Newspaper Page Text
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SOUTHERN
RECORDER.
VOL. II.
MILLEDGEVILLE, TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1322.
n !T^T
No. 50..
PUBLISHED WEEKLY,
BY S. QRAMFTLAJYD &,• R. M. OR ME,
Qn Hancock Street, opposite the Auction Store
IT TUBF.12 DOLLARS, IN ADVANCE, OR FOUR
DOLLARS AT THK EXPIRATION of tii-
Tj*Adverlisemeut. conspicuously inserted'
a( the customary rates. Letters on business, in
all enses, must be tost pud
INQUISITION AT LISBON.
VVe copy from a country ])A|tcr (The
Best Driton) a letter from uu Englishman
at Lisbon, describing the throwing open
of the dungeons of the Inquisition. The
fad of this exhibition we had already
learned from the Portuguese papers, nntl
hud communicated to our readers; but
there'are many particulars in the pri
vate letter which make it worthy of nl-
ten ion. It seems clear, from the letter
in question, that fiven in very recent
times the establishment hits been in hor
rid effi' ie.nev, and that one Englishman
tit least has been among the sufferets :—
Lisbon, Oct. 20, 1821.
I send you a description of ll|p Inqui
sition at this place, which l have been
to visit. The Cortes are proceeding
steadily with the great work they have
undertaken ; and l have no doubt that
they will form a constitutional system ot
Government equal to any in the world.
They appear to have the Spanish Con
stitution and that ol the United States of
America chiefly in their, view. At the
sitting of the Cortes on the 10th instant,
St iihor Fignriw presented a letter from
the Keeper of the Inquisition, stating,
that on the building being opened for
public inspection, the people had be
haved in a very disorderly manner
breaking open doors and carrying away
pipers, &c; and that several had actu
ally cried out that the building should
be burned, whilst they held lighted can
dles in their hands, as il about to put
their threats into execution; which he
Stated they would have done but for the
interposition of the guards. T he Kcep-
er therefore prayed that measures should
be taken to prevent the recurrence ol
such scenes. Senhor Basics said, that
if any such disorders as had been descri
ed had occurred, it was owing to the re-
f„«al of the keepers to show the instru
ments of torture and the lower cells of
the prison to the visitants. In his ©pin
ion these gentlemen, the peepers, cher
ished a religious respect for the I ribu-
nal, of which they spoke with apparent
veneration. As it was apprehended the
people might set fire to the place, it
would be better to auspend lamps in va
Tiotts parts, and not allow the visitants to
iinppu iic-hts: Senhor Fernando 1 homas
of which
made out, the others were obliterated.
Some of the cells which had not been
used for several years were locked up,
lit the visitants soon broke them open,
’uman bones were found in many of
■ ie«e. In one was found part of a friar’s
nabit, with a waist girdle of rope and
some hones. The apertures like chim
neys in some of the cells were closed ;
and 1 have been informed that it was a
common mode of putting prisoners to
death, to place them in these apertures
which were then walled up, and quick
lime being poured in from the top a spee
dy •cud was potto their sufferings The
furniture is very old ; the chairs in the
halls are covered with leather, studded
all round with very large brass nails :—
l send you a piece of leather with one of
these nail«, taken from one of the best
chairs, 't he large tables in the halls
had drawers for papers ; these the visit
ants broke, open, every one being desi
rous of obtaining some relic of the once
terrible Inquisition. In several of the
cells there were mattresses, some of
them old, others nearly new, which
proves that the Inquisition was no bug
bear up to a very recent date. Besides
the three floors which 1 have described,
there are a number of cells underground,
which have not yet been .opened.
These it is supposed, contain the ap
paratus for inflicting the torture, Slc.—It
is understood that these will be shortly
thrown open to the public ; when they
are I shall not fail to visit them, and shall
send you a description. The spot on
which the Inquisition stands was cover
ed with houses in 1755, when the great
earthquake happened, by which they
were laid in ruins ; so that the present
building has not been erected more than
GO years ; and all the victims that were
immolated in it must have been sacrificed
within that period. * * *
HOLSsE OF LEi’KESENTATIVEs>.
