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E 1 r Ml nn ; V JUJUJl ITItl.lSIIKD WEEKLY BY CH. C. RABOTEAU, EIUTOR A.D fBOPRlETQIU " ,.: - TERMS: $2 50 PER ANNUM IX ADVANCE, OR $3 00 IF MYMEXT IS DEL.U EI SIX MOXTHS. VOL. I J T. RALEIGH, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1850. NO 43 La mi nn 1 PKOSPECTUS FOR Ki LA TIG I NO AND IMPROVING The lialeigh Times, AND FOR PUBLISHING SEMI-WEEKLY AND WEEKLY. i TT h proposed lo enlarge mid improve the Raleigh 1 A Timkh. mid publish the I'aper fcenu-Vt eekly and I Werklv Hfter the 1st of November iit'Xt, if a iuffi i ent number of ubscrihers can he obtained I Tl. nlti..nt i.f th Rilitnr will he mninlv to flllRtnin ' . .i i f a n I . . , .1 I :..-. ana ueieuu mu Kim-ni.!1.!, iu ujiHmB me. leaning j lVmorrntic Presses and to endeavor to rally and I re-unue we w um tartt or worth varouna. lie t 1 will devote his energies and abilities to this work, with fearless independence and zealous industry. While the Kai.khiii Timkh will be principally a Political Paper, vet the current New of the day, do- j mnptio and commercial, and literary and miscejlane ! ous articles of interest, shall receive a lair share of which had occurred among the public officers. According lo my impression these defalcations were pretty generally to be found among those who had furnished money to influence the elections. Those who are defaulters must have re- ) attention, with the usual variety for general readers. , As the Legislature of the relate meets next winter, The Timks will contain a full record of the proceed- I . i . i i.. 1 n' . ..1...11 i L , mgs 01 mill ooiiv. e Mian rejwri buuii iseiuues us are of greatest interest, as well as express our free views tion every important subject before it, as far 'as may he necessary for the information of our dis tant reauere. It is impossible, within the reasonable limits of a Prospectus, to embrace alt the objects and desigiiB of t ' 'i'L .. i :..r. .: ri. L ,a newspaper. lie peueiai luiurinmiim ui ma iuu- lic, upon political, legislative, commercial and do Jmestic matters, together with the latest news, may Ik- e A it. tia nr.lit.ntia rtt I'ltD T.Ut UP IIIIIUU III Hir tun o vi .tit. 1 ixr.m rri. - rii. .......... ...;n ka riitA p..;.;- Illir Bl.n Ul ln ".pi;i mil uc illai til llto jiiiki; n o. 1 ..i .ni.:nk T..u ;.....,ia.l nl.:..n;..uu.. UUinaw II, willv.t nn i ir.n ta lumiuru )iiii.aiij to oppose. A new Press and tvpe, with all other ne- jcessary materials will be used for the printing. The.rVerWy paper, it will do seen by reierence to our terms, will therefore be the cheapest paper in the State. We design it shall be the best. Let the Whigs of North Carolina support this paper, and ex 'tend its circulation far and wide, as the strongest and most tearless advocate 01 uicir cause. ' .nm tin all 'Piti? Tim'a u-ill k, fl ilrnnn mill jealous supporter of the Whig Tarty? ami the active, fearless enemy of Locofocoism and Disunion. We Milium our claims to the intelligent and pa triotic Whigs of the State for that patronage Bud sup port which is necessary for our success. TERMS OF THE SEMI-WEEKLY. The Semi Weekly Rai eigiiTimes will be publish ed on Tuesdays and Fridays, at Four Dollars per annum. TERMS OF THE WEEKLY. The Weekly Times will be published On Friday, hd will be sent to subscribers for Two Dollars per inmim. Six copies will be sent one year fur leil Dollars. Payable in advance. ID' The Postmasters of the State are requested to let as our Agents ; and all so acting and forwarding jubscribers, shall be entitled toe copy of the paper. Address CH. C. RABOTEAU, Editor and Proprietor, Raleigh, N.C. Ralkioh, Sept. 7, 1650. fieri maybe e.rrcised, or the payment of any I wa a proper place for an officer holding no high contribution or assessment on salaries or official a pi; f,. icl, ives, ibn oda- d fit mted B. ill cele. ;ings ubbU E3. 5 IIA cirLI, lUtiOIA. UD. of the nd on ns aj , etlt iins, at f the V. Iry: !) e auyaf vy Pen. Govern, or other inpt ant) REMARKS OF HON. EDWARD STANLY, (h the House or Representatives, Saturday, Avgvst 31, 1850, j : s reply to Mb. Fitch on the subject or the action of the Select Committee with refer ence to the conduct of office-holders under Mr. Polk's Administration, &c.,&c, &c. Mr. STANLY said that if there was nothing of nore importance before the House, he would Rsk ts attention for a very short time while he submit ed tome remarks in reply to what hd fallen from he gentleman from Indiana Mr. Fitch on the unjpct ot the action ot the select commmee (villi efetence to the so-calleii " Bundlecund" essays, nd other things referred to by that gentleman. Vs this committee derived its existence and its au- hority from a resolution ol the House, if there had ieen anything in the subject matter unworthy of nvestigrttion , it was an unworthy set in ihel louse o appoint the committee and to impose on it the uty ol investigating it. Having been appointed nd instructed by the House, there was nothing left or that committee but to perform the duties cont inued to its charge. There had not existed in ny member of the committee, so far as he knew, ny desire to annoy the gentlemen who were call- d before it. Had the committee designed to an toy Mr. Ritchie or Mr. Sengstack, they might iave made a ditterent report ; as it is, they have nerely submitted a report stating the fact that these -entlemen had relused to reply to the questions vhich the committee considered it to be their duty a propound, and to ask instruction