Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-03-19
Hon. George POindcxtcr.
IN SENArE-MARcH I'd, 1885.

H. ---------------..------
/. In the Evening Session of this day
the following proceeding took place, II
which the Senate have Indignantly sci
the seal of reprobation, on the atrociou'
plot against the character Of MIR. Poin.
dexter, the Senator from Mississippi.
|, Mr.. Smith made the following Report;
/ The Select Committee to whom was
referred the communication of the Hon.
George Poindexter, respectfully report:
! That with an anxious desire TO ascer-
tam the truth concerning the grave mat
lers submitted to them, they proceed to
take such testimony as they considered
calculated to elucidate the facts; and,
having carefully examined the same,
submit the following report, as the result
of their invcstig alton; and it gives them
grent pleasure to say, that in every fact
and conclusion hereinafter set forth, the
Committee was unanimous.
|, AT the first meeting of the Committee,
Mr.. Tyler and Mr.. Wright were ap-
pointed subcommittee to wait upon the
President, and respectfully request him
to furnish the affidavits of Mordecai
Foy and David Stewart; together with
any information in his possession, rsla-
tive to the subject-matter Of inquiry.
/ These gentlemen made written re-
port to the Committee Of their interview
with the President. See Doc. A. -
They also obtained the original ailida-
Wits Of Foy and Stewart, copies OF which,
marked B. and c., are hereto annexed.
The Committee readily unite in the
declaration, that the testimony taken be-
fore them, as far as it is applicable, fully
sustained the President in the statement
which he made to the b-committee +;
nor does il in any way appear, from any
evidence before the Committee, that the
President had any connexion with this
affair, directly or indirectly, other than
that which he himself has avowed. The
Committee will 60 even farther, and say
that, considering the situation OF hazart
and danger, in which he had been plac'
ed, by the attempt Of Lawrence upon his
life, il was but natural that the Presi-
dent should desire to have the whole
matter explored. But the Committee,
while they use this declaration, as due
to impartial Justice, will not withhold the
expression of their repugnance, at the
course of those who have gathered a
round him (ns if for no other purpose
than TO advance their own selfish views
TO give to his feelings and his judgment,
false direction.
The Committee arc fully satisfied that
the design and tendency of the publica-
ton of the said aflidavits, was to fix up
on the Hon. George Poindexter, "rhe
most infamous of all crimes, that of hav-
ipa been accessory before the fact, to
an attempt to take the life of the Ch'ei
Magistrate, by the hand of an assassin
i, Alter thorough investigation OF the
whole case, the Committee find that the
charge rests solely upon the evidence Of
said Mordecai Foy and David Stewart
/ Foy, in his affidavit, states that he
has seen Richard Lawrence 60 into 10.
vernon Poindexter's dwelling-house, and
return at different times; particularly on
the Tuesday previous to his attempt tc
assassinate the President.
Stewart states, in his anidavits, that
about the last of December, 1884, or the
lst of January, 1885, he saw Richard
/ Lawrence 60 into the dwelling house o
:. Senator PoindeXter, on -Four and Hal
street, and that on Tuesday, before thu
attempt to assassnate the President o
the u nted States, he saw the said Pom
dexter ard said Lawrence in the pas
sare of said house, in conversation.
The Committee are Of opinion tina
the statements contained d in the iorego
ing ailidavi,s, are the only material one
gong, in any respect, to imp'lca,e Ho
vernon Poindexter in the criminal con
duct of said Lawrence.
E Ii is principle of law commenting II
. self to the mind Of every one, that lac
: from which an inference of guilt is to b.
t made, must first be established by com
: :. peteut testimony; and that the fact, t,whc
thus established, must be lrreconcilaol
:: with the innocence Of the accused.
The Committee proceeded to exam
+ inc said Foy, who testified that the dwe'
|, ling house of said Poindexter, adJolne
e the dwelling house Of Mr.. Frost. IL
: further stated, that he had never see
MIR. Poindexter in company with La"
renee in his life; that he had seen La"
renee 90 into the house Of said Eros
three or four times; that the only time ID
ever saw said Lawrence enter the nous
!. Of Governor Poindexter, was on III
!. Tuesday previous TO his attempt TO al
,f sassinate the President, between an
h 9 9o'clock, A. NJ; that he did not sc