Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-11-23

ShdricS SoiusDOrouSu .ati
Blank Baitots qnn2
What followed is copied in the word. of the
National lntelligencer of May 90, 1900, viz;
"Mr. Varnum having GO votes, il was submit
ted to the decision of the House, by the tellers
whether the blank ballots could be considered
as rotes-if not, there being but 10 votes, Mr..
Varnum, having GO, had maiority''
After considerable debate.
"Mr. Randolph moved that the House proceed
to ballot u second time for Speaker
"The Clerk having put the question, it was
CARRIED, ca to 49,"
ron the second ballot, Mr.. Macon having per-
emptorily refused to serve, Mr.. Varnurn re-
ceived Go votes, and was declared to be duly
elected.
From the albany Daily .4drer,iser Of Monday.
CONTEMPT.
Considerable excitement has been created by
the proceedings of the Assembly wink: -. So
cfei session. Ihc distinguished Individual who
has been cited to appear before that body to-
morrow, acted but as counsel for CALDWELL; but
1t appears that the n,liscreetness of his client
mas placed HIM IN an unpleasant situation.
I +" neither the doctrine Of contempt can be pro.
periy applied TO him, under the circumstances of
tue case, we much doubt. Il is left for the pub
Inc to Judge " neither the reasoning of the letter
De opposite or not. We trust that the gentle
uity due To himself and the profession of which
ne Is an ornament, in sustaining the rights OF
counsel
| Arranging persons for contempt mas be well
Siongh IN country where monarchy or oIigar-
ch! prevails; but fOr part we have ever
doubted the pro2reiy ofcngraiiipg II into our
system OF government; espcciall. as applicable
to words spoken or written onI. In the pre-
sent case, there is no threat calculated to over
awe Tie deliberations of legislative body. 1t is
4 mere expression ni opinion to the purity of
the legislature. That bois may be inrnac uiate
-and.tor aught we lSnoy is-hut then every
man has an undoubtcl right to Judge for himself,
ana for ms opinion i:c is responsible 10
or body of men.
Suppose man should say that the State of
New York was cursed with . corrupt legisla-
tuFe would snch an assertion subject him to ar
rest for contempt We are no lawyers, but the
law OF common sense teaches us that no man
ought to be harrassed for an expression of his
opinhon-!t is our boast that our gov ernmcnt is
one OF reason rather than one of written laws:
and public opinion will always sustain the cha
ractor OF our legislative bodies so long as their
proceedings are calculated to proinoi G the pub
TIC good rs Tor ourselves shall fearicssly
express our sentiments upon every circumstance
that may arise III this unpleasant controversy
Tie Secret Session.-On Friday, after the
preliminary proceedings of the day, Mr.. Tiilot-
son, chairman of the committee appointed TO in
vesligatc the charges of corruption in obtaining
the charter of the chemical bank. rose and in
formed the house that he had n communication
to make ofsuch nature that il might be pro-
per TO have the ga!laries aad Iobbies cleared
previous to making it.-After some consulate
on, n motion was made for the house to sit with
closed doors AMI carried. The Injunction of
secrecy has since been removed, and we learn
that the communication which Mr.. 'Tilio:son had
to make was a letter from WIN. J. Caldwell.
declining to appear before the comnittee-The
letter contained aspersions upon the character
of the legislature.
II he sergeant at arms was despatched in pur-
suit of Nr. Caldwell who had left the CITY, tn
bring him before the bar ofthe House The let
ter proved to be the han l-vrtinr of judge
Spencer, and he has been summoned to anpear
before the bar ca the house, on Tuesday next. at
10 o'clock.
The fo!lowins preamble and resolutions were
adopted by the house ON Saturday.
Whereas the chairman of the committee an
pointed to enquire whether any unfair or corrupt
means were used in obtaining the charter of
the Chemical bank has received communica
ton from VIM. j. Caldwell in the words follow
ing:
ALBANY, Nov. II, 1924
Geutiemen-fa arrived i'm this CITY Yesterday |
IN obedience to summons from The chairman off
the committee appointed by the house ofassein- |
Oily to investigate the subject of the incorpora-
ton OF the Chemical bank. have asccrtainea
tony entire satisfaction that The committee have
determined to admit as witnesses the persons
implicated as parties to the corrupt means made
use OF TO procure the passage of the act moor
poratIng that bank. Indeed, am informed bv
the chairman that two of those persons have al
ready been sworn as witnesses. III appear be- |
fore the committee, beyond all doubt my-testi- |
Inony viii be at variance with that Of some Of |
the corrupt actors in that scend and it will be |
essentially necessary, as well to the corrobora
ton o.ny evidence, also to fix the CHARGE on /
these corrupt actors. that witnesses should be |
from remote parts ofthe state. When
i is considered that the present legislature must
ADJOURN in few days, am decidedly of opini-
On, and in that am confirmed by my counsel
we're the committee disposed to make thorough
nvestigatioD, the short space oftime allowed for
VIII not admit of such investigation, will not
iIsgursc the fact, that public confidence in thel
purity OF the present legislature is so impaired
nat II is unfit, III the opinion not ONLY of myself
but my counsel, that such an important ,noui-
ry should be conducted by them, or bv anv
raised under their authority. when
il IS considered also, that several of the NOM
bers of both houses are deeply implicated, pub
tic Justice would be better promoted by defer
ing the investigation until the meeting of the
next legislature.
owe it to myself to add, that il is my fixed
to prefer charges to the next
iouse of assembly, against several persons who
rave bad corrupt agency in procuring the
passage OF the act Incorporating the Chemical
,auk; and whatever construction may be put ON
nv declining to appear before your honourable
by those who are implicated, J beg
fenh oliryf- n SEto1t brin