as to their tu ure course. The report was made for that pur- ose alone. It was for the House to decide what ourso the committee should pursue. A motion as made by the gentleman from New Hampshire, Mr. Iiibbard.J to lay the subject on the table, but ie House had refused to lay it on the table. After :u, there seemed to pe nothing led lor bim to do ut to submit the resolution which he had offered. The eentleman from Indiana had occupied the louse (or some time in the defence ol Mr. Ritchie, nd in an elaborate criticism of the course of the ommiltee. ; Now he would promise at the outset ... ... . . lot to occupy the House to a longer extent man tie eentleman from Indiana had done. That gen- toman seemt'd to be ol opinion that the labor ot me bmmitlee had resulted in ascertaining the name I the writer who had taken the signature of "15un- lerund." When the facts shall be published, it ill appear that much more than this has been as krtaincd. It was well known who was the author If Ihosc essays it aid not require a select commit eot nine lohndthis fact; it would have required Committee of two hundred and thirty members, i some motiths.to have found a man whoever read i Bundlecund essays, unless lie was connected .-1 tli the ' Union." No one ever thought thet did r.y injury ; but when the gentleman from Illinois Mr. Kichahdhin was inquiring whether any larks annninied hv Mr. twine wrote tor newspa rs, it was thought advisable to remind him, those ssays, under such a honible name, were written y sn ottice-holder. He supposed that whenever the commiitee should 'lake its report, it would be found th;U money had een collected in the public offices in Washington fr the purpose of influencing the elections in the lateol Pennsylvania, anJ lor the purpose of send' f tc voters to the election on the Eastern Shore of ylarylatid, &c. It would be found that persons told'niir official stations were rnmhlini? throughout it of llis u country, making electioneering speeches in 1 kiinsvlvama aud Maryland, and other States outuie ot tiat ollere --ere einoloved in directing docu i in con. ; , ,h. 0jjw, j( over the uninn, where ZtLin I y could Pae ny SecL By reference to the patch ta P ft"""" of tl,e dVi would be fare. Be- l,B!"' th"1 not on'y wne Pub''c officers employed llhu'na of r "ec,i0n of ln,(,e f0''111' documenls, but ..v. ku M even the o3icera in the Penitentiarv were re- ,,n. it u 'utfd to do similar service. And is all this ii"th rial refer, f'g? Tlie gentleman from Indiana seemed sn to all case, f-ujider it, it may be an nothing iu Indiana tained the money of the public for some purpose, and they are found to be most active in raising money for the State of Pennsylvania and other Slates, during the elections, i A disbursing officer may have thousands passing through his hands daily : a friend may come to him and tell him that he wants a certain sum to secure the election, and when their President is elected, the borrower will get an office and repay especially if he could get a few "extra allowances." The result may turn out differently from what was expected ; the re ward which was looked for is not obtained, and the officer who has advanced the money becomes a de faulter. Now, was all this to be considered as cor rect ? Was all this nothing ? It was all nothing in the opinion of the gentleman from Indiana. If the gentleman from Indiana had gone a little further in the regions of fancy, he might have found something more which would he applicable to the subject. He would find what were the opinions of Jefferson, Jackson, Macon, fc, on the subject of the interference ot ouiceholders in elections. 1 could refer to an extract or two for the information ol that gentleman, and of the House. I will not read these extracts, Ah. Speaker, for nobody of two hundred and thirty persons can hear reading with patience. 1 believe, if Websteror Clay would come here and read one of their best speeches, in less than half an hour they would not have half the listeners they had at hrst. Mr. Jefferson is the great man for whose mem ory the Democrats of the present day profess to cherish great respect. Whatever is Jeffersonian is democratic, lie is said to be the great head of their party. I think I pay more respect to some of his opinions, than many modern Democrats even from Virginia. Before M'. Jefferson was elected President, and while his election was uncertain, he thus wrote to Governor .lfcKean, February 2, 1801 : "One thing I will say, that, as to the future, in terference with elections, whether of the State or General Government by ojjxcert nf the latter, should be deemed cause of removal ; oecauji; the constitu tional remedy by the elective principle becomes noth ing, if it mail be smothered bit the enormous patron age of the (leneral Government." Letter to Gov. McKean, February 2, 1801. This language to me is very clear. I think Mr. Jefferson was right. What say those who are eternally prating of their Jeffersonian democracy ? Hear Mr. Jefferson, again. Shortly after his elec tion to the Presidency, the several heads of depart ments, by his order, issued a circular, an extract from which I have before me. I will print it with my remarks. I believe it is right now, and deeply regret .1r. Jefferson's professed followers treat with contempt his precepts. Hero is the extract Mr. S. had before him : " The President of the United States has seen with dissatisfaction officers ofthe General Govern ment taking, on various occasions, active