se Uni
ted States, has terminated, and we can but con
gratulate the country, that his name has ceas
ed to be a tenor to the lovers of liberty and
the constitution. In reverting to the past, we
see much to admire and more to condemn.—
The first four years of his administration, are
replete with acts, based upon those sacred
principles that carried him into office. The
stand betook against the Tariff, Internal Im
provement, and the United States Bank, will
long be remembered by that portion ofthe Un
' ion, that waged war against them. If Gene
ral Jackson had paused here, arid retired from
the scenes of political strife, he would have left
■ the Presidential chair more popular, if possi
ble, than the immortal Washington. But the
love of power allured him too far, and our
country has been cursed, and the principles
upon which liberty itself has been sustained,
have been shaken to their very centre. He
has violated every pledge —advocated all sides
of every question ; and what is more mortify
ing to the good man and the patriot, left only
the evidences of a constitution. But “we
desire to thank God.” 'hat the last act of his
political life is drav. ing to a close, —that he has
ceased to bo useful to flatterers and sycophants,
and that the termination of his official career,
may yet be the dawn of a better and brighter
Jay for the Republic. Where History will'
place him, we do not pretend to predict;—hap
py are we that bis course has ended.
This day is the commencement of an ad
ministration, pledged support the princi
ples of the one just closed; —and if the
pledge be sustained, and has not been made
to flatter the vanity of the old man who
has uot only retired from the scenes of political
strife, but who mi st shortly bid adieu to the
things of earth, —it behooves every patriot in
the country to stand forth in defence of Liber
ty and the tattered Constitution ; and to keep
a sleepless watch until there has been reform.
But we will not anticipate, what we arc awful
ly afraid must come.
CON «K ESS.
This Body will adjourn to day, and what
they have done during the session, our readers
have already been apprised It has been one
■>t the most b mterous that has ever met. and
hat little has been done for the good of the
country every one will admit. Its actings and
doings will long be remembered by the present
generation ; and when the future historian
shall come to write them down, there is one
■ ;ct at which he will blush, and wish that he
could drop a tear upon it and blot it out forev,
. er ! His hand will palsy as he records the la,
: inevitable fact, that the Constitution of our