Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-06-07
Kedaesday, Jane |, 1886.

A message was received from the President Of the U.
States, with large masses of documents excupatory OF
the official conduct OF Jnhn F. Curre and Samuel Gwn,
T. S. officers, in connection with the public lands, and
charged with fraudulent practices in relation to the pub.
lie lands Ivy evidence under OATH collected under
the authority Of the Senate by the Committee on the
Public Lands.
Mr.. Benton, after endeavoring to sustain a charge
against the Srnu,e of injustice and OPPRESSION moved
the printing of the documents.
Mr. Calhoun objected to printing the documents with
out knowing what they contained The investigation
had been yet only begun. The conflicting evidence had
not been compared, and the Senate knew nothing of
great portion Of it. He moved 10 refer the subject and
| The documents to the Committee on the Public Lands
Mr.. Ewing Of Ohio, objected to The reference, on ac
count as was understood, of the length Of lime which
EensPEsd ana the labor and difficulty OF copet
. MR. r. Tenon would have the character of no citizen
Mr. King, Of XaS Ct COMMITTEE of the Senate Is
mittee on the Public Lands, for the purpose Of detect
ing frauds the public lands and proposition which
had been offered and rejected that the power Of the
Committee should be restricted, and that they should
give persons implicated in frauds opportunity to de-
lend themselves before the Committee. He read the
names of Senators who voted that proposition, and
condemned its rejection as unjustifabe.
Mr. Porter said the proceedings Of the Senate ut that
thine merely nitiatory. They engaged in de-
,ectng Frauds not in trying the criminals. Was
the practice to notice to dellnquents that search
making after hem' At the most the Senate doing
and not pronounclng final sentence.
Mr.. Calhoun expressed his regret that the Chairman
Of the Committee the Public Lands, (Alr Ewing)
had objected to going on with this investigation. The
evidence had not yet been thoroughly examined IF the
former Chairman Of the Committee the Public Lands
(Mr. Poindcxter) had collected only expartc evidence
as had been here just charged upon him crime, the
President the other hand if following this alleged
criminal example, had collected e1-pate evidence on
the other side, duplicating crminay the character and
conduct Of Mr.. Pondrx:er, without giving him any
tice Of what doing against him. This ex.pare evil
Sence had been sent to the Senate by the Presi-
tccnt, and Senators charging Mr.. Pondexter with
rerminal exparte acts with which they themselves
a't'is moment committing against MIR. Poindexer.-
Criminal charges here brought against him in
his absence. Had he received any notice that would
enable him deEend hmsetf3 MIR. e. thought the Sen.
ate ought to 20 through with this examinations and if
Mr. Poindexter had been guilty, let him suffer accord
ingly; but if not this body in justice bound to de-
fend the character of one who had acted the part Of
bold, honorable, and high minded Senator.
The debate farther continued by Messrs. Shepley,
Mangum, Benton. Ewing of Ohio, Grundy, Prcniss,
Walker, Southland Niles and White.
MI Leigh called for the reading Of documents. but
withdrew his call Observing the alarm Of the Senate
and the enormous magnitude OF the Document, (Mr.
Gwn's)
Mr.. Calhoun moved to refer the motion to print, to-
getler with the documents 80 the Committee on the
Public Lands.
After some farther remarks from Messrs. Wall, Wal
ker. Brown, Preston, Calhoun, and King, of Alabama,
for examination before taking the question to print
which motion decided in the negative by yeas and
nays, on the call of Mr.. Walker, as follows
Kcas-hessrs. Black, Calhoun, Crt,enden, Ewing of
Ohio, Godsberousi, Kent King Of Alabama, Leigh,
Mangam, Porter, Prentss, Preston, Southland, Tomn.
son and White-l5.
-hass-Mes6r Benton, Brown Buchanan, Cuthbert
Ewing of Ill.,, Grundy, HenJsicks, Hubbard, King of
g.ss, Shcpley, Tamadge Walker, WALL Wrighl-aO.e
Mr.. Ewing called for the reading of the document
thuthe might know something Of before voting the
printing.
The reading Of the "brief abstract" vas begun
Mr.. Calhoun moved again bay it on the table, which
motion did not prevail.
The Senate then adjourned, by vote Of l6 10 ID.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The House insisted its disag 10 the amend
men made to the bin to carry into effect the convention
with Spain and, on motion of DIR. Adams, Committee
OF Conference appointed.
Mr. Hester asked the consent OF the House to permit
INN to offer joint resolution fixing the adjournment of
Congress.
Objections having been made Mr.. Holster moved to
suspend the rule 10 enable him offer the resolution,
u 70 lake up the resolution from the Senate the
same a subject and asked for the yeas and nays, which
were not ordered. - 49, 90
Mr.. Halves moved 70 l,v tho motion ., .,.,ona an
the table :" 10y LIE "'ouo" 70 Suspe"u y"
r i'aynes asked for TIE yeas and nays, which were
o'sste ~ ana were-yeas 81 nays 90.
on the table, was ncgat:ved '''o 'N'o T
Inc question reeaered on the motion to susnend tbe
rule: Lost-ayes "a, noes 81, (not two.lhrds ''e
MI. Hunt. of New York, asked the consen, IF tho
House TO make an explanation in regard to certain
statement which had been published afec;ino his cL
racter as member Of this House
Objections having been made, Mr.. Fl. moved sus
pension Of the rule
Mr. Hardin said that he had also brief explanation
to make In the &c Congressional Globe" his name
was put down voting in apor of the power of Con-
yress to enancpate slaves in the States when in fact
Ind In TRUTH he had all occasions voted the other
way. :
Alter Some deanltorr cnuuersation IL. Patla. aanaa |