Must not a formal law
settle the oath of the Senators, form of pleadings, process against
person or goods, &c. May he not appear by attorney? Must he not be tried
by a jury? Is a Senator impeachable? Is an ex-Senator impeachable? You
will readily conceive that these questions, to be settled by twenty-nine
lawyers, are not likely to come to speedy issue. A very disagreeable
question of privilege has suspended all other proceedings for some days.
You will see this in the newspapers. The question of arming vessels came
on, on Monday last; that morning, the President sent in an inflammatory
message about a vessel taken and burnt by a French privateer, near
Charleston. Of this he had been possessed some time, and it had been
through all the newspapers. It seemed to come in now apropos for
spurring on the disposition to arm. However, the question has not come
on. In the mean time the general spirit, even of the merchants, is
becoming adverse to it. In New Hampshire and Rhode Island they are
unanimously against arming; so in Baltimore. This place is becoming more
so. Boston divided and desponding. I know nothing of New York; but I
think there is no danger of the question being carried, unless something
favorable to it is received from our Envoys. From them we hear nothing.
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