Newspapers / The Raleigh Register (Raleigh, … / Feb. 15, 1825, edition 1 / Page 1
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' J .I" -4 t 4 - ).- 4i 'J 3 ft. 1 - v OILiSN,! STATE . &ArZ!7FITIG. 1 fJurs are the nlafts of faudelirfitfiii-neace. -M: .. . - . r . r . - . ' UriXrarp dby party rag"e to live like brothers." s i - -- , , . . 1 . - - f r r: i t i if'. m . - Tin piiblisHed evVry T0E8DAT and FaiiifT, by - JOSEPH GALES & SONV ! S 1 At Fivk Dpllaw per annum half ia advance. , 't4 ; ' - I- y-HC r; ADVERTISEMENTS : ; v ' Not -exceeding 16 lines, neatly inserted three limes for a Dollar, and 25 cent for every uc ceedinpr publication ; those of jrreate length in thej same proportion. ..CowMinci.Tioiis thankfully received:.-. Lktteks to the Edi- jora must be post-paid.' V i-" T PROCEEDINGS JN CONGRESS. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. TAc. Spetiker 8 .Appeal to the House. On motion of Mr Condict,, of N. J. the. lfobe then resumed the considera tion of thejnotirtn of Mh ,lorsyth to re fer the com munication. of theSpeake concerning!: certain c harj: es in ad e agal n s t , hinu ' to. a Select Committee.-- -.? ' Ir. Archer, oC Virginia- sajd,' that being himself opposed to an enquiry by a coramit te,.and no ether gentleman stating any ob- , jections to it, he rose to state ithe grounds of " his opposition.-,.- fto one could, f be more wu ' ling than he was to take any measure t yin- . dicate the dignity of this House, or to respond to tHe just claim.of ny member for the vin dication - of-his f official character.' But, he said,, he did . not consider that the honorable Speaker .was put in this predicament. What .were the circumstances uv which inquiries of mis Kina may,-wiui propneTv, tpc; maimainea by thisI louse ? Ouht we sald he) to lend the giave sanction of our names ought we ' ta operate in a formal marrtier, ,oy committees . of inquiry, .when nothing is presented to us to act upon but mere vague generaKnews pa per invective ? I ask if it consist with the dig nity of this House! or with the claim ; of the Speaker as a faithful officer and a gentleman, to substitutetliis inquiry if t conceive not. "What, sir, re the circumstances under which we should be justified in raising a committee In such a case -as this I The act to which our attention- is directed, ought' to have ' these characteiistics : It ouent to De omciai in re- lation :to the member whose conduct is im pestched : it ought also, - to be something which can be preyed if true, or disproved if jiot true. Mr. A.' asked of irentlemen to look at the paper which was the foundation of this application, ana say, whether it came - under either of these classes. IT hat is it? The writer of it speaks of rumors afloat here. Does he charge upon the Speaker any act of mal feasance in relation to his duties here ? No lie speaks of the course expected to be taken by a large number of members---of , an impu .tatipn on the whble delegation from a 'parti cular part' pf the country: &, when he speaks of the Speaker, what 'does! he say ? Does he charge him with corruption with any thing which; if proven, ought to produce. investi gation with any thing susceptible of proof or of disproof ? I suspect, sir, hat the gen- tlemen who are disposed to pursue this in quiry have not; adverted -tof the .paper, in ' question. The only part of the letter which conveys an imputation upon the Speaker, is not even matterf surprise upon the part of ine wruer oi max ietu.