There are seats in these private passages
so contrived, that a person sitting, ought in
spect two of the cells at the same time, R* by
a larti of the Ittail he could 6* his eye upon
the hole over either eetl at plea-ure ; or lie
could hear what »a< snid in either. I lie per
sons appointed to li-ten to the discourse of the
prisoners wore cloth shoes ; so that their foot
steps could not be heard.
MELANCHOLY SHIPWRECK.
Particulars of the loss of the Sclir. Sophia,
Communicated by Richard S. Brady, seamen,
the survivor ol luc crew of said vessel.
Norfolk, Dee. 31.
The schr. Sophia, Thomas Massey, mas
ter, sailed from Philadelphia on V\ ednesdiiy,
I-’tli Dec. with an assorted cargo to sundry
3K
>'y>
\
curry lights ; Senhor
proposed that an inscription, oi wmen
the following is a translation, should be
Fixed on every place occupied by the
Inquisition in Portugal :
, << May eternal malediction follow escry
Portuguese- who does not hold for ever in
‘ abhorrence an Invention so inferiwl.
On the 8th of October, the Inquisition
at Lisbon was thrown open for public in
spection, and for the first four days the
concourse of people of all descr.pttonw
that crowded to view it was so great that
the press,ire at the entrance rendered !
an enterprise of some risk. I he build
ing is a large obloog, with a garden in
the centre ; there are three flo ‘ 5r8 ’""
a number of vaulted passages, along the
aides of which are cells ot different sizes,
from'ix by seven feet to eight by ntne
feet. Each cell has two doors; them
per door of iron, the outer of oak, very
strong. As there are no windows in the
mil. *n in. e-.»»;i ;" r
light is admitted w hen the doors are shut
The cells on the upper floor are large
than Ihe others, and each has an aper
ture like a chimney through which the
gkv is visible.—These were approprtet-
^to the use of those who,t was suppos
ed might be liberated. In the roof ot
eacS (for they are all vaulted) » ■
Rm-tll aperture of about an inch in diame-
Tr and a p ivate passage runs over each
range; so*that the persons employed
bv the Holy Office could at any t.me ob
serve the conduct of the prisoners un
seen ; and if two persons were con,rod
”" f »'r ; ' ,e or£is. h ri™: r K
ioto admissions Bint mt n cral 0 f
Wf-itt&trxS
merchants in Norfolk and Baltimore. Her
iaimti lire nersons. viz : i nonius
crew consisted of lire persons, viz
Massey (of Philadelphia) master; VVn
Smith, (of Bristol, Pa;)mate ; John Be
(of New Jersey) seaman ; the coo*. (*
' . - S2 Rru
man
Wm G.
tlCOIL
black
only survivor of the wreck. Left Capo
lleiilonen on Wednesday, Dec. 19, vt ilb
clear weather and wind N. W. which shill
ed'about U o’clock to S. W. with thick
weather, and so continued unld ! >® l “rday.
On Thursday nigh,, off lI>«m..x Istand, 1'•»
miles to the southward of Lape Herdopen,
lost her fore-topsail in a blew, a heavy ^
tlien running; on P rtday, about 10 o Uetk,
V. M. blowing fresh, lost her dying jib
sprung a-leak, which being smallI • d not
occasion much uneasiness; on baUtrday
morning, the wind changed to N. «•“*«*
v the vessel In-ing then under her
foil matnsail andjm-sawChincoteague
,1,001 1 o’clock, the only land in "
dark still blowing very Iresh, took in lit
mainsail and jib, double reefed the loresat.
