The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-04-22
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In this same investigation, (page 4l6, House
Jour. I'd SEES, 24h Congress) Mr.; Fairfield.
member OF the committee, testneu' ,hat tneIe
was " a rule OF the committee that all questl9ns
should be reduced TO writing, ana PlSpou"uJu
through the chairman, TO witness, III not %,
iected 10 by member ct the committee; ana
that oil ans,cers of wi,ness should be returned
through the same channel
Mr. Bell the present eminent Senator from
Tennessee doubtless remembers that being sum-
moned as a witness before Mr.. Wise's commit
tee above mentioned, he was permitted 10 give
his testimony In writing; lie VIII proeaoly re-
collect il, from the fact that portion OF his evil
dence, written on detached slip of paper, was
accidentally omitted by the person who copied
the manuscript for the press.
could cite number of additional cases; but
the foregoing are quite sufficient 10 show thai
this right, which was denied to me, has been
generally, IT not invariably, granted to witnesses
under similar circumstances.
Thus f ding myself before a secret tribunal
alone, without the aid OF counsel, examined for
a purpose of which was not acquainted-retus'
ed the smallest CLEAN of information necessary
for my gu'dauce-opposed TO men learned In the
law called upon TO make replies, any one
of winch might subject me to punishment,
as for contempt -den,ed hose meanso of guarding
against mistake winch had never before
been refused in like cases-lsoiated from al
those fostering defences which the constitution
and the laws sh ould raise up around every clt-
zen, against ruthless violence and oppression,
demanded that at least | might be permitted 10
act as my own counsel; and my application was
refused ! asked that my right should he recog'
nlzed to interrogate the Senate as to what they
meant 10 elicit by such questions as might ex-
cept TO /; this right Was not Recognized. why
should this privilege be withheld from me;
which would have been accorded TO my counsel
for my benefit, if had been defended by coun-
sell SO far was this privilege from being &C.
corded, however, that was not permittr to ut.
ter d word which was not recorded as part OF my
answers? Has the Senate any palllauon tor this
most oppressive course What crime had com,
mitted 7 The worst offence charged was refusal
TO answer questions put by committees OF the
Senate, which refusal was sustained by the com
mlttee themselves, all the members OF which
were men of consummate legal ability. Was
this justification tor my torclble arrest and de-
tention, and for dragging me before the bar OF a
secret tribunal, VIII ere looked upon no face but
those of my judges and their officials! Was this
provocation for battering down with furious vlo-
lence, the weak munlmeuts OF law, which, IN
haste, had snatched 10 for my defence, and
placing me In the arena, unarmed, defenceless,
ton to the assaults of men powerful and cum
ming of fence, and whose customary acuteness
was sharprned by their animosity
And again ask, where. during this small cru
SADIE, were the Senators from New York When
this most unmauly and foul game was being play
ed what was the beari OF those on whose supper!
had naturally claim I? Did they denounce
this unwarrantabe assault on the constitutional
rights OF the citizen Alas not SO. One SAT
silent, and the other did not sit at all. He fled
Will they attempt to Justify the course OF the
Senate! and If they will not, can they justify
Their own tame acquiescence! GALvlENsIs.