-r ne speaKS oi'ij as : rt-port: as something said and whispered 'in this place. Suppose this charge were true," saui Air. a. wnicn l race tnis ocoasion to say that! would he one of the last in thisf House r in this country to credit -suppose that it were true to the full: extent of the charge, or the insinuation derived from it what can this committee do if raised ? It roust;' whether the charge be true or not, malce a report ex culpatory of the Speaker. . Shall we raise a committee, then, when" we know that there can be but one. response to the inquiry', no matter what the facts may be To do go will be fo constitute an inquiry which can lead to no useful result. If the things alleged or insinuated be true if the Speaker be guilty of all the corruption which! scurrility . has charged upon him, it must be! a matter with in his own breast, the truth' of which no tes timony can establish ;:If the I allegations be . true, you cannot convict the Speaker of the imputed offence. Any ' inquiry of ours into it, therefore will be a farce and a mockery; I will not lend myself to such1 an inquiry. " WhaV.said Mr. Ai does .the charge, con tained in this letterVm its worst form, say ? DDes it say that the Speaker has betrayed his duty ?; No ; but that , it is surmised that he ineans to da so.: If it shall appear, in the,se- - quel, that that officer, has. violated his duty, then thee will be gi'oUnd for inquiry. But. at present suppose,! jt werejtrue, that the Speaker had ,thro'n. awatbehjgh character lic'has always "maintained iuilie country and it this House tliat'he was the 'venal thing ihe publication in' question would, represent h'rnt to be, - and that he id contemplate this shameful violation of his duty to hiss iqountry, would he even in tliat.'case be punishable here .1 Would we pass upon him any other sentence than that of ineffable, .contempt for " his corruption and folly i. No, "sir, said Mr. A 1 say 'that we must wait f.r some act which will perpetrate . .the biTuptiorl, by "consim- - matingthe'purposei . In tliat event); circum stances will demand an Inquiry! on ! our part Some act 'will r-have.been, committed agairtbt his official dutysorne act.. which -is issuable", and can be proved or .disproved. lC Seems to 'me -"sir, thdt tliis House will coinmt")ts own idignitv", ! imd caVt: a Veproach' tipbn. the Speaker ;Iumsclf, " which l';kiibv"i would jbe 'unfounded, !hy referring - this i 'subject to,a committeci 1 hope, tlierefore,thatthe7liouse it: " .: - - - - h ucoaxvne :r wistieaio say; 'jiv e.w -Hworda. m explanation of its tiaind ohjec t, in doing, which, he premised, that thegentlera ah" who had addressed the Househimoring, was 'rather in advance of this quesuyh; A com- iiui iaimuie inquiry -WDJCn IS as&evv t : ' " , " rorsytli of tTe6. obserye'd, !tl)t! having V made the-mbtloii whicli fas now the ubiect the House,: requesting the appointment of a coramittee,.for the purposes of - investigation ot certain jenareres wnicn. naa oeen mane, a- gainst him by a member of this HoiiseV The present motion is simply , for the, purpose' of reterrlng this qommumcation tq a committee. When it got there, be ook Jt for granted, the preliminary . enquiry: would be, are the charges to which this communication refers of such a nature as to require the i interposi tion of the House of Representatives t : If the committee shall think they are notj they will report accordingly and the House wiU either confirm or rject tbeir.decision. If the.House should confirm it, the committee will then ap ply to the House for further authority to act In.the affair. : This appeared to him to be the only rational modcof treating this very un pleasant business. . The House ' was inj pos session of nothing in relation ,to it , but the communication of the Speaker. . The letter, indeed, to .which it referred,' and which: was said to have, been written' by a member pf this House, might be found iia certain ne'w spapers, but the House lias no evidences that that which ' was-, nublished. was' a true copy of the . letter. It might have been alteed or i n terpolated by the printef.:. The letter as pub lished, must be considered either as prefer ing a deliberate charg of corrupt - conduct against a member or members of this House, or as admitting of some explanation .; which should go to do away such a meaning. The member to whom 'the letter was attributed, will no doubt answer at. once, and frankly de clare what he meant, jHelwiirfiayj whether be meant to charge upon, the presiding officer o&this House the making of a ! corrupt bar gain.. If he shall answer in the affirmative, will any gentleman, asked MrV Forsyth say, that this is not an ac into ! which the House, ought to enquire, nor one which the House can punish ? . It was true, that th?re was one difficulty attending thex accusation. It charged the accused, not with , an act, but only with an intention', j Tfie act has not been consummated. The vote has not been given. But I ask, if the charge! is a true one Jias not the bargain been made (? And if it has, is not this corruption And what then ? It ought to be; punished. Has riot the House power, not merely to reprimand, but to expel any of its members who shall have dared to be guilt of such conduct?. If on the. contrary it shall appear that any member of this House governed by .mere; rumors and under the in fluence jf jealousy or i mere surmises, . shall have presumed, to hold up as - an infamous bargainer, as acontractor for votes and influ ence," a member or an officer of this . House, will it be contended, that we have no power tq .punish him ? Certainly we have the power to 'reprimand, and !if that ; is- insufficient, to expel him as unworthy a seat pn this House. If this is denied, what is j a merhber to do, who is publicly charged with an offence of this nature, or where is he to go i, This is the proper and the only place where his re putation can be vmdicateq. This House alone is competent to examine into the charge. Is he accused to appeal to' the newspapers ? For what to prove a negative ? Such, un happily in this country is the condition of the press (that palladium of pohtical liberty) that no xhan can appeal to it without a sense of dishonor. He cannotj come forward there and say, I join issue in this charge, without exposing himself to derision by entering into a competition with newspapers' which utter falsehood and truth according to the object in view, . lie was ashamed to state it to the House, but the fact . was so," that pending any great election, such was the prostitution of the public press, that there was no know ing what to believe : and it was sufficientto pronounce any chargt.however gravely made an electioneering trick to. stamp it instantly with the seal of falsehood. That press, which had been so long the boast of liberty, was, In this country, ho longer a protector of inno cence and it had long since ceased to be the scourge even of, the guilty, save as it serv ed to excite the stinsrs!of a euiltv conscience. In this state of things, Mr. F. again asked, what was an accused or calumniated member of this. House to do ? lie must throw himself upon the judgment of his peers, that if false ly accused; the guilt of calumny may revert on its author.' As to the power of the House there can be o doubt '';'. and as tq the propri ety of appoijUing a committee,; he had him self no questicii.;! -It is said indeed, that "this charge relates only 'to intention ; 'the crime has not been ' consummated, and cannot be until a corrupt act has been performed.' : But I pray the House to consider a case 1 shall now submitto them, , Suppose there isi claim pen ding before tliis House for a large suVn of mo ney, and. the claimant knows that ascertain member,' from Iiis ability! from his Unblemish ed reputation for integritjr from his long ac-i quamtance : with the ; rule's of business,1 and from general '; knowledgje of the persons of the, members, Us; possessed" j of , great in fluence 6 ver!f their minds r.arid that claim ant offers this member, :a bribe, which' the member .'accepts, and circumstance- after wards transpire' to : bring- the transaction to light, 4between thetime of giviug. the; bribe and thft.time jf decidinc: on. the claim :iwill anv irentleman tell me thnt we mav not nun-1 ish such a transaction! ;;iWni'airgentlerh'ap ten inc wc must, wan uu uie enme iscuiiufj. mated till the ; v'ote;is ; given '- Surely 'nM 4We may punish at once,', botixslum w:uol o I fered anxl him who Jacceptetlithe base. cpiri. The'charee. in-this Case is! that a-, member of this House intends to rive' lus influence iand vine, in layor oi a certain canuiaaie. ioi iue Presidency, and on that consideration is .q receive a place of profit and honor liihert; any distinct ion between the!t wo cash&i( f not this bribery to all intents and ; purposes ? If the charge is made,1, t he icharge. ought "to b e i nve : stigaled' yi f , the charge'-is 'f rti e, the member charffed oun-fitto -be 'expelled frooi this House.