~ ; and continued under that sail
unhl miduigt,when the vessel not laying
lowed .misled part of the mainsad, under
which she lay for ha f an hou . At mid
• h , turn- the Cants watch on itecu, ue
was engaged in attempting to discover the
■ on ripping up part ol the ceiling
leak, and upo.. . . . .
r the cabin, the water rushed in in
pumps going, and to oatt » stiJ1
leak was then tound t
.— blown away, and th
* 1 | t r' 1 'l, m 'V|>,'Tn',mb(r ,,f,l,- cell. lb.
,1809, awl remained ns ., Qn lhe
there are strokes in the wall.
w
L
with white-"-—. ----- e . l
There wore „ number of -tnA
esse I struck with
• , r M went below to
rign'^b 1 h the vessel went entue 1 ) to
1" 1,1,0 n'L"crew clung to the masts and
p, .har parti of the wreck, from which they
other peru was h*d bv the heavy sea,
were repeatedly > ^assrv had got-
but regained tlh,m. ti » fl . om , v „ich
ten on the head of the ... - - ^ Two
he w as washed and men m ^ wb()
part of
be wasvviio (the mate) and Bacon
others, Sumo t wcre on pan oi
with the cook "ashed off
"’Vdrowned q The. survivors still clung to
and dtownul . 8 short lime
th!* part o the wreck, Jt imrnediatB , y
roached t c « d ta | lcd 0 n his corn-
made for the la , ,. of m .
1<>r e are etroites ... j„hn
all «"
' lil« Uiuuc cr
-wash, which had scaled off
re n number of
(lie name, and the figures
TRANSACTIONS AT PENSACOLA.
Wednesday, January 2, 1822.
Mr. Whitman called lor the considera
tion of the resolution lie hail submitted in
the early part of the session, requesting
information from the President ol the
United States, relative to any misunder
standing which may have existed between
General Jackson and Judge Fromentiu,
in the territory of Florida, Sic.
Mr. W. remarked, that lie deemed the
inquiry of the first importance, and it he
had fully understood the reasons dial
had occasioned the previous postpone
ment, they were founded upon an ex
pected communication from the Execu
live in relation to that subject, without
a call from the House. But he (Mr. VV.)
had information on which he relied, that
such was not the intention of the Presi
dent, and, of course, it could not be in
decorous to adopt the resolution
The House, thereupon, agreed to con
sider the same ; and the first question in
order was upon an amendment hereto
fore proposed, to strike out the words
“ think proper to cohuuunicate,” and to
iusert in lieu thereof, the word “ pos
sess”—thereby requesting all the infor
mation possessed by the President in re
lation to the subject. The question was
taken on this proposition, and lost, ayes
61, noes 72.
The question then being upon the
whole resolution—
Mr. Cannon moved to strike out all
that part of the resolution which related
to the supposed misunderstanding be
tween Governor Jackson and Judge f ra
mentin. Mr. C. could perceive no good
consequences likely to grow out ol the
proposed inquiry. It was not calculat
ed, in his opinion, to lead to any benefi
cial result. It might protract debate,
and excite a fermeut—but fur any nation
al purposes, it was worse titan useless.
It related to a supposed misunderstand
ing between two subordinate officers—&•
there was as little propriety for this in
qniry as there would he il this llousi
were to call upon the President ot the
United States for information relative to
alleged differences between the Marshals
of different districts.
