The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-05-01

:
From the N Y. Evening Post of Thursday
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTA-
TlVES ON TIE MURDER OF MR..
CiLLEY.
The following very interesting letter from
friend st Washington has been received
by this mornins's mail.
WAsnlNGTor, April "a, 1888.
The Reports Of the Duel Committee.
thoseh brought in on Saturday, have not
yet been permitted to SEQ the light. A
brief account Of their contents, in advance
of their publication, will, however, I pre-.
sumo, be acceptable to you. There are
not less than three reports, that of the ma
jority (Messrs. Toucey, Potter, Bruyn, ant
Grsntlend), thnt Of the minority (Messrs
Rlrdan and GrcnuelD, aud separate
statements of views by Mr.. Elmore. This
diversity arises rather out of the question
of the proper scope of the inquiry and the
right of the committee to recommend any
penal action upon the parties, involved,
than from much material diversity of opn-
ion as to the character OF the affair and the
conduct of the respective actors in il. The
misori,y make hut Que alusion 10 this point
of view of the matter, in paragraph in
which they express the opinion that they
do not fully concur ia the mode Of stating
The facts and deduciDg conclusions adopted
by the majority, undue prominence being
given 10 some portions of the evidence, aud
Others being Inadvertently thrown into the
shade" They, however, leave the whole
matter TO the judgment of those by whom
Mi are in the end to be tried and Judged,
and address themselves mainly to the ques-
tian of the proprie,y of the recommendation
of the majority. The report of the latter is
a clear, manly and nnanswerable produc-
lion. i! recites all tie material facts and
as established by the nc
companying body Of evidence analyses
The causes of The death of Mr.. Ciley, which
it thus sums up:
"Ths Committee have therefore come
10 the conclusion that the words spoken by
sir. Cilley in debate, in the House of Rep
the refusal of Mr.. Ciley to re-
,e,ve demand for explanation of those
words, and his refusal to assign any other
'eason for it than that he chose TO be drawn
nto no d fliculty upon the subject, were the
;auses which led to the death of Mr.. Cilley,
inder the circumstances which have been
substantially detailed"
Then proceeding to discuss the question
pf privilege, they conclude with the resolu-
ion With which you have already become |
acquainted through the Globe. Ia recon-
the censurc of the two seconds a |
marked distinction is drawn in the rcpor,
between the two. that Of Mr.. Jones being
evidently mere matter of form, as having
been involved IN the breach OF privilege, !
chile that Of Mr.. Wise is expressed as " de-
;ided censure," he being spoken of as
. deeply involved, under the circumstances
which this case presents" us having been
early consulted" and MS /" advising and in
'lsting that the 6ght should 20 on until Mr..
Cilley FELL"
In taking the evidence, the committee
adopted the mode of calling upon the par
'es presumed to be able TO testify, by |
general interrogatory, TO elicit full gene.
raj statement of all the facts within their
knowledge. They then furnished copie,
VI 'nc several answers to the different par
ties IN The affair. upon which each should
eaarsss to auy Of the others whatever cross
~, they might think proper.
ne committee itself also addressed ques-
u"ns 10 she witnesses. The cross examinn-
ions generally took place face to face.
:""usn s'' the proceedings were conducted
E.g. r. w'"'og. The cross questions by Mr..
u,sves' were put by Mr.. Menefe.. in his
sIIsn: Inc result is q pretty yoluminous
"'oy re . evidence rs may we'll he imagined.
:, "e as'ement published by Mr. Wise.
IN Iln nddfces to his constituent. v;u -.