-.And ifjt is'npt true theslandere ought tqhe 'punished l have therefore mov- a coraqiittee. ' If they thipkit worthy pf inf .vestigation j, thej'!! will ask "for. the .' requisite atMuority tpt send t,T persons and papers. ' muriicatipn had been made !y the Speaker to .-.H,-. .4-t 1' - ' . I .J ' Mr. Wrrehti'of lOhior said he was not cer tain that he understood the gentleman who opposed the proposition to raise a commit--tee- in the case under consideration ; i but F he dil, the opposition rests on the hyrth sis that the letter alluded to,' and avowed on the floor bV a memSer of the House,' con tainwl no charge of; offence or of any speci- he actlone, which " toumi true, wouia lean to 'any ulterior measure; inj'eLition to the ac cused, or, if found! false, to any "like measure, in relation to thej accuser that there is n,o specific charge here, of aiiy act done but ;dl rested on commonlTumor of acts hVt yet co'n-sammated-still rjesting' iriiutention.4 which, could not prorerly be i htestigated, until r 14 pened into act;'-!1 '-' '!'; ?;;! iry ; Sir, ' I S have no objection to consider the matter in tnis po nt of view, and to meet gentlemen on the: r own ground t will un dertake to show'to the House, that there is in thie! publication, a direct charge against the presiding officer ol'this House, of having en tred; into a corn: pt- bargain, , in relation to his vote, and thai of his friends, on a ques tion pending, devolved upon us by the Con stitution, :of the highest and most im portant character that can . devolve v upon us, and which-is soon tot be decided. . If I do.this, Sir, it will be idle to say, we can take no measures, to investigate such a charge, untiil the intended corrupt act is consummated! ? because the question is hastening on, and we should free ourselves from the effect of the corrupt bai'gaui, iind'not suffer it to pollute our Legislative Hall, and be carried into the election, where it is intended to operate, be fore we ' can moyii. ; When it has produced its effects, it will be of no Use1 to take any step in relation to i :. ! y: . !- V' The writer of the letter, Sir, commences, by stating his object5 in writing, to' be, to giye information of one of the most dis graceful transactions, that ever covered with infamy, the Republican ranks." : ,A transao- tion, so base, that root, of the. tree it laid the axe at the very bflibertv. He proceeds to 'give a brief account of such x bargain, as can only be equalled by the famous Burr conspiracy, oi loyi," ana men goes on to state. 1st. That, ' for some time past; the friends of Mr. Clay had hinted, that they, like fight for those who would the Swiss, would nav best. . "2d: That overtures were said to have been made, by the friends of Adams, of the De partment of State, to Mr Clay, for his aid to elect Mr. Adams. 5d. That the friends of Clay informed the friends of Jackson of the overture, and hint ed,1 that, for the same offer from Jackson's friends; they would close with them, but iine of the friends of Jackson would descend to such mean barter and sale. : 4th. That'. Jackson's friends did " not hep lieve the. contract would be ratified by the memtters' from the states who had voted for Clay but that it J was the writer's opinion, from the first,1 " hat men possessing any honorable principles, could not, nor would not, be transferred like the planter does his negroes, or the farmer, his team and horses." But, he says, f contrary to this expectation, it is now ascertained to a certainty,' that (Hen ry Clay has transferred bis interest to J ohn Quincy , Adams," . stnd, ia consideration of this abandonment of duty to hisconst'tuents, it is said, and believed, should this unholy ..