Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-12-23
Twenty-First Congress I'D Session
MONDAY, DECEMBER 90, 1880
IN SENATE

MONDAY, DECEMBER 90, 1880.
IN SENATE
Mr. Livingston of Louisiana, and Mr. Tazewe;l
Of Virginia, appeared this day. and took their seats
a special report. made in obedience to a resolution
passed by the Senate at the last session. was received
from the Secretary Of thu Treasury referred to the
Committee on Finance. and ordered to b. printed.
Petit ions Of private nature were presented bv Mr.
Si','e e Mr.. Hendricks Mr.. Livingston. Mr. Tyler
AIR. King. and NJ. Woodbury., and referred to the
| appropriate Commuters
| Mr.. Sanford presented memorial from Richard
Ward, of New York stating that he adj obtained a
patent for the invention of peculiar description Of
railways. useful for the purpose of hauling up vessels
for repair, and offering to dispose oft Government
for the use OF the Navy. The memorial was refer
red to the Committee on Naval Affairs
| Mr.. Barton presented memorial from sunIrv citi-
Of Missouri. praying thar certain public lands
in that S'a'e may be brought into The ma,krt which
WA referred to tho Committee on Public Lands
The resolution of Mr. White. relative to donations
OF public lands to the Institutions for ,nsructing the
Deaf aud Dumb: the resolution OF Mr. Sprapue con.
corning the duties and fees Of American Consuls IN
foreign Countries; the resolution Of Mr. Baker
touching the Northern Boundary lice OF the Safe nj
Illinois aud the improvement Of the past route from
New Albany To ST Louis; aud the resolution Of Mr.
Hendricks, relative to the establishment of
enumerated Post routes in Indiana. considered
and adopted
The bills relative to the three per cent. on public
lands in Illinois and tho surrender ola township
land in that State, together with the bill for tho TO
read n second time. and referred tn the Committee
on the Public Lands
The bill for relief of John Mccartney was read
second time, and referred to the Committee on
Claims /.
The bill for the relief of Samuel Noel wss read a
second time and referred 20 the Committee O.. Pen
sons
MOUNTED TROOPS.
The bill to authorize Tho mounting and equipm IN,
ofa part Of the army of the United States was TAX
M, and passed he Senate in Committee of the
Whole.
On the question to cugross i, for q third reading
Mr. Sprague inquired whether any information was
before the Senate i'll relation TO the amount of ex-
pense which would be incurred by he passage this
bill. or relation TO the necessity of the
Mr.. Benton said hat the bill had passed the
Senat" a. the last session. The amount of the OK
pensc stated in thu bill itself He had not dis
tinctlv hoard rho inquiries made by the gentleman
from Maine; bui he should b. happy to give any ey
plantations which might be de ired by honorable Sen
ators on the hlect.
At the suggestion Of Mr.. Holiness the biz was
again laid the table.
The bills for the relief of Ransom Mix and Ed
mund Smith, for the relief of Judah Roberts: for the
relief of Aaron Fitzgerald and for the relief of ST.
neon c. Whittier. were reada third time, and pass
cd.
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS.
On motion OF Mr. Sanford The Senate proceeded
to the consideration of Executive, business. and spent
q short time in secret sessinn
TRIAL OF JUDGE PECK
A, twelve o'clock the Senate resolved itselfinto {
Court of Impeachment for the trial Of Judge Peck O
Missouri.
1.-THE charge alleged against the Judge by the
House of Representatives has been heretofore pub
lsh"d 1t is in substance. that having published his
opinion. IN the Missouri Republican, the case n
Soulard's heirs against the Ueed States. sometime
after the adjournment Of his court, he did uniustIy
arbitrarily and oppressvely, commit Luke Edward
Lnwcss, Attorney in his court, prison for TWEEN
yfour hours, and spend him from praciice in The
said court, for eighteen months, for an alleged con
tempt in publishing. in the St Louis Enquirer, al
exposition of certain errors Of doctrine and fact
rged TO have been set forth in the opinion of thu
Judged
The House of Representatives, preceded by the
managers, Mr.. Buchanan. Mr. M.DufHe, Judge
Spencer Mr.. Storts. and Mr.. Wickl'h'e. came int,
the Senate Chamber in body and having taker
the seats prepared for them,
NJ. Buchanan rose md said. that the manager
on the part of the House of Representa- ives were
now prepared 10 proceed in this trial
Mr.. Meredith, one Of the counsel for the respon
dent. desired that the witnesses summoned in bis be
half might be called
The Marshal a,.ordngiy called over their nain.s
Some OF thec. did not answer.
MIR. Meredith observed, that three Of the matoria
witnesses for the respondent were not present. w,
are. said he not withstnndng ready to 20 to trial
Mr.. McDntfie rose to open the fo the prose-
cntlon He maintained that Judge Peck had baen
guilty Of an Illegal and tyanncal usurpation Of pow.
or; that no contempt had been committed iIy
Mr.. I.awless; that The Inv of En-.
gland such, under which tho Judge had
punished him. unknown To the inI ciaI
tribunals of the United States, except as rules OF
proceeding end action; that punishment could bn
inflicted for coniempls committed any where but IN
The face OF tho court, or ~ tho immediate aud direct
obstruction of the regular and fair administration OF
Justice; that according 10 the law of Enrond as laid
down by her elementary writers q iudcIol opinion ia
fair snhlcct Of discussion and nnimadver.nn: that
the power 10 punish for contempt even in cases of
necessity, was despotic power an anomaly in our
Government; dangerous. founded upon the iyTant's
plea, nnd utterly incompatible with liberty; tina, il,
should never be exercised but unde, the pressure of
necessity, to prevent interference in tho adminisrn
ton ~ justice; and that the oct Of Judge Peck was
inc very luSro,lon Of despotism lie made the Ia w.
hxed the punishment, md carried It into effect A.
the same time. VI Med. continued To- address the
court until three o'clock Before he concluded his
speech
till " o'clock Tomorrow
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE