248 



papers to coiilain relative to the value of the Mississippi, which 

 would, according to my view of the occupation of the Columbia 

 river, show the value of the trade to flow in that channel, which 

 was to connect those two great rivers ; and that there could not 

 be any thing difficult to comprehend in that. That if the President 

 would tell the House such consequences would flow from the com- 

 munication, and at the same time state, that copies of the papers 

 would be furnished to any gentleman at the Department of State, 

 who might desire them, was a thing left for him to justify and to re- 

 concile : I wished myself to be correct, and said this for my own 

 justification, and to show my gwn consistency, and not the Presi- 

 dent's. 



I will close these observations by observing to you, that I have 

 fseen in your paper a few days ago, the remarks contained in a 

 Charleston journal. I cannot divine how the writer knew I had 

 made a motion to refer the President's communication to my com- 

 mittee, before it was read. I conclude, though, it is much after 

 the disinterestedness of the times, and that a diplomatic mission to 

 some of the new republics, may be the hoped reward of the hon- 

 est exertions of the writer. How was that fact ascertained ? there 

 IS no record showing whether the motion was made before the pa- 

 pers were read or not — this minute fact is known to the writer so 

 distant from Washington, who does not even know the part of the 

 country I live in, as he states me to be a member from the west- 

 it may be honest ignorance — I believe, though 1 did make the mo- 

 tion to refer the papers, as soon as it was ascertained what the 

 papers related to. This is every day's practice, and I have now 

 papers referred to my committee which the House never saw, 

 which contained information 1 had sought through the medium of 

 I he House, as I had done that, which was to be used when my bill 

 v«?as called up. I will say more, that if I, by any proper act, 

 could have prevented this afliiir, that I would have done so ; nor 

 ivill I, either in public or in private, refrain from commenting upon 

 the public conduct and opinions of any public man, who may be 

 thought, or may think himself entitled to office. My opposition 

 has always been political, and directed by the ideas I entertain of 

 the power which gentlemen may think themselves entitled to ex- 

 ercise, under the constitution of the United States. I look upon that 

 constitution as containing expressed grants of power, and cannot ap- 

 prove any opposite opinion. 



1, as a public man, am willing to be judged by this test, and whea 

 I, dr others, cannot defend their opinion, in justice to the country, 

 they ought to retire. In my public capacity I called upon the ex- 

 ecutive branch of the government for papers expressly relating to 

 a national transaction, and for public use ; and if evil has resulted, 

 or private letters been divulged, it cannot attach to me. 



! am, sirs, with great respect, your obedient servant, 



JOHN FLOYD. 



