The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-04-20
CUSTODY OF THx SERGKANT,Ar-AkMs'
WARRINGTON, April IL. 1915.


CUSTODY OF TIM SERGEANT. Ar-AnMs
WAsHNeroS, April IL. lS4s
The object Of my two examinations before Inc
committees Of the Senate, was, os'ensioiy, 10
exoneraie, first the Senate, and afterwards Mr'
Buchanan. 1t has been seen that on Monday
March "a, there was sufficient evidence before
the Senate for both those purposes. Whatever
excuse there might have been, at first, tor insti
tutiug the investigation, that excuse h Id been
wholly swept away by my voluntary testimony.
But Mr.. Polk and his friends were not yet satis-
fed From the moment Mr. Buchanan's exonera-
ton was rendered complete, the affair assumed
the complexion Of a criminal proceeding against
me. B-fled in pursuit of the Secretary OF State.
the whole Presidential pack, s'mongrel, whelp,
and bound" united in an effort to hunt down an
humble citizen; and majority of the Senate
suffered themselves to be tricked by their preju-
dices and their fears into shameless and indie
cent crusade against private individual-a vio-
lation of personal liberty, so foul and ndefensi-
BILE that they were Obliged to instruct their
counsel TO cite, as precedent for the out
rage, the celebrated case OF Duane, which is
as odious in this country as is the notor-
Gus Shaftesbury case in England Indeed, so
monstrous did the assumption of power by
the Senate appear, as asserted in the arrest of Mr.
Duane. that the people of Philadelphia Assem-
bled in mass meeting to denounce the usurps-
ton, and in every State Of the Union the con.
duet of the Senate was censured in tones of loud
and indignant menace; and yet the case of Mr.
Duane presents no such odious features as does
the present.
The debates in secret session on Monday,
Tuesday, and Wednesday, the 9th, 2Sh, and
29th March, desire to see before / comment
upon. 1t may be that the Senate will not ven
ture to remove from them the seal OF secresy. as
they are absolutely revolving, from the furious
mallgnancy stamped upon every detail. In that
case, will myself publish and comment upon
them at length
On Thursday morning. at 9 o'clock, was ar
rested while at breakfast, and conveyed to
room in the capitol, where was confined until
haf-past two. was then conducted to the bar
of the Senate, and was Immediately addressed
by the Vice President nearly in the following
words
"Mr. Nugent-I am directed by the Senate to
put to you thu following interrogatores." The
Vice President proceeding to Inierrogate me,
stated had protest TO hand in, which was
read, and, on motion ofMr. Mangum, laid on
the table My demand that the Senate should
decide viua poce on each of the points of law
raised in the protest, was refused. l then asked
to he informed
First BY what authority of law was arrest
ed and brought before that bar.
Secondly: In what capacity should consider
myself as appearing before that bar.
Thirdly: II was to consider myself as ap-
pearing before judicial tribunal, asked that
might be furnished with copy of the rules of
the court.
No information could I obtain, however. The
Senate refused even to spread my application on
the record, and l was told my examination
should proceed. l was in the act of writing
down my answer to the first question, when, on
motion of Mr. Reverdy Johnson, who acted as
prosecuting attorney on the occasion, / was re-
moved from the bar. Upon being again conduct
ed before the Senate, was required to Law my
hand on the Testament, whilst the Vice Presi
dent proposed to me, by direction OF the Senate.
a certain form Of oath To this first oath, which
the Senate wished to force upon me. ask par
ticuar attention, as 1t constitutes one of the
most odious features of the whole proceeding
was, in effect, required to soemnly swear that
l would answer all questions which the
leaving myself no after discretion as to
such questions as it might be a violation
of the most sacred obligations to answer
/ could scarcely believe, on the evidence of my
own senses, that the Senate would seek basely
to entrap me by such miserable device, and
asked that the presiding officer should repeat the
form. Upon learning that my first impressions
of it were correct, peremptor lly and indignant
ly refused to take the oath. l was Withdrawn
from the bar; and when again introduced, was
sworn in the usual form.
will be glad to be convinced that the Senate
was not generally party to this disingenuous
and unworthy trick. / trust it may eventually
appear that it was the dishonest suggestion OF
some little lawyerling, who, all his life engaged
in prosecuting and defending small criminals al
the small courts, has at length attained disre-
putable perfection in the quirks and pettifoggery
of the lowest grade of the professions some
pompous dwarhing, who mistakes stiffness fol
dignity, and lives under the constant hallucina
ton that pragmatic solemnity will be mistaken
for grave wisdom; some glib attorney, WHOSE
microscopic mind magnfes atoms into object.
of gigantic Importance, and who, mIstaking hi,
position from the force of professional habit
thinks himself in the society of knaves, wher
he is only among gentlemen / trust for the
character of the Senate, it will be found that in
a moment of thoughtlessness they may have
acauiesced in this dishonorable artifce.-
What was the nature OF the attempt! To
force me in imine to swear solemnly to re
veal what before positively refused
10 disclose. To make me call God to witness
that / would at the Senate's bidding make my
self that plant villain which they would hav,
made me, and for not becoming which they have
inflicted upon me the rlgours of tedious incarce
ration. have read with disgust of the trial by
question, and of many other modes of COMPEL
ing testimony equally infamous; but it was re
served for the Senate OF the United States Il
he the platt tn co. a