parts in elections of public functionaries, whether of the General or State Governments. Freedom of elec tions being essential to the mutual independence of government, and ofthe different branches of the same government, so vitally cherished by most of our constitutions, it is deemed improper forofucers depending on the Executive of the Union to attempt to control or influence the free exercise of the elective right. This I stn instructed, therefore, to notify all officers within my department, holding their appointments under the authority of the President directly, and to desire them to notify to all subordi nate to them. The right of any officer to give his rote at elections as a qualified citizen is not meant to be restrained, nor, however given, shall it hare any compensation for party or election purposes, will ! be regarded hy linn as a cause ol removal. "It is net intended that any officer shall be re strained in the free and proper expression and maintenance of his opinions respecting public men or public measures, or in the exercise to the full est degree of the constitutional right of suffrage; but persons employed under the Government, and paid for their services out of the public Treasury, are not expected to take an active or officious part in attempts lo influence the minds or totes of olliers such conduct being deemed inconsistent trith the spirit of the Constitution and the duties of pvblic a genls acting under it ; and the President ts resolv ed, so far as depends upon him, that, while th't elect ive franchise by the penpk shall be free from undue influences of official station and authoritu, opinion shall also be free among ilic officers and agents of the Government. I hope the gentleman from Indiana Mr. Fitch will read attentively these extracts, and be able to tell his constituents whether Mr. Jefferson and General Jackson were right orwrong. 1 should he obliged, also, Mr. Speaker, to the gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Meade, who made, effect to his prejudice J but it is expected that he teill not attempt to influence the votes of outers, nor take itUura aw ases, , KG, , D. C. But aj'niust say, that it would bs regarded in a vt rv li-rent llsnt in tlie district wnicn ne represented er since the days or Swartwout, the people bad i fi astounded a( tlie amount of the defalcation i any part in the business of electioneering, that being deemed inconsistent with the spirit of tht Constitution and his duties to it." (See Miles' Register, vol. 29, p 274.) General Jackson was a Jefferson Democrat, and when he was elected President, he was disposed to adhere to Jefferson's doctrines. In General Jackson's inaugural address is the following : "The recent demonstratiuii of public sentiment inscribes in the list of Executive duties, in charac ters too legible to be overlooked, the task of reform ; which will require particularly the correction of those abuses that have brought the patronage of the Federal Government into conflict uilh the freedom of elections, and the counteract ion of those causes which have disturbed the rightful course of appoint ment, and have placed or continued power in un- laitniui or incompetent nanus. , Now, sir, will some of the Democracy Inform me whether collecting money from clerks here, for the elections in Pennsylvania, whether public office holders like Mr. Burke, In the Patent Officer, writ ing for newspapers while he had a salary of three thousand dollars a year, whether officeholders in the city, leaving their offices and making speeches in ether States, is bringing the " patronage ofthe Federal Government in conflict with the freedom of elections?" Did Jefferson and Jackson mean anything or not J Mr. Buchanan, too, seemed to be of the same opinion. In a speech delivered by him in the House of Representatives, he said : " Does not the gentleman know; that when a man is once appointed to office, all the selfish pas sions of his nature are enlisted for the purpose of retaining it 7 J he othce-hoklero are the enlisted soldiers of the administration by which they are sustained. Hear JMr.Grundv. formerlv a Senator from Ten nessee.and a distinguished Jefferson Democrat : "When, as id he, in the Senate of theUmtedStates, "I see an office-holder interfering in elections, the first idea that strikes me is, that he is thinking of Ins office and his bread, and therefore an unfit ad viser of those whose only object is the public good." Now the gentleman from Indiana argues as if he thought Jetterson and Jackson were greatly be hind the age, and that the "enlisted soldiers of the administration" were excellent advisers of the peo ple. Genl. Harrison was educated a Jeffersonian Republican, and after his election to the Presiden cy he issued a circular, following Mr. Jefferson's example, and very nearly in the language of tlie circular issued by Sir. Jetterson a orders, to which I referred just now. The circular of Pres't Har rison bears date March 20, 1841, in the following worus : "The President Is of opinion that it it a great a bust to bring the patronage ofthe General Govern- menl into oonflict with the freedom of elections, and that this abuse ought to be corrected wherever it may have been permitted to exist, and lo be pre vented for ths future. ' ' lie therefore directs information to be given to all officer and s gen's in your department of the public service, th.it partisan interference in popular elect- j ions, whether of State officers or ufficcrs of this