Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856, Vol. 3 (of 16)United States. Congress
History
Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856, Vol. 3 (of 16)
United States. Congress
Law -- United States; United States -- Politics and government
It was said by a gentleman from Connecticut, (Mr. R. GRISWOLD,) that
we were about to appoint a committee to ransack the country for an
accusation, and afterwards to search for proof to support it. He
complains that no accusation is made. Mr. N. averred that an accusation
was made; it was made during the last session, and again repeated during
the present. He asked, if it was no charge to declare that a judge had
condemned a man to the most ignominious death, without a hearing; without
allowing him those benefits which he claimed under the constitution? Was
it a trivial circumstance for a member of this House to declare that a
freeman had been indicted for a high capital offence; that he appeared
at the bar and pleaded not guilty; that his counsel were ready to prove
the truth of the plea, but that the presiding judge had refused to hear
them? If this was not a charge, and a charge, too, of a most solemn
nature, he did not understand the meaning of the words. It was brought
forward as boldly as the gentleman from Connecticut could wish, and the
only question now was, in what manner shall we inquire into the truth of
it? Shall we appoint a committee to make the inquiry by calling witnesses
before them, or shall we dismiss it without investigation? Shall we give
it the go-by, and suffer the character of the judges to rest under an
imputation so heavy? Shall we proclaim our own dishonor, by publishing
abroad that a heavy charge had been made, in the face of this House,
against one of the highest judicial officers of the Government, and that
we were too pusillanimous to notice it?
What the gentleman meant by comparing the proposed committee to the
Spanish Inquisition, Mr. N. did not really understand. Did the gentleman
wish to make a false impression upon the public mind? Was he anxious
to cast an odium upon the proceeding by calling it an inquisitorial
committee, and affecting to believe that it was to be clothed with the
powers of the Holy Inquisition? The Inquisition had the power to seize
the person of the party, to deny him all access to his friends, to
confine him in a cell, and refuse him all assistance whatever; to stretch
him on the wheel, and rack and torture him into confession. Does the
gentleman wish to induce a belief that this committee is to be clothed
with the same powers? All committees appointed to inquire, might, to be
sure, be called Inquisitorial, because they were to make inquiry, but the
epithet of Spanish Inquisition was intended to convey an idea totally
incorrect.
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