Mr. Whitman regardcJ this inquiry
s of more consequence than the gentle
man from Tennessee, (Mr. Cannon,)
seemed to apprehend. Itffid not relate
to a quarrel between one Executive offi
cer and another ; but it was between an
Executive and a Judicial ollicer ; both
clothed with high powers, and both exe
cuting important functions. That a dif
ficulty had existed, no one seemed to
question. But little of the merits of the
case had transpired, except what could
be gathered from rumor and newspaper
information. Yet even from these frail
and scanty vehicles of information, suffi
cient had been disclosed to excite sur
prize k awaken inquiry. The transac
iion« alluded to were surely novel; and
if correctly stated, they were such as
this nation, he believed, would hesitate
to avow. If those reports were true,
the Governor had not only restrained
the liberty of an individual—but when
the constitutional remedy by habeas cor
pus was applied, was about to lay his
hand upon the judge himself. He
thought it was a dangerous precedent to
sanction, and, if allowed in ono case, it
might he in another. When, therefore,
the subject was brought before the
House in the Executive Message, he
as the gtand in
quest of the nation, to
qniry, and not to suffer it to pass sub
ilentio. It was the duty of the House
to watch over tin* liberties of the peo
ple—to guard against the approach ol
tyranny, under whatever form il may ap
pear. If the Governor of a Territory
had unjustifiably interfered with the ju
dicial authorities, it ought to be known,
and articles of impeachment preferred
aiust him. If, on the other hand, a
Judge bad usurped Executive powers,
let him receive that punishment which
the offence deserves. If there was any
branch of the government in which pu
rity and correct limitation of its (towers
were indispensable, it was the Execu
tive. It should be kept within its pro
per bounds ; for, when permitted to en
croach upon the other departments, and
overleap the constitution with impunity
there was an end to our boasted liberties
It had been suggested that, by restgna
lion, the Governor cf Florida had pla
ced himselfbeVond the reach of impeach
ment ; vet, if the facts alleged were true
it was the botinden duty of tins govern
ment and of the representatives *fthe
people, to express at least their disap
probation of measures which, if correct
ly related, were more outrageous than
wrong. It hud been urged that this
house was the grand inquest of t.ie n.>
tion. But he would ask, where was the
complaint before us ? Where was'the
testimony ? None had been offered.—
No complaint had been made against the
illustrious officer who had served his
country with such distinguished honor,
nnd yet we were called upon to try him.
not only without evidence, but without
even a complaint. Nor did he (Mr. S.)
believe that any ground fur complaint
existed. The governor of the Florida*
was vested with all the powers of a
Spanish Governor, and those powers in
cluded the paramount authority of a Su
preme Judge. To these powers, he
believed the authority of Judge Fromen-
tin was subordinate ; but, whatever the
particular facts might have been, they
were properly before the Executive, Il
did not require the interposition of this
house.
Mr. Randolph, who next spoke, said
he did not mean to express any opinion
as to the conduct of any of the parlies
such
implicated in the inquiries moved for by
the gentlcmau froto Maine. That opin
ion, if any he had, he said he should re
serve until an occasion, at least more
proper than the present, arose for its
expression. But he must he permitted
to say, that this was the first time, that,
in a deliberative assembly, lie had ever
heard the doctrine that, in n case of al
leged misconduct on the part of public
functionaries, inquiry was .improper, be
cause ultimately these public functiona
ries, or some one of them, might lie
proved to have been in the wrong. He
recollected, he said, hundreds of cases
—he had almost said thousands—in
which motions had been made in (ho Bri
tish House of Commons, by Mr. Fox, tor
the purposes of putting in the wrong—
whom ? l he country ? No ; the Min
istry. The ministry was one thing—
the country another. In England lie
knew that lobe the case, and lie hoped
it might yet he the case here. It is pro
per, if we are in the wrong, said Mr. K.
that it be told to the American people
But suppose that we should those to
cover up this thing—to put our light un
der a bushel—is there any obligation on
the part of Spam to do the same ? Will
not her diplomatists endeavor to put us
in the wrong ? Is it not our duty to
pread this matter before the country in-
its true light ! And God grant to all con
cerned a safe deliverance, Mr. R. said,
wth his prayer from the bottom ol his
heart. There was another view of this
subject, which he wished to present.
Standing here, utterly indifferent, not as
between his country and Spain, but as
between the individuals whose couduct
is embraced by this inquiry—in the ca
pacity of a Representative of the Ame
rican people, he was desirous to have
this matter inquired into, and to have all
the information which the public safely
and interest do not forbid, laid before the
American people, and beffre this House.
You are gravely told, said he, that lhe
officers in question are nowfunrli a(ficiis\
that they are no longer executing the
duties with which they were charged,
and that it would be idle ami ridiculous
to impeach them when out of office.