Got- eminent, and Jar whomsoever or against whoipso- as the Union says, an"able speech" on this report, if he will say whether he agrees or disagrees with these opinions of Mr. Jefferson ? I wish to hear from a Virginia Democrat, whether Mr. Jefferson was right or wrong. Mr. MEADE replied, dissenting from the cor rectness of Mr. Stanly's readings ofthe doctrines of Mr. Jefferson's views in the connection. Mr. Jefferson (Mr M. contended) did not, ns Mr.S. intimated, hold that a person on taking office lost his right of citizenship. Ho was merely opposed to permitting officeholders to neglect their official duties for the purpose of interferingin ptiblicalfairs. But if Jefferson's doctrine in this maHer was as Mr. Stakly urged, (he was understood to say,) he (Mr. M.) did not hold to it. Mr. S. Continued. I am glad to hear a Virgin ia Democrat bold enough to dare todiffer with Mr. Jetterson, even with an "if," But, sir, I defy the. gentleman to put any other construction on Mr. Jefferson's language than I have. I have not in timated that Mr. Jefferson held ail officeholder "lost his right of citizenship." So far from it, Mr. Jefferson held directly the reverse of this, as the extract before me shows. But ho raid, an office holder ofthe General Government should notat tempt to influence the votes of others, nor take any part in the business of electioneering. Mr. Jeff erson's objection was not that they might neglect their duties. He spoke of a "principle," which the gentleman from Virginia seems to lose sight of. According to that gentleman, an officeholder might employ a subiititute,and Bpend thousands of dollars in electioneering, and travel through sever al States, "attempting to influence the votes of others," ana yet be governed by Sir. Jetterson s circular! If this be so, Mr. Jefferson did not know what he was writing about. The gentle man docs not meet directly my question. ThegentlemaB from Indiana Mr. FlTcn has said, perhaps it might turn out that a clerk in the Post Office Department had been removed by the Postmaster General in Mr. Polk's time, be cause he was the political correspondent of a news paper. The gentleman has traveled somewhat out of the regular order of debate in referring to some ofthe evidence before the Committee of In vestigation. But the gentleman is mistaken. He only remembers a part of the testimony. Not to depart further from the titles than the gentleman has, 1 will say, perhaps it will appear hereafter that a certain clerk in the Post Office Depart ment was also a reporter, or assistant aditor ofthe rnion, and at the same time a correspondent for several political newspapers a clerk who seemed lo have as many hands as Briaretis. And this clerk who wrote letters for several papers, was not content with merely giving the tittle-tattle of Washington city not content with attacking the Whig party, but be attacked sotr.e Democratic members of Congress. ' It became necessary, too, that the Texas Democracy should assail Silas Wright, and the clerk referred to did this in an Ohio paper. This produced complaint, and after a month elapsed this clerk resigned : employment was found for him in the Patent Office until he went to New York, to edit a paper there. Tho gentleman from Indiana will find this statement better supported by the evidence than his own. Though the gentleman is mistaken in the facts, I thank him for saying it was "prompt and proper action" on the part of a Democratic head of a de partment to dismiss a clerk for such conduct, 1 he gentleman from Indiana, in enumerating the discoveries of the, committee, ssid it would be foutid they had ascertained that Whig and Demo cratic committees had sent documents to the fold' ng room, during the recess of congress, to be pre- pared for distribution. Bnt this is not all. Both parties did this : but both parties did not have the assistance of the officers ofthe Penitentiary. For the first time in the history of our Government nave tne omcers ot the Feniientiary been engag' ed in open electioneering, having thousands of pamphlets folded in the folding room of the House of Representatives, and directed by Penitentiary officers. I remember, Mr. Speaker, in 1848 allusion was made in the whig papers here, lotheconductof these ace under the General Government The gentleman from Indiana, has, to say the least, of it, very unnecessarily" referred to the fact that my honorable friend from Virginia Mr. Hay- mondJ introduced the resolution in the committee bringing Mr. Ritchie's refusal to testify before the Home. And the gentleman, still indulging in his imagination in creating "airy no'K gs," supjioses that the gentleman from . . . seeking "re venge," because Mr. Ritchie spoke of him before his election as "a gay young deceiver." If I were to be uncharitable, I thought while the gentleman from Indiana was speaking, I might suppose that gentleman was fishing for a compliment from Mr. Ritchie. It would only be judging the gentleman as he has judged another. I think the intimation was uncalled for and unjust, for no man in this House bears himself with more modesty, is more respectful towards others, or more exemplary and faithful in the discharge of his duties, than the gen tleman from Virginia, Mr. Haymond. His con stituents, knowing him well, confided in his in telligence and integrity ; and when Mr. Ritchie was struggling hard to secure a Democratic ma jority here, with a view of getting relief from a con tract for printing, his friend, the "accomplished Mr. ihoinpson km beaten by the gentleman from Virginia, Haymond. This is the highest offence even Mr. Ritchie can charge a gainst hiui. The gentleman from Indiana, in his most fanci ful speech, says, as I find reported, when speaking ot .Mr. bengstack s refusal to testily, a& lollows: "Itis usual in a court of justice for a witness to be required to swear lo 'the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.' The commit tee departed from this rule, and required a witness lo depose to 'the truth and nothing but the truth', but refused to permit him to state'the whole truth', lest it should implicate Whig officeholders in some disreputable transaction a catastrophe which the Whig portion of the committee resolutely declared it was not their design to bring about was not the purpose for which the cotn'ittee was appointed." I Here, sir, the gentleman from Indiana doet him self no credit, and docs (treat injustice to the com miitee. The House will be surprised to learn that the oath which was administered to the witness was after a lorm prepared in committee when the gentleman from Indiana was present and so far from "departing from this rule," the witness was sworn to "tell the truth, the whole truth, and no thing but the truth." And as to the Whig portion of the committee "resolutely declaring" the whole truth should not be stated lest it should "implicate whig office-holders in Borne disreputable transac. tion," it is all idle fancy all the creation of the gentleman's imagination such stuff as dreams are made ot. 1 he gentleman should not jest so with tacts. II 1 understand the argument ot tlie gen tleman from Indiana correctly, itis this : If a wit ness is brought into tourtto testify relative loan assault he saw committed by John Smith on Bill Jones, the witness acts properly if lie says, 1 will not tell you what I know of that fight, unless you allow me to Bay what I know of another tight be tween two ot the jury ! diana, though certainly far from being a goose, is one of Mr. Ititclie's swam in the Union this morn ing. Hear Mr. Ritchie In the editorial of August 31st, 1850. "Self defence. It was our intention tore- view the honorable Alexander Evans's attack, and expose his folly in its true colors; but the whole matter is done up so completely to our hand by the eloquent and witty member from Indiana Dr. Fitch that it is scarcely necessary for us to add another nylable to the subject, llmiuldbe realty attempting to gild refined gold, or o add perfume to the rose, or, vital is still more pertinent, to attempt to slay the slain." . Is not this done "up completely ?" Is this giv ing "tone and sentiment to thousands ?" While we mourn for the "slain," let us congratulate the thice-happv, "eloquent and wittv "Ur. B'itcii," who has received his reward from the swan-making, tone-and-sentiment-giving Mr. Ritchie, the friend of Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe ! Now, sir, I ask again, if itis not as fair in me to presume the gentleman from Indiana was actuated by a hope of gettiug a compliment from Mr. Ritchie, as it was in that genile- mau to intimate that my friend from Virginia, in his conduct, was influenced by personal un kindness 1 1 am not disposed now to deny that Mr. Ritchie may be a gentleman, though we sometimes differ in opinion as to the attributes ol a gentlemun. I am disposed to respect his age. To reppect old age, was one of the earliest lessons of my child hood. I was taught it very soon after I learned the ten commandments. 1 would give Mr. Ritchie my umbrella in a storm, and provide for myself as I could. I would resign a seat in a carnage to him, and walk home to save him from personal inconvenience. But by admitting he is entitled to our respect for his age, it does not follow that lie is infallible or faultless as an editor. Who can read the Union for the first six months of the current year, and see how shameless and fero cious where the assaults upon General luylor And his Cabinet, without saying Mr. Ritchie ought to blush when he remembers them J How differ ent is the character of the National Intelligencer, In the most excited party times, who ever saw an editorial in that paper grossly abusive of its po litical opponents, or calculated to give pain to the families ol members of a Cabinet? How many hundreds of such articles have appeared in the Union? ' Buthe was the friend of Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe, and, therefore, the gentleman from Indiana argues, when Mr. Ritchie assails any member of Congress, he is to submit in silence, and Mr. Ritchie is to be the uncontradicted "Sir Oracle" of the press. Iam willing to admit, when the gentleman from Indiana makes a speech, no pen can do justice to its merits, No even Mr. Ritchie is able "To gild refined gold, to paint the lily, To throw a perfume on the violet, To smooth the ice, or add another hue Unto the rainbow ;" The gentleman from Indiana has criticised the or. as Mr. Richie has it, "to add perfume to the iorm oi me question wnicn was propounded to air, rose. Kitchie. lie was asked, as the other witnesses But it does not follow that al are "slain" whom wcre,to state what he might know relative to the either the editor of the Union, or the gentleman several mailers referred to in the resolution of the from Indiana attacks. Mr. Blair, formerlv the editor House of Aiay 6, which he had before him. He of the Globe, was the companion and friend of oecuneu io give mo names ot ins