-1 rii i -i crerary of State ate." The charges contained in this letter, a- gamst Mr. Clay's friends," amongst whom I am proud to acknowledge myself, I shall not now notice, as I consider those charges only: incidentally before you but the charge a-j gainst him, is clesr and explicit one that I think nq man can mistake,, as positive in its character as any one could wish. It is, ; that it was ascertained to a certainty that H; Clay - had,"; by mean bargain aiid sale, trans ferred his interest to Adams, and, m consider- ution oi mar aoanaonment or- awry. to ins con stituents,if the unholy coalition succeeds, Mr. Clay is to be appointed Secretaiy of oiaie.- i is mis no cnarge impuTing conaupt to the Speaker, in his representative charac ter, calling for the interposition of the power of tliis House, or in canyf , way affecting its dignity r. Perhaps ho language , is so suita ble to give, a chars cter to the Charge as that of the letter write:: himself.' - T will present ybu his 'own character and opinion of 'the charge nearly in his own words., . He charac terises the contract imputed, as predicated on an abandonment of duty '(by! Mr. Clay) to his constituents : as an unholy coilitioii . sls a mean barter and- sale, of . the character of a transfer, by a master of his negroes, or by a planter of his ' team&rid hbrses, as equalled only by the famous Burr conspiracy of 1801 : as.the most Ssgrceful transaction that ever co vered -with infamy the Republican ranks : so base as to lay the jfcxe at the very root of tl tree , of hb erty ; ; a transaction no man possess ing any honorable principle .Would submit to. Surely, ' no1 gent lemah will say that fsuch a charge, so characterized by the writer arid avowed on this floor :1y . a member, with a. pledge to prove it praeVcould be regarded as imputing ! no turpitude or crime, which, ! if tru true,' would not Jead to Ulterior measures : iid, tlie interest- spokeh of, means only Mr, y'sowhexertiohsiir.thU the uh- d.T-standing of the. memberwho ..peWned the charge s He ; saf N f : Jackson's friends did no believerthe r()7!rae -would be ratified by the; members ( from : the states who voted for; CjAyand that H was his opinion that men possessing any honorable principle curf ?iot, nor would not9 .rjanserredlike the planter does his riegTbes,' 'cfr!thd farmer hhr-teara' and Jiorsesxf and" that, in ! consideration f of r the transfer,: 31r. Clay ; was to be' appointed Se cretary.; of state." ' Who are here said to be transferred t Mii V Clav's friends t in the Hbuse Who. made the transfer and was to receive f the considei-ationf Mr.Clav.-.l'he presiding officer of this House s directly arid positively charged; by a member in bis pjacei with entering; in to a corrupt contract by which, for the cdi isideration of an office, de pendent on succeis, he "stipulates te transfer k . - - - - - a lis vote, and those of the members from tthe tates who had vbtrd'for Mr. .Cl y for the states who nad votd .tor - Mr. .Cl y Presidency "to one of three 'Candidates' 'pre sented to us to choose a President from' ? or, if it be not; positive charge, 1 have na-con-ception what ida the. gent iemw attaches to a positive I clutrge. -We are told, sir,Kwith tliis charge before us, that no offence is im puted r-that all rests on rumors nothing af fecting; in the slightest degree the .dignity. of bf4he. HojisI-your' presuling! officetveor ruptly sllirt his Vote, and that of his fello w members, is no offence othe dignity oj Jtfe H ouse, ! - that iw "id t erior: mea-sures ca n 'ffpQWi out of sulv a cf'arge, if true and thstiit 13 beneath 4oit fliguityV- to i qotic siiph -yague rtm-i'S ? , . ir, wdl you go to the electioh of a Chief Magistral e wlrle co ru ption fills; your Hall, arid seeks to find its way. into, our ballot boxes ? ISo, sir, let us d on to that work wi r ii pur lianas, arid drive. these corrupt bar gainers, from our presence. Let us investi gate these charges $ and, if they are found true, 1 I have no hesitalion1 in saying, your Speaker is! unworthy the station he fills vpr a seat on ttiif tfloar ; and I, for one, will vote for his T e tpulsion, as I would any .meriibei, who would, falsely make such a charge.". ; jWe Ought noj to .stop . until the deed be don, and then jSeek to- punish, ' but 'should p,rb ceed jow,1 in tirhe, to prevent the mischief, and' satisfy tlie nation that, when we gb into the electioni we a.re.free from the. imputation of cor rupt influence.