But, does not the House perceive that
we owe il even to the Executive govern
ment to ipquire into the matter 'l .Is it
only Mr. Jackson, who is understood
now to have retired from office—is it on
ly Mr. Fromentin, who is interested
in the proposed inquiry ? Without re
ference to either, or to the Spanish com
missioners, or whatever else they may
thought it their dutv, as the grand ho; hut, in reference to our own peo-
° ’to institute an in- pie, and our own affairs, in which no fo
reign nation has a right to intermeddle,
Mr. R. said, if there had been malfais-
auce on the part of one or of the oilier
and there was strong evidence that
there had been tnalfaisance somewhere
—did not the House see that the inquiry
was due to the Executive, that its con
duct, in regard to the act or acts, and to
the agent or agpnts too, should he made
known to this House.? Mr. R, said
he was no Pharisee in politics, any more
than in religion ; his inclination was ra
ther the other way, to too great laxity—
he was always disposed to give to the
Executive any reasonable confidence,
and he did not now wish to shew a want
of it; but, if this inquiry were now re
fused, the inference would be imsisti-
' idice of the
urged, refuse the inquiry that lias been
moved.
Mr. Cannon replied. He could not
accede to lhe proposition of lhe gentle
man from Virginia, (Mr. Randolph,) to
withdraw the amendment. Entertaining
the opinions he did, and believing that
the case could not properly come before
his house, it would he an abandonment
>f lhe dictates of his better judgment,
were lie to ugree lo the proposal. It
was a subject us he believed, peculiarly
within Executive cognizance. It had
been the tendency of this government,
lor many years past, tn take from the
Executive its responsibility. For his
part, he would put responsibilty where
Ihe constitution had placed it. It was
the duty of the Executive to snake the in
quiry, Si to decide upon it also ; Si he w as
unwilling Amt tins house should n»B,itnc
ihe Executive responsibility. In rela
tion to that part of the resolution which
requested information respecting the de
livery of Florida, Mr. C. had no objei-
lion that it should be adopted. It was
not perhaps improper ; hut for thi*
house to settle the quarrels of individual*,
was not a course either dignified or ex
pedient.
Mr. Archer, of Virginia, briefly re
viewed the grounds of opposition to th.
inquiry proposed iu the resolution.—
The principal argument, he snid, mumm
ied to no more than flint no inquiry
ought to be made lest it might end m the
crimination of some officer of the go-
verniuent. What was the nature of the
transactions said to have occurred in
1‘ensacola during the last summer ?—
Would any man deny, that, if what was
said was true, acts of the most despotic
nuture have been committed in that ter
ritory ? Would anv man deny that it
had been asserled that an ollicer appoin
ted by this government, under the-nu-
thority of law, has exercised the powers
of a despot—powers more extensive e-
ven than ever was exercised by any 0<>
vernor of Spain in the colonies of that
country ? Mr. A. adverted to the inqui
sitorial character constitutionally belong
ing tothis house, Siuskml whether, wheu
an olfirer or officers ol this government
were dinged with gross malversation
in office, even inquiry was to he denied,
(be the reason which had been assigned,
namely, that the inquiry might redound
to the prejudice of thill officer ? Some
of the occurrences reported to have
taken place at Pensacola were, he said,
merely matters of curiosity ; hut some
of them were of great importance. If
facts were correctly reported, these two
extraordinary things had occurred : the
Spanish population of Florida, after it
became a territory to the United Stales,
lost a part of the civil liberty they had
previously enjoyed ; and citizens of the
United States, removing to that territory,
had been denied the lights seem cl to
them by the constitution of the United
Stales, as completely ns if they had gone
to Constantinople instead of i’ensa ola.