correspondents, ueneral Jackson, and of Uolonel Benton. Mr. No one ot the committee complained of this; we all Blair is as reputable as Mr. Ritchie in every re- ppreciated his feelings. But, in order to enable snect ; vet bv Mr. Blair's published statement. the commiitee todischaige its duty, and not to urge Mr. Polk was guilty of a Jeparture from the truth. Mr. Kitchie to depart from the course he thought I do not at all doubt tnat Mr. Blair told the truth proper to pursue, the question was put to him in in the statement to which I allude, but according enable him to intmdnc a resolution to appoint a select committee to inquire whether there existed any combination to break up tlie contract system as regards the public printing, an.l to ' inanira whether any laws are necessary tj prevmil fraud dulent or fictitious bids." Here was a grave mat ter involving a question of hundreds of .thousand of dollars. On this motion to suspend :he rules the vote was yeas 145, navs 14 J and among the nays are the names of Graham N. Fitch and Riohakd K. Meade. W'iib this, too, a "trivial ' -affair" to the gentleman from Indiana., -or .to the gentleman from Virginia who made the "able speech" on the freedom of the Press ? Now, sir, lot us see who is responsible for be ginning these trivial "investigations." O.i the i'2d of April, by "unanimous consent," as ap pears from Journals of this session, puge 818 Mr. Richardson, of Illinois, offered a series of . resolutions, proposing to raise a select committee to inquire into certain charges he made rgainst M'. Ewing ; snd the fifth of the series was as follows: "Whether any person or persons in office, by appointment from said Ewing, are correspondents or editors of newspapers and what papers they edit or urile for, and what their salaries." The question was put, Will the Huuteagree to the said resolutions ? and among the votes in the affimalive I find the names of Graham N. Fitch, William McWillie, and R. H. Stan- ion, Democrats, members of the committee from which this repo-t comes ; and also the name of R. K. Meade, who according lo the eJitorial of the "Union" of this morning, "made a vigorous attack" upon the report of the com mittee. On the 6ih of May, after the resolutions of gentleman from Illinois Mr. Richardson had been agreed to, I offered, lis an amendment to his, the resolutions under which the committee of which I was chairman was acting. From page oa oi tne journals, it will appear as what was deemed an unobjectionable form, as fol lows : "Was the author of the communication in the Union of Sept. l!j, 1843, an office-holder em braced in the resolution of the House V It was very easy for Mr. Ritchie to answer this question without betraying any of his correspondents,which no one wished him to do, in a matter of so little importance especially. But the gentleman from Penitentiary men ; and how do you suppose the charge was answered 1 Why, sir, the Keeper of l he f eniteniiary had affidavits prepared by his clerks or assistant, snd they swore that the "con victs" were not employed in directinz documents and then the "Union" shouted that the charge was tuny disproved. 1 am willing to believe, Sir. Speaker, that the"convict" did not assist in di recting documents. It was by following Loco-to co doctrines, snd by Loco-foco practices that they go to the Penitentiarv. and while under Duinsh- ment, it tenuires but little charity to believe they were unwilling to scatter taisehooM egainst the Whigs, whose counsels, had they been regarded would have kept them honest men, These Penitentiary affidavit-makers had no doubt, read the story of the two thieves : one stole the article and handed it to his companion : he who stole it swore he did not have it, and he who had it swore he did not take it. If the editor of the "Union" had lived in those days, ho would, for a proper consideration, have published their affida vits, and said their innocence was fully established. The gentleman from Indiana says I am entitled to a patent for another discovery, and that -is "a discovery which solves a long-mooted problem, con verts what was theory into fact." i But this dis covery was, that at a political gathering at Bit densburg, a Democratic speaker was interrupted by the "call to dinner." When I am entitled to a patent, Mr. Speaker, for converting theory into ftct, the gentleman from Indiana will be entitled to one, for converting farts into fancies, . I think It will appear, when the evidence is printed, that a Democratic speaker, holding the office of Assist ant Postmaster General, was interrupted in his speech by the arrival of a barrel of whiskey. I should like to hear tlie gentleman from Indiana rguinjMore hit huuest oonstituedta that this to the logic of the gentleman from Indiana, Mr. Polk is not to believed, for Mr. Blair was the friend of Jackson, was honored by his confidence, 1 will not now argue how much of honor Mr. Ritchie derived from the friendship of Jefferson I may be the opinion of some, that Mr. Jefferson received as much honor as he conferred. Politics, liliAmisprv. mukpQ na neniinintpd with strnno-R Indiana would impress upon the House that he company, Mr. Jefferson was a man of singular cannot tell which is the communication referred to, tasies, and sometimes unworthy persons were the and says he does not know, neither does he believe objects of hit regard. The gentleman from lndia- any other member does, except the chairman. Now na is educated, and has cultivated his talents. If he