Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-11-23

luS sbsuCusosC PoSS"Sc VI Oiti lot the CUOtCt II
of electors By districts. IL the latter was ably
advocated by Messrs. Wheeler, Ogden, and
Cramer, the report Of the committee was not
less ably supported by nlessrs. Wright, Su
dam. and Bovine. As 10 the two questions,
whichever shall receive the prrferene. Of the
two houses, we shall be satisfied with. 1t is
not very material which. We are persuaded
that the people require change of some sort
and that they prefer district bill as more
Democratic, and AS bringing the elections more
immediately within the scope and knowledge
ottlie electors. But it may he MS well, per-
haps. I" knotr, as 10 assume, the wishes of the |
peupl. in this respect, and, the more so, he
cause the tune occupied in obtaining such an
expression as will give stability Ia a law, could
not. in any event, interfere with the passage
ut II law IN SEASON for the practical application
Of 1t at another election. We presume the
committee ut the assembly tn whom it was
referred will report in the course Ut to-day or
TO morrow. .Agus.
II will be perceived by the fpllo wing pro-
ccedmg,, that the ticket friendly TO Mr.. Craw-
ford, with the exception of seven names
which were placed mponit, has bren left in
| minority; and that if the two houses concur
IN the opiniun that The blanks can not he con-
sidrrcd AS votes. that 81 electors are chosen.
Should this be the determination, thu two
houses will probably meet again to-day, and
ballot inr the remainder. In our next paper,
after the heat aud excitement of the occasion
have passed by, we shall not only give the & :
nal result but shalt notice some of the eau
| ses which have tended to produce il. We
shall At least rndeavor TO Civ. a brief hut can
did and impartial view OF the transactions of
yesterday; in order to correct the misrrpre-
| -en'at,ons winch. Judging from previous cases,
VIII br industriou-iy propagatpd. TiB
THE IMPORTANT PROCEEDINGS OF
| YESTERDAY.
! Yesterday, Immediately after the reading of
the minutes, the following communication
from The hon. Ambrose Spencer, was received
and read:
Albany, Ner. rs, 1894.
! SfU-I have received IA copy of "A resoI,-
ton OF the honorable the assembly, requiring
| me II appear at TIE bar of the house on
Fuesday next. at 2 O'Clock. The ground of
This requlsiiion wou!d seen to be, that com.
munication from William j Caldwell tn the
chalrn'an of the committee appointed 10 en-
| lnire whether any unfair ar corrupt means
were used In obtaining the charter of the
chemical Bank, was IN my hand writing. 10
drafting that letter | acted as the counsel of
| Mr.. Caldwell, and whilst ran not consent tn
b" held amenab!e TO any tribunal fur advice
gwen IN good faith 10 client, am free to
declare that 1t was mt my intention to chars.
ar insnuale that ihe preseut house of assem-
| by, or any ut us members, were corrupt II
the house have inferred from the fact that the
letter presented 10 The chairmao of the COM
m;tte-, WIS IN my hand writing that ] meant
To go beyond the strict line If my duty a.
COUNSEL, and embark personally in fhe qurs-
ton, they have formed an erroneous opinion.
oweitto myself as well as Ia your honora-
BILE house. 10 declare, that did not expect or
intend that the letter which drafted as coun-
sci, would have been sent TO the committees or
made public. l have therefore neither as
sented to, or had any agency, whatever, in the
publication of that letter. and | disclaim all
personal knowledge IF the facts stated in il,
aS they were derived entirely from my ellen l.,
| feel myself incapable of offering prcmedi
| fated insult TO any branch of the government.
ana none was Intended on my part by The
manner in which Mr.. Caldwelrs views were
committed TO paper, and mast say that in
my Judgment, have not transcended the du-
ties RESULTING from my relation to MIR. CaId-
well AS his counsel.
| trust this frank explanation viii be deem-
ed satisfactory To the house.
Respectfully, your obj scr,t.
A. SPENCER.
Han Richard GooceiI, Speaker Of the AS
srmby.
On motion Of Mr. Crolius, the communica-
|
Mr.. Speaker announced the return of The
warrant committed to the sergeant. at arms,
for the apprehension Of w illian j. Caldwell,
and that the said Caldwell was in the custod v
OF the house.
After some conversation Mr.. Ta.lmadce
stated that he thought the proper course to
+ pursue was 10 hold the person in custody, for
an examination Of the alleged contempt, that
'nterroganries be prepared and that the com
mission and return be referred to the com.
mitfee of which Mr.. Crazy is chairman, 10
prepare such lnterrOgatories and proceedings.
Nlr. Siilwell moved that the communication
from Mr.. Spencer be referred 10 the same
CO mmi,'.e.
Mr.. Tsllmadge offered the following resolu-
ton:
Il Resofred, That the order requiring the per-
sonal attendance of Ambrose Spencer, at the
bar OF this house on Tuesday next, be and is
! hereby rescinded.
Mr.. Th'lmadge considered the letter as suf
hcient; and that M personal disrespect was
intended. With these impre ssions, he baIiey-
ed the house would concur in Resembling the
resolution.
1 Mr.. Stilwr called for the reading of the
letter signed by Caldwell. II was his ippres
SION that An opinion was not only expressed
by the signer, but by the counsel.
IL having been read,
Mr.. StiIwell renewed his motion to refer
the letter of Mr. Spencer 10 the select com.
Ditiee.
hIr. FIagg said that when the subject was
under consideration in the secret session. he
had then said that he did not believe that MIR.
Spencer would knowingly and willingly com
) nit gross conts,Dpi upnn the character of
of far nf fh.f