The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-03-19
LOOK no THE sEYATE .


we are now, with the following repurt of the
COMMITTEE, appointed to investigate the charges
made against the Senate by The Times news
| paper, published by Jesse f. Do,c. and edited by
H. III. ho6ntson, who, to the very last, declared
mat II they were allowed to introduce their
witnesses, they would substantiate every charge
they had made. Well they had every oppor-
| tunty presented, and our establishment is excited
To md every one of those witnesses tesiifying
aga'hst 'hem, and the whole showing, most, con
clusvely, that there was not the most remote
shadow OF foundation for the base libel uttered,
that held men in amazement at the stupendous
crime charged. Our delight is the natural re
suit OF that establishment, to see that high ard
honorable body so perfectly cleared of even the
most distant suspicion of wrong. The report is
full. perfect and satisfactory, and which will no
doubt, be read by every American patriot, with as
much pleasure as we take in laying it before our
readers.
In SENATE, March 16, 1876.
Mr.. Benton. from the special committee an
puih'eu 10 inquire into and report what measures
II any, are proper 10 vindicae the character and
! honor of the Senate against the CHARGES of cor
rnption published in a newspaper printed in this
city called the Daily Tmes,'' on the 5tb. 9th
loth' and llth instant, with power to send for
persons and papers, submitted the following re-
port; which was read by Mr. Benton. and con-
Cured in:
The committee appointed to inquire and report
What measures, 1t any, are proper to vindicale
the character and honor of the Senate AGAINST
the charges OF corruption published in news.
paper printed In Washington city, called the
'tF,aC = E.
Ilth instant, with power To examine Witnesses
and TO send for persons and papers-REPoRT.
That, in entering upon the execution of their
duties as prescribed in the order of their appoint
ment, the committee believed that their re-
searches were To he directed to the truth of the
charges oi corruption made in said paper, with
view to the conduct of the Senate and lis NOM
oers' and not with the view of arraigning OF pun
Ishlng the authors of the publication. Under
lhIS sense OF their duties, the committee summon
ca before them the editor of the Daily Times
newspaper MI H. III. Robinson,) and the pub
Usher. MIR. j. f.. Dow, as witnesses. wbo of
the'r own knowledge, or by giving the names of
others, might be able To prove the ALLEGED cor
ruptlon and the committee declined to act unoo
lntlmatlons that others, besides the editor and
publisher, might be found To be connected with
Inc authorship OF these publications. The in
curry IN this way, avoided all aspect of pro-
ceedIng against the authors of the notifications
and became wholly directed to the character Of
Inc Senate, as component part of our republican
institutions, and which cannot be impaired or de-
suoyed without great Injury to those institutions
lo avoid calling persons unnecessarily and i'm
properly before them, the committee requested
the editor and the publisher of the paper to state
in writing the facts they expected to prove bv
each witness, which was done and the state.
mentS thus made being copied into the minutes of
proceedings, became justification for summoninq
each witness, and also guide to his examina
ton, and gave the editor and the publisher the
benefit OF directing the inquiry 10 the points which
they deemed material
Under the general imputaion against senators
OF corrupt communications with the British min
iS'er IN relation to the settlement of the OREGON
question, the articles published in the Times CON
tanned three specifications of character sufficient
ly definite to admit of specific inquiry: and TO
the truth of these specifications, the researches
OF the committee were chiefly directed. These
specifications were: |. A dinner, or entertain
ment, at the British minister's, at which MANY
senators were said to be present. and where cor.
ruPt conversations IN relation to the Orepon oues
ton were supposed TO have been held 8 Al
meeting OF wing members in room at the Can.
itol, on the Friday before the sailing of the
steamer Cambria at which the British minister
was N"diSeu W OG present, and where ii was said
10 be agreed to have vote taken To be sent off
to Great Britain by the return of that steamer
.. An admission by Mr.. Senator John Nj. CLAW.
ton, that he was present at the British minister's
table when the strength of the British OREGON
party IN the Senate, at is was STYLED. :. ,ras
counted by their noses'
Each of these specifications were found. upon
investigation, to be utterly and entirely false
With respect TO the dinner at the British
Minister'S, and the alleged corrupt conversations
there, the editor and the publisher of the Times
paper each declared on oath that he had no ner
sonal Knowledge of any such dinner or conyerso
ton. The two persons named by them as wit
nesses having " II knolctedge" of the dinner or
entertainments, and of the conversation there held
namely, Messrs. Samuel Medary and T.. G
Inrner--swore positively that they had mn
"6no,OIedge" of any such dinner, conversation
or entertainment. There remained then no nor
sons Tor further examination on this head but rho
Senators charged with being present at the snn.
posed dinner and the editor and publisher Of the
paper having each refused to say that he expected
10 prove by any member Of the Senate anv con
veTsatIons with the British Minister of Tho char
acteT mentioned IN the publications. and having
on the contrary sworn that they did not eYpeo,
TO prove any such conversations by said Senato,,
u appeared to the Committee that there was mo
foundation for calling the said Senators. or an1 oil
them, TO testify: but it was deemed nronoy .,
make known TO the Senators ,vb,so - y, !