- ; - V j Mr. . Speaker, I do not wish to trespass on the, time of the House, but felt niyse f im- pelled to make. the remarks 1 haVe. Mr. Vl'Iliithe- nt Sniith.narniitin- nvt rrtss. He was sorry, he said, to be obliged to 1 tres pass on the attention Of .the House on this most unpleasant business. But, . if we adopt the course; suggested (said he) we must inflict on me cuaracier oi xius riouse aninjury.mucn greater than it itas yet sustained. Before! we adopt any .measure before we determine the letim Ate extent of our power, we .must ascertain that there is some lawful act which we may do as the result and conscqiience: of mar invesugauon. oir, inis Mouse is not a mere collection; of individuals, who are to constitute themselves into a corps of compur gators.' -Whether, a charge preferred against a memberj be true or false, it is not for this House to organize itself into a tribunal, to try its truth or ; falsehood, unless it have a right to' do some act founded on the-truth or false hood, of -that charfre In the case now: be fore us, what are we to do ? In what is this inquiry to fend ? If we had any legitimate 'ob ject in view, either to expel the Speaker, or me rnemoer wjio nas ma(ie tne cnarge, iwe might be justified in tliis; proceeding. 1 but let us meet the question as it "stands, and hu quire wnexner, upon me actual state otlajcts, this House has the power, to expel either ithe Speaker or the member. ! ';-: i '- ';"!.. "jvi.! ) JJotwitlistanding the ingenious exposition of the Hon. member from Ohio, Mr. W. said it was perfectly clear, and any one who dis passionately perused the letter,! would come to the conclusion, that no charge was mnde in u againsi any poruon or tnis House. ; 1 lie writer speaks in general terms of. a combmai tion, a coahtion, an unholy .coalition ; but, said Mr. McD. wheuyou come to the hisiori- cal or narrative, character of the letter, you find it nothing more than that it is V report e, . anu r.: oeueveo," mat supn tilings are, charges .were not believed, but that now they are believed. The existence of such combi nations, &c. is stated, hut as mere matter, of behef. By whose agency does he say these combinations are sup posedJ:o have been pro- uuvcu ; is 11 uy xnai or me opeaicer ot rims House ? Let any one put his finger on the passage irjj theJetterwhich -say s that the Speaker has made, or accepted, any proposi-. tion leading to corruption..' It is his friends wuu ait saui iu nave iiirown oui ii in us, etc. If the gainst His friend this House; aivd. in' this House. It does not appear that even any member of this House is iiiviuucu in Lie anusioqs or me lener.. . ft ne Charge, then, is one whiebfis founded on ru mors, vague, and indefinite a charge against an individual not named. . ! . ; -! ;.r .-h u But, sir,' I have a much strongoir objection to this proposition. than "ariy which- results from the particular inquiry into the nature and character of the charge. .1 o bri higher ground, an,d I deny- that we' can prosecute tliis . investigation, with . a view to an 'act by which alone if can be consummated,; without Violating the highest privileges of the People of the Unrted States.., We have been told of the danger of the liberty of the press: and the dangers to which the liberties of the coun try will bej exposed by yidulgirig iif. These, sir, are the arguments by which, in ail cbun- Itries, thatiessential rmnathum liberty has fbeent. assailed..', .This is not; a new subj ect i ri inj JneformvThefe wasatimeTorae years agb of great! public excitement, heri theeoble of this country (were jrising up at gainst an auininisirauonr. wnicn was not ac ceptable to there, and this subject,' regarding 1 1 the powers of ;the - government,, underwent deliberation by; Congress,1 and an aCtjon the subject was'adopted. -The Vpiestion, "wheth er ithigoWnment has :& rightfto protect xtU selfainst invcstigatibnil by enforcing (net thebommon!law of Englaridbut) the com mon law bf England with aJiost of modifica tions, to pupish!lhoise who libel the govern meit was determined , in Corigress bythe passage: ofan . act, t, whjch!; act was nothing more or less than the "famous ; sedition !hw On jtvhat argumentas that law founded On tliis-:. that the febvernme'rit could not protect J itself by-tlie; common law of England. iBdt j whatas thepr9pbsitibh embraced by. that act jVVttan ac toauthorijanyran of the gbverriment'tp punish bits own acta li bel jupon it i I Was ! that thd propbsidon f Was it law baadthpriiie; a peioh jri bffice jto be come bis own avenger v? 0 ',2x. itBvas j pro vision; that if, the Congress or ahy officer of this jovernmerit was Knelled; the party injur ed jmrghtkpply to the judicial tribunal arid call upon a jury of thexrjuntrv for redress. hi letter contain anv' chanre. it is not the! Speaker, but against his friends. where ? ; He has friends, out of It wns there that the investigation Arf.s !t b ' proseruted,1" and. if the', charge wa false, tt -.: wasthere tobe punisheiT, W hat said the cnuu- ' . tiy to that law H T'e People r'se indign mt. ' against it-thelawwasrepealed-Sb .o man now; - -rises to do honor to the", name r mMiiory f i. ... t ffo man rises to vindicate 'that i lawj Ad ' what are ae? Iibout to do ? ; We' arejibt only. . I T- to punish a libel alledged to havp'becn'utterf ;,! ed ag linsra Memher pf I th's'Househu w4 ' " . are abotit to punish it in a form charact riClo ; of (tyranny. !We areabqqt to ;.prpareth " 4 1 , law, jttdge the facts, and inflict, le pitmsh- , rrient, !py tlieskme; act. We are Called upon, . . to punish a publication In refatroiij trt'ah -ordi- riary'act of this 'House, o a mattir .'dt'eplV.lnf - teresting to the2 Public.y We aw c-1 cd upon : " ' to punisn it py. our own win, and . unqer-aa . . ; an excitemeritwhich I eyery orie ' ria'mruHy feels'! v:!-;. When an atta'ck is made upon hi'rt. ;' ' .' i;' - ' V " y In this' country, theiawpf l.ibcffir tiiat Is reaUy heuestioiCnqw to be d'sctisued---" " has received veiy important modi iicattonsi mitigating it to a degree Very farj before; tlie ! V standard of other'botmtries, even of .the freest, - 2 country next to the United States. Te Eih w ; V glish law on libel is UQt that of thcUnited y. " StatesWhat isHhe .modiil'ca ion"bf )t u t his ; ' ' ; country not bystatutory enctmi?tnt;but by: ' the mere force of judicml'dt cisiohs' in' con-.- ! , formity to the geniuVofthe govcnitnent tBy tlie law of libel in England, a man. mav.iy'u - V punished although he tell; the truth. 1 Wh at " " is your 1 1 w ? That chafiresairainst a mibli officer, in relation t ;t not be subject of prosecution, tor lihei ;t all ;. ' that the public is; so deeply iriieited in tl7ej. '- v : ,! investigation.of its concerns, . arid iinr the eXA posuic vi us launs or vices in ng agents, Tiiar. this pOwerpf pUtushing :foi' jioejs;sitalbt ta ken from their hands altbcrether. l rl'hatv. ui he "principle up'bn' whch the sedition jaw ' was repealed not becnUse a rria-i . bugh't not to be punished: for a libel," but because the . power of punishment was saliable to abuse, that the government had better thro w It sefr npon theintelligenco and magnanimity of th ' Country, , than ' exercise such a po weH I ' " What then, sir, are we a hour, to do ?;J!he thing condemned by public bpinI'(Jn----and to , do it;in a form '.more, exceptionable than ahv ' ever contemplated by the old sedition law. Ie t us ask ourselves, ' what are thcVpurposes: to which, a power of j this description my Lbc i applied, at aTtiture time.,. What does this w letter, which is thegrbur.d of Our proceeding, v relate to ? Tlie election "of President of the United Statesj How" is'tluit " election to be made ? What remains tu be done for its com--pletion I The Work 1 hifch commenced with the people,;is to beconsumrnated here Where are'we ? In the mJdst 6Y our constitut ents f No,, sir, - we ahe far, removed from the eye of those to whom we are resporisihie.