this is "strange passing strange." The question will read Sullivan's Familiar Letters, and the Ob- was written carefully by one of the members of aervationson the Writingsnf Jefferson, he willhes- tne committee, not Dy tne chairman, and t.ie union itate to say that Mr. KHchte was the most lion was Jbcfote Mr. Ritrhie, and the communication ored of men because he was the friend of Jef- shown him ; and yet the gentleman from Indiana I ferson. pretends he does not know what communication I The gentleman from Indiana said, that when a was reierred to t report is made from another select committee rela- The object in asking the qnesiion was merely tive to certain charges against a member, (Mr, to connrm tne testimony previously taken, that the Uiddinss,J it will be found that a Whig edi wrtter ot the communication, who said he wrote tor refuses to betray the correspondent of i the lite nf Cass, was an office-holder under Polk : paper. Yes, sir, I waTTare of this fact, and was, at the early part of this session, one of the I was anxious! I confess, toNlet the Democracy "favorite candidates" of the Democratic party;and act on Mr. Ritchie's case, before they could reach afterwards ranaway to avoid being sent to the l'e- the Whig editor. 1 know the Democrats could mtentiary. Does the gentleman from Indiana now not punish one and allow another to pass by un know which was the communication 1 I noticed. The gentleman from Indiana thinks thisinves- But the gentleman speaks of the "waste of time tigation will prove all "tomfoolery." I think the and money to the country." Sir, who is respon- country will forma very different opinion when the I sible for this? The first step was taken on the report is printed ; but whatever there may have other side of the House ; and when this report was been ot tomfoolery in our proceedings, the genile- made I occupied not five minutes. A motion was man has proved himself as well qualified to lake made to lay the repo.1 on the table. And now part in it as any other menib v of the committee, sir, I inform the gentleman from Indiana that l ex As tar as the gentleman has commented on the amined the votes of his friends, and if they had remarks of my friend from Maryland (Mr. Evans) not changed their votes, after the roll bad been 1 have nothinsr to ssv. He is well able to take ralleil. the renort would have been laid on the la care ot himselt ; snd though the Union says he ble. But twenty-tvo Democrats changed thei was slain by me "eloquent and witty member irom 1 votes and relused to dispose ot the report. And Indiana," it will be necessary for Mr. Ritchie to strange to say, the gentleman from Indiana was say of the "eloquent and witty" gentleman that among those who changed. He is responsible for "thrice he slew the slain," before he kills the gen- this "waste of time and money," as much as any tlerr.an from Maryland. He will not stay dead another gentleman. He voted against laying tlie under such killing. report on the table. I remarked a few moments since, Mr. Speaker, But tlie gentleman from Indiana spoke of the that it t were uncharitable 1 might hnd a motive trivial character ol this investigation. Verytnv- which actuated the gentlemen from Indiana to de- ial, indeed : when a little while alter the gentlema fend Mr. Ritchie. The gentleman said Mr. Ritchie said he had desired lo "enlarge the powers of the was (1 quote his words before me) "a man much committee, that he might examine ihe conduct of Ins senior a man who, whatever political errors Whig as well as Democrats officeholders.' Oh! may be chargeable to him, ha ever borne tho how consistent are these trivial objections ! The characterof a good citizen and honorable gentle- gentleman complains that the "enlargement "was man; who has lor forty years been a leading po- refused. Why ? because he wsstbld, if he wanted litlcal editor,git!in tone and sentiment to thousands to examine the conduct of Whig officeholders, hn of menl, and patriotism, and talent, equal to what- could gel a committee consisting ot a majority n ever of thoseqoalities the gentleman from Mary-1 Democrat ; he can have this now. The Wnig land may possess, it ill become any verdant I believed the purposed Ihe enlargement was lo un- olitician, like him md myself, to assail one who pose additional labors on the committee, and pre ss been tho companion and intimate friend of vent any report this session. The Whip; wauled Jefferson, Madison, snd Monroe." an enlargement ofthe powers ofthe first investiga- Now, sir, is not the whole secret explained? ting committee, raised on the motion of the gentle I his editor gives "lone and sentiment to thou- man Irom Illinois, Ur. KichaudsoN. I Whv did ands." Yes. do doubt, in Indiana as well as in I the Democratic party deny that to u ? Tu exam- Virginia, ine the conduct of Democratic officeholders who Yon Democrats, Mr. Speaker, are a fortunate were correspondents of pipers is "trivial" in the set of gentlemen. Yon are blessed with an editor estimation of the gentleman from Indiana ; but to remarkable for bt powers in making irreat men examine whether any Whig officeholder were out of small materials ; and, accordion to Mr. correspondent unn"enlreinent of powers.,' and Ritchie, there are none but "great, eloquent, able, not travial ! I What will Mr. Ritchie sav when and witty" men among you. Mr. Ritchie's geese I he compliment the logic of the gentleman from are all swan. 1 do not mean to say you are all Indiana ? A trivail matter, indeed ! I find by the geese, by no meanv I know many among your Journals before me, that ou the twenty-ninth day party wnoneeo not tucn lutsome praise who are ol April last, a gentleman Irom' Illinois, Mr. disgmtea with It. But the gentleman from In-1 Wsttrwuni, move; to suspend the rule to Iknvs :. Mr. STANLY moved that the rules ho susnen- ded for the purpose of enabling him lo offer tho tiMlowing resolution: : "Resolved, Thit the select committer appointed on th motion of the gentleman from Minms, Mr. KiciiakdmjN, to enquire and report 'what persons in otnee, by appointment ot Thomas raving, Sec retAry of the Interior, are correspondents of new- lapers, their salaries, and what papers they edit or t'rite for,' be alo instructed to enouire Rild renort th this House what persons holding office nnker the last administration, clerks, etc.. &c. wrote fur or edited nepaier?, &c.'" I wanted the "whole troth', on both aides. On page 877 of the Journal, it will annear the demand for the previous question was not sec onded. So the Democratic party refused to allow my amendment. Then it was said, "Take a se lect committee." I sgreed, modified my resolution ccordingly, and a select committee was annointed : an "enlargement" of powers to Mr. Richardson's committee was refused. But this is not the end of the "trivial" nro. ceedings. On the 27th May the eentleman from Ken tucky, a member of the committee, to whose fair ness it gives me pleasure to testify, Mr. R. H. otanton, moved to suspend the rules to enable im to otter a resolution to instruct the committee ppointedon the 6th of May, 1850, to inquire, a- mong other things, what clerks and other officers absented themselves from their duties to engage in folding and directing documents, to be circula ted to promote the election of Genera) Taylor.dic, &c, &c. Surely to such a trivial matter, the gentleman from Indiana was opposed ; but no, the Journals before me bear witness that Graham N. Fitch, Henry: Hibbard, William McWillie. and R. H. Stanton, all the democratic members of the committee, together with Mr. R. K. Meade, voted to suspend the rule. Wow, sir, l hope we shall hear no morewitt? and eloquent speeches against this "trivial" investigation. One remark more, and I take leave of the gen tleman from Indiana. The gentleman, while lecturing mv friend from Maryland, Mr. Evans, forgot, I think, tho pro priety that became him. He saw ht to refer to Mr. Truman Smith, ofthe Senale, in no respectful way. He used the word "corruption" in connec tion with his name. And what was the instance of corruption ? It proves that Mr. Smith franked a good many documents tn different Stairs, ami some ot them were sent lo a postmaster ; And hw did this happvn J Both Whigs and DeniocriiU all, I might say, frank paper ami speeches at the request oi oilier person. Sometimes in an excited canvass, names are sent, with the request that speecnes should ne sent to them. It was so with Mr. bmith. He had no knowledge of the person te whom he franked, and had no information whetlwr they held office or were private citizens. Sir, the gentleman from Indiana does not know Mr. Smith. Hii worst enemy cannot deny he t a man of ability and of irreproachable privalechar acter. He was honored by General Taylor with the offer of a seat in his Cabinet. As a patriot, he is disinterested. As a man, his reputation is unsullied. Well will it be forthe gentleman from Indiana, if he is able to preserve as good a name sa Mr. Smith has a name far above the reach of any assault the gentleman from Indianna can make. A few words in reply to the gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Meade, and I will detain the House no longei. 1 hat gentleman, in defending the conduct of those officeholders who interfered In elections, said, he hoped no man wa slavish enough to subscribe to thi doctrine, that when he takesacommission.lieforft-itsliisriglitsasa private citizen. It might be answer enough to this, to refer the gentleman again to what Mr. Jefferson says. But let me ssk the gentleman, do officer of the army forfeit any of their rights when they accept a cominision? Sorely noi. But that would not make it proper in the colonel of a regiment to give his soldier tickets and march them up to the polls, compelling ihem to votes he wished. He would ask the gentleman from Virginia, does a man who takes charge of a congregation, in North Carolina forfeit any of his rights? , By no i. etns Yet a clergyman who has the enre of souls, is not allow edtobea member of our Legislature. It is a . revolutionary principle, that the people, tli laity'' are to t e free from the control of Ihe priesi in their public i-onduct. It was Hlsothonghl proper to keep" the military subordinate to the civ il power. But it has never been alleged, that when a man became a. soldier or a clergyman, he was forfeiting hi rights as citizen. Some things sre contrary to tlie letter oHhe Con-" ritutlon, and others are contrary to its spitit. No officer of Ihe army or nnvy can hold a sit htllii' House. No person holding "any ofti'tt under the ' United State shall be a member of eillier J,'i n-s during hii cuiiti nns nc in office." "If an AiuerW;srv citizen who holds an office tinder the General Gov. eminent fpifuiu his right, . d csn-iot hold shet lure, he forfeits them iccording to the Cunittiu-
Raleigh Times [1847-1852] (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Sept. 27, 1850, edition 1
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