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
The gentleman from Virginia (Mr. RANDOLPH) has said, that he has been
informed of facts, which convince him that an inquiry ought to be made.
But that gentleman has not stated to the House what those facts are.
It has been contended, that where a member of this House shall state
that he is convinced that an inquiry ought to be made, the House ought
to institute such an inquiry. Precedents have been adduced to prove
that this has been done in the British Parliament. There certainly has
been no case cited where an inquiry has been commenced upon the motion
without stating his facts or his evidence. But whatever may have been the
practice in England I can never consent to vote upon any impressions or
convictions but my own.
If the official conduct of the judges upon the trial of Fries was such
as to require the interposition of this House why, (as the gentleman
from Connecticut, Mr. GRISWOLD, has asked,) why was not this inquiry
sooner announced? This trial, I am told, was in February, 1800. It took
place within the hearing of Congress. It was the subject of universal
attention. Why has it slept four years? Upon what ground shall we invest
a committee with power to ransack the country for charges against our
judges? Shall we, upon the motion of a member--shall we, upon the
statement of the gentleman from Pennsylvania, (Mr. SMILIE,) commence
an inquiry, troublesome and expensive--an inquiry, which must attach
suspicion to the official conduct of the judges? Sir, I respect the
conduct of the gentlemen who attempt to remove obstructions from the
stream of justice, but I must be convinced that obstructions now exist,
before I can vote for this resolution.
Mr. EARLY.--Like other gentlemen who have gone before me in this
discussion, I do not consider myself at liberty to vote against the
resolution on the table. Like them, I deem myself bound to vote for an
inquiry into the conduct of any public officer, when that inquiry is
demanded by a member of this House. After the view taken of the merits
of this measure by the gentlemen from Pennsylvania and Virginia, I did
expect that all further opposition to it would have ceased. In this
expectation I have been disappointed.
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