- Under what temptations do we act .Under ' temptations by which personal interest ihny; juuuwns iu iivi tuiiuar tu uie puD ip,; Will, ; ' Weare not only q be .excluded,pbsibiv; from the public eye, but we are to cjiou k . ip.-i the channels, through which", alone, tlie peo-! . pie Can know what is jgoing bn hefe.1. Is it! ' not morejm'port-ahtthat public Opinion Should :-'V be enlightened by the general diserahiutioi !: of a 'knowledge of the kefs of public agehts, : than that; even tb redress a wrong-, 'we should establish an engine, 5whicli may hereafter, be , m hable to the most pernicious abuse ?v i'here V is rib subject in reg.ird M jyhieh rumors maV not be Circulated; apd the gmnhdfof bur pr beading l is nothing more; than :l-hmor: Siini ry to recur, with a view; to ; estimate J whi msy occur hereajlter. How did tlie peopld ascertain ;the machbiations of that day Jiow'. . was the loud voice ef '.reprobation made to1 ; sound through tlie country ' By tnjs lyjoria' ; -the rumors, then iiVcircujatMin. if vou are, forbidden, by' :a ! decision jie're; ! to"r disclose ; rumorsreports andvspeculationsJbn political v' , topics, then the object of the in triutr, the ! 3 ! conspirator against the. public interest is ac. compli.sTfed., If you hold tp tlie arm of te ! ror against every iriahWwho ' speculates on " probabilities, or gives - currency to rumctii. you realize me aeaa silence of .despotism!-- When you lull tlie sentinel to sleep,' the Con spirator may fearlessly w the dark, .and the public eye C:mnprdetect.him;; A preeedent'rftore daogerbusas jfever been jjuec iic liucrucs 01 me counirViWere xeaUv; ; in danger; f;We had a scene 'liereV f jurnd twenty years agotb; which it rnaybesaHib-" set in this government, than would be by the . ' . institution otWiJjniry iX- f I.,- e? Miy Poot ofjCJbbm, said thatcertfiiri 'paVers : ! were frtxtd Xo ih the .motion of the geith- ! , ! man frbm Georgia,; (Mr. Forsyth) wiiiclwerV ";''''' not before the Housed arAl he i'suggeste'd to the gentleban the propriety of 8pmodifyIng ; his inotion, as to refer to the L-omrniitee ncij ' thing: more than the communication of the Speakenv'Jyvf" ;:vv;y, ..; , - .-,', . ;my ; .. MruForsyth accepted the modificatibn; aiul v ' ) at ;therequisition;Cf Wrnember reduced . ' his motion to the following form ': ( ' , ' fMiootvedi ..that tbelcommunicatioi mad ; ' 1 i by theSpeaker : to the; Hbuse and enteral ' C on the Journal of the House, be referred tb'-? v a select comrhittee'?:!f ;!;;' !'i!! :j ';: ; I !.;!.;" v :'. - - Mr. BuchAnau of "Pa now moved that the ' Ibtise'adjouni '4 ; The motion was riegatived, ; f " !J: . MrPpuffietheh mbved;tb amend ItheV ' motion ot Mr; torsyth by adding, to it the - ' follbw"m'clause:::. iX,;jU -.!"' ' . . A i?d that the 'slid committee be instruct ed to enquire whether- ljVe hinted thatthey would fight for. those who pay best,' or any tlihig to that effect, and 1 whether byertures were said to have , been ' . ' made by the friends of; Adams to the fiien Js . pf.Clay, offering theiappoiritmertt of Sec. eta ; V ry of ;State,fbr diis aid-to elect Adarr,":! ',i K awl 'whetiier ? the friends of Clay gave this 1 information Jo 'the" friends Jof Jackson,- arid ' hinted .that if the friends otrJackson would i ' ; ' bffer theviame! price theviwbuld elosk wlti. -.. them and whetherHenry tlay has transfer-V rcu or resoivea to rransu-r his interest to J no. - ' .. Adamsiod wheiher; it was; said and be- ; ! lieved that as a cohsuleraliciiy! for thisabab-i i ! -dpnment-bjF!duty: to his constituents, Clayw a ! . vj ae appouitea aecretary ot state and that -the said ccmimltee-bfe authorized to send Iq!? - ' 'i'-' i JPo?ictvided'i7i ike third pqevJ- . . ' ! " .i; "Si ' iT i e "'tL .v y t -'V i ..
The Raleigh Register (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Feb. 15, 1825, edition 1
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