Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-03-21

OF The dates referred TO- The examination terminated
the total overthrow Of the charges and however unoundet
and unworthy of notice they have been shown be- the
mttee beeye service has been rendered to the institutions
of county, and TO the decenes and hospitality Of private
life in exposing them To the contempt they merit.
The committee con6ne themselves, in this report, to the
results established by the testimony, which they unani-
mously The testimony itself set out in the minutes
of the proceedings and the committee have to say that all the
witnesses summoned before them testified readily and frankly
Except one, Mr. G. T. M. Davis who had acknowledged
himself BE- the writer of the extract of letter copied into
the Daily Times from the Missouri Republican, and charging
corruption and British collision Senators and Representa-
tives. Alter naming Senator being alluded to in the
charge and admitting that be had personal knowledge Of
its truth, he refused go with his testimony unless allowed
10 repeat the heasay Of person whom he refused to
name, and he also refused TO sign his deposition
written down by HIMSELF and in which suggest
ed This individual notified to attend this day, that the
Senate, fit might take order with respect to
hm but the committee propose nothing believing that the
ncaon of the Senator named from the charge made against
him. and all the ends Of justice, will be fully accomplished by
publication Of the accusers own testimony, as far as
went
the Times Mr H. H. Robnson) declared thnt he the
writer of all the articles referred his paper, except the
quoted from the Missouri Republican, and that he has
personal knowledge Of the truth Of any thing he wrote
in the said articles.
In execution of that part of their duty, under the enate
order, which required the committee report what mea
proper for the vndcaon of the honor and charac
ter Of the Senate, they believe to be sufficient in this
the printing Of this report and of all the tes
mony taken by the committee, and that the editor and the
publisher Of the Times Mr. H. H. Robinson and Mr. J. E.
Dow and their reporters be excluded from the gallery Of the
Senate Reporters
The question being on concurring in the report
Mr.. TURNEY and said that, being member Of the
committee, might be proper for him to say that he entirely
concued in the report As far the testimony went the
charges had established the contrary appear
ed that the calumny wholly without foundation.
Mr. DICKINSON remarked that occupying the position ne
did in regard to Oregon would not be supposed that ne had
pfluU
regard matter Of sufficient importance to claim the
serious attention of the Senate yet an investigation having
taken place. he deemed his duty say that the evidence
given before the committee did mpicae single Senator
the degree The report therefore correct and
though had not been signed by all the members Of the COM
mittee he believed it might be considered unanimous
port But i'm reference the excluding Of the Editors and
Reporters Of the Daily Times though he would not oppose
the will of the Senae it the Of that body that
they should be excluded the occupation OF seats in the
Reporters gallery yet be would say this much in regard to
gentlemen (or they had given their evidence in
Exceedingly courteous and gentemaniy manner before the
committee that he believed them to have been the victims of
imposition rather than having any intention to SANDER the
Senate.
II was time of considerable public excitement and what
they had written written ashy, hastily, Improperly, and
without the support of authority proof but in his view of
the matter this was not the proper way TO correct ne errors
Of the press and unless the Senate deemed to
vndcatc its dignity, he thought that should have been
passed by entirely unnoccd In making these observations
did wish be understood going against the sense Of
the Senate but he ddno think any thing to be gained
by attempting eer the freedom Of the Besides, by
refusing these gentlemen seats in the Reporters gallery,
they would be excluded from the Senate They would still
To the gallery appropriated TO the Of the PUBLIC
SENATORS wers al ali fines liable 10 have their
their actions msrepresented And what the remedy
Ought they undertake to exclude every individual who thus
mimeprcsented them No. Inc psess ougn1
to be left free as air. No slain by paper bull
let unless he discharged il himself An individual might be
placed in false light for time, but would be eventually
weighed even balances. Abuse, SANDER, vtuperation
might for time overflow their natural boundaries and OBJ
those who happened TO stand in the way Of the filthy
stream but after while would its natural channel
He would give entire freedom he had his choice he
would place restrictions upon it. He would allow any
individual who chose the galleries. and If he thought
proper libel the American Senate he would leave him to
the ordeal Of public opinion With regard TO the present
case would repeat that he regarded these victims of
imposition rather than malicious sanderers and he took
very great pleasure saying that every member OF that body
had been fully indicated from the asperons cast upon him.
Mr. JARNAGIN and observed that, being the chair
of select committee, would naturally have devoved
upon him make the report but he most unexpectedly found
his among those who called upon to testify
The honorable Senator from Missouri had therefore taken
his place and dughted the report Hewoud also take occa
say while he up that other Senators whose
placed connexion with his own, would be somewhat
surprised, perhaps finding themselves referred to wit
He found by statement presented by the editor OF
the Times that he expected prove his allegations by
tain Senators, whose he appended The committee,
however, did think proper inform those gentlemen that
they about have the distinction Of appearing
to he witnesses to give evidence of the conspiracy
Mr.. BERRIEN said he heard, with great regrct-and the
more SO from the fact that the Senator from New York (Mr
DIcKINsos) himself member Of the select committee
he heard he sad with great regret the expression Of his opn
ion that the authors and publishers Of the libel upon the Senate
Of the United States the victims Of imposition. He in
qured Of the Senator whether he had understood him
rectly
Mr.. DICKINSON replied that he had said, in connexon
with other matters he regarded those gentlemen
victims Of imposition than being guided by malicious nen
tion and he thought careful attention to the circumstances
Of the would bear him out in that conclusion He had
intention Of defending them he thought they
ceedngy in fault They had done wrong publishing the
statements they did without evidence but from what
ton he had given the case he believed that their fault lay
in listening to suggestions to which they should not have
listened
Mr. BERRIEN said he did for the purpose OF
teng into any discussion with the Senator to the correct
ed the authors publishers Of the caIumny but he to
express and he begged repeat the expression Of his
unaffected surprise that member Of that body and member
of the committee who concurred in the report which had Just
been read should here intimate the belief that the publishers
of that paper victims Of imposition. BY whom
they imposed The report in which the Senator
red informed them that they called upon the
sources whence their information derived and that ample
opportunity was given them explain whether they had been
imposed on and if so, how and by whom and the report
further informed the Senate that having awaited themselves Of
the privilege of designating the OF their niormaton
they in each and every instance contradcted by the
persons whom they referred He paused then TO IN
aure how il was that the face Of that report any Senator
and especially member Of the committee could IN the face
of the American Senate affirm his belief that the men who
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