Mr. A. did not affirm that such things had
really taken place, but they were re
ported to have occurred. He did not
undertake to say that guilt existed any
where in regard to these reported trans
actions—he was far from imputing il
without inquiry, and particularly t<
man who had rendered important ser
vices to his country. But all circum
stances combined to /how that there
ought to be an inquiry. If such doc
trines had been acted upon, the otb nders
ought to be brought to the bar of this
house, and afterwards to condign repro
bation. He did not say such things had
been ; hut the reports on the subject
were of such a character as involved the
peace of the country, the character of
the government, and that of this house
and he therefore hoped the inquiry
would he suffered to go ou.
Mr. Smith expressed his wish that
gentlemen would construe his remarks in
llu: manner in which they were mane,
lie did not mean to say, nor did he be
lieve, that an invesiiguiion would show
our government to have been in the.
wrong. On the contrary, he expressly-
stated his conviction that Gen. Jjrksoo
had a right to do as lie had done. Mr. S.
lud seldom been on a jury, but he had al
ways understood that no indictment could
he fouuil, unless upon complaint made,
or upon the positive, personal ku^wl
edge of one of the paimel. But wlial
was this house called upon to do ? They
wore asked to hold a grand inquest upou
panTon to “Srfwo I h a dVv'e7before been witnessed in this
faund dead on theJy^eTwas of Md. observed, that if
The^''*^ c | , | ,, l > ^^ , |® c ^r’ 00 ^tJ(| : ro , ilerto
Tumuli ward of Currituck Inlet. Brady
tl,„ northward « . nllle treatment from
ler
18 were easily [
the inhabitant*. T." *' v a „d’john Baron
"foumf and buried in th. ^
that circumstances « ould permit.
were
manner
hie, and to the manifest i«rej*
W^SrS*Srt # oft.^n,.|.' diminished in-Widu-.-jd th.t^
ment stand as cverv other part of it without complaint, and without a part,
should, he was in favor of tl is resolu-lcle cf testimony to sustain it
tion, ami opposed to the amendment pur
posed to it, which, he trusted, on this
view of the subject* the gentleman from
Tenuessce would consent to withdraw.
Mr. R. concluded by expressing his hope
that he bad not, by the slightest shade
of insinuation, intimated his opinion on
the merits of the parties concerned in
this inquiry—for, he said, be had made
up no opinion upoj it, and felt himself
qualified to act in the capacity of a juror
between them. The subject having
been stirred, said he, we cannot in de-
this resolution should pass, (and he hop
ed it would not, in any shape whatever,)
it would introduce a discussion in wbicl
a vast deal of time would be unnecessa-. f nrt h
rily consumed, and perhaps enable other Executive government, to say «'O t ^e ^ cot J o fo ’
oivera t# put our government in the J the other considerations which 1 hav e [ n = Uteo
Mr. Floyd would trouble the housp
with but few remarks on the subject.—
He had made up no conclusive opinoin on
the conduct which had been reported to
have taken place in Florida. He wa«
in favour, however, of the call for infer
motion. It had been said that the sub
ject was about to be discussed in the Sen
ate on the question of confirming the of
ficial api^itment of one of the parties
Bot had we arrived at the time when i
was not our doty to inquire into the con
duct of our agents ? Shall investigatioi
let the truth
change, but principles never. The tim#
whs when government was known by ilfl^
acts, and when the representatives ol
the people did not fear to call for nny
information that concerned either tho
interest or tho honor of their constitu
ents. But has it come to this, that «•
can take no step without an intimation
that we are permitted to do so ? He
hoped not ; nnd lie wished it might be
made manifest by Ihe investigation pro
posed, that our government has not been
in the wrong. That it might lead, to it
discussion, was not an argument, in his
mind, against the resolution. II it should
take till the middle of May to discuss it,
yet let il be discussed—for when we
cannot Jisciisf, said Mr. F. 1 shall he wil
ling lo go—to Spain !
Mr. Whitman. The gentleman from
Tennessee (Mr. Cannon.) has told us
that this is n proper case tor the Execu
tive. But what can the Executive do ?
Has he the power to inquire, and try,
and di-miss from office ? Can he reral
ii Governor ho has appointed, institute
an inquiry into his official conduct, and
punish him for an offence ? No such
Executive poweig could he found—nor
was there any such responsibility resting
on the Executive as that gentleman had
seemed to apprehend. After the ap
pointment wus made the respon-i'iilitv ot
the Executive was exhausted. The c. u-
fleman Inun MarvlainL (Mr. Smith) had
inured I si the inquiry might find our -o-
v.rnnient in the wrong, for thi* very
purpose he had proposed the inquiry—-
to discover where the lurking mis' iuef -
lies—and to put this government in tho
right. If the government or its agents
had heen in the wrong, the people ought ^
not to he identified with them, or with
a faulty individual. It was in this way
only that the character of lhe nation
could he retrieved, il it had been tarnish
ed, nnd the iirguinent of ,he gentleman
was, therefore, in the teeth ot his ob
ject. It had been said that an inquest
can act only on complaint or personal
knowledge. But could this apply to the
grand inquest of the na,ion ? Must a for
mal complaint he laid before us ? Are
the technical rules of legal process to^
fuller inquiry by the representatives of
Ihe people ? or are we to shut our eyes
against the light unless it is introduced to
us through the medium of complaint, and
legal evidence ? If the great public
protection of our liberty had been trans
gressed. (which there was but too muck
reason to fear,) it was our bonnden duty
to institute an inquiry—and the more c-
levated the offender, the more imperious
did that duty become. If the Governor
of the Florida* had performed so many
meritorious actions, k acquired so much
glory a* to become the idol oi the nation,
so much more did it b. hove the people
io be on their guard. It was in tins way
that tyranny was most apt to creep in
and destroy republican institution*. A
popular demagogue, having performed a
-plendid achievement, and dazzled th«
eyes of the people, is uio«t dangerous,
because h ast suspected. But it had been
said that Gen. Jntkson was the Supremo
Judge of Florida. But does his commis
sion say so ? Do the principles of our
Constitution authorize this blemlinjs Ju
dicial with Executive powers ? Ii is n
fundamental doctrine of our government
that these departments shall be kepi dis
tinct. No implication can justify their
union in the same individual—noi can
unconstitutional powers be imparted
where none arc possessed by the source
from which they emanate. The people
of Florida are entitled to the principles
of our constitution—and this union of
executive and judicial powers is too
monstrous to he defended, if ibis House
is not competent to hold an inquest on
this subject, by whom cun it be done ?
By the Spnale ? That body has the
power to judge upon articles of impeach
ment, hut not to originate or conduct
them. The inquiry, therefore, was pro
per for this House, nnd he hoped that
the magnitude of the occasion would in
duce them to avail themselves of it.
Mr. BaUlwin expressed his regret that gen-
rnien had gone into the merits of the case
upon a mere incidental motion that had
grown out of a call for information. Tv-
runny, crime, usurpation, and outrage, had
been placed before us as confidently as if
they had been proven to exist. If this were
justly the case, no information could be want
ed—for it would seem to have been already
util lined. Mr. B. did not feel that his liber
ty was in danger from anything that had
taken place—and, so far as he had learned,
the case in question somewhat resembled
l hose controversies that frequently arise,
when a witness or party withholds papers
which it. is his duty to produce. This hoasa
was not now a grand inquest for the first
time—and he (Mr. B.) was filling 'h at all
proper information should be laid _ before
Congress, although he was not willing it
hould be done by a premature implication
of personal character.
Mr. Wright did not rise to enter
met it* of the caspyand would confli
marks to the propriety of bringing
Jject before the House. Tie youtd
ammo, non thi*.evidence to He oliti
What was the nbjeet or,consequent"*
(leachrnent ? To convict of crjiWf
that was confided to the criiqin
The power of impeachment Rets
b. | eiooy. or „i.h on, of d.lic.c, to fh. | «„ £ h , tnl to til office, and if the (irped ar
cause. Men and things may | officu. there h noflp»ig wb*