The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-04-16
INTELLIGENCE By TIKI NAILS.

CUSTODY OF THK ARMS
WASHING rom Anril IL lS4S

WASHINGTON, April IA, ls4S.
On Thursday, March %, the Presidents mes
sage, referred 20 in my last letter, was consider
ed IN secret session, and the Senate having re-
solved 10 institute an inve sigation, committee,
consisting of Messrs. Bradbury, Badger, and
Wescott, was appointed with power TO send for
persons and papers. On Friday morning, the
2;th, received a note from member of the
committee, requesting my attendance at the Ju-
dietary Committee room of the Senate. Upon
repairing thither found two members of the
commiuee-the third having declined to serve.
was apprised of the purpose for which the com.
mittee was created, and was given to understand
that the Senate merely desired to know whether
the papers had been obtained from one its
own members. had before in private CONVEX
satIon with Senator's fally exoaerated the men,
bers and office rs of that body from all agency in
furnishing the documents, and ] at once signi-
he'd my willingness TO comply with the wish OF
tae committee by deposlng to the truth of my
former statements. The following is a copy OF
my examination:
l. QrEsTrox-Are you a correspondent Of the New
@ DO you know from whom tho paper obtain
and the amcndusnts in the Senate published few days
since in the N.w York H.raid? II was gveo to under
stand that this question inen1sd to sppy to tie do
cament "a IL appeared In the Herald
@ vast from s.nstor Officer of the s,nate, or
person conpsc.sd With the printing Of the Senatel
Alt vas not
@ who furnished II?
Al decline TO answer To tbs bsst Of my belief /,
was allowed to be published from patriotic motives and
to promote the public interests regarded aud still
bousd to declare the phsncs ohts ued said pa
ps- To this answer next dsy, With the consent Of
From the dircurirs nature OF my exsmaasioa on YES
terdsy Was led TO give tho fourth less
specific answer than, further consideration desire
to mak~, wieh to oondne 10 the amendments of, and
documents accompanying the treaty tho bearing and a
piication Of the following words occurring + said
swer-To the best Of my bsf,f tcds oHoped 90 bepub
h,hed from patr"ts monves end TO promote the pubic
Q.-Were the Presidents message and documents
puhhed ana promised TO bs published in the Herald
eLc. the rst publication. obtained in tbs same wsyl
Al adopt my third answer above given as nv An
Ever 10 this question, so far know believe Fur
ther decline answering because cannot specify th
paper. Mr. Bsnne,t Intends to publish.
q We're any of the papers in question obtained
IN sny WISE from any person who obtained them forn
any SENATOR, officer of the Senate any person
nect-d with the printing, directly indirectly with
son?
CT printer of the Senate, nor by third person
peo,et with any member officer OF tie Senate, as
clerk or msmbsr Of his family.
(Syned) JNO NUGENT.
oy the requr st of a member OF the committee
80 las: answer was so framed as TO allsy the
aneasln?ss OF such Senator's as have sons and
.,
aud consequently having more or less access to
their private papers
This examinaron was reported the same day,
(fnday,) IN secret session, and after some de-
bate, the report was recommitted on motion OF
Mr. Westcot., and the committee enlarged by the
addition of M-ssrs. Underwood, Hanneg,n and
Spruance. On Saturday morning, ! was accosted
In the Senate chamber by two members of tn.
committee, and was requested to accompany
them TO the Judiciary Com room, for tn
purpose OF adding TO my testimony of the day
previous. The inIerrogatores prOpounded a,
this examination, | have not before me; but |
will give their purport as nearly as possible.
L. In your answer to the hinterrogstory of you
former examination you say said papers furni.h
any third p-rson connected With any member or otiar
Of the Senate as clerk or member Of his family. Why
latter portion OF this dsnisl was it because you could
not s..
Al have hesitation In extending the printer
Of the Senate the negstive embraced in my answer
the 9Th question Of my former ANIMATION Wit tina
sad papers wsrs rot furnished by the printer: Of tn
connected with thsn rs clerk or member Of tbsi
fsmly-in the sans sepso in which said former answer
. Q Can you absovs the head aud other Officers o.
the stste department from all agency In turnsh & the
Al can m Ike answer that would even by impli.
cation admit the right Of the committee to put the hsas
and other o,e Of the State department On trial
this Investigation. or in anything growing. tina. pc.
noy might grow. ont Oft. beg to be understood, IL
u.nn Or 10; 70 .no,a any
ton totally TO exoDerste tho head aud other ocSr
OF the State department. from agency in furnishing
the said papers My objection to the question is, ths
direct answer, either in the an1rmave negative
would bs an admission BY me of the right Of the
mittes to put question the to which might by
possibility $50 far the COMMITTEES informed) in
oupat. ths head or other ocers of tbs Site department
right which, With ell due Respect to the conmittee
am di-posed to question"
In this refusal was sustained by the CON-
mIttee-dll learned In the l4w-as / had also
been In my refusal to answer the fourth lnterro
gatory OF my former examination. The opinion
prevailed with the committee that they had nc
right to 90 farther and had the Senate come To
the same prudent conclusion, what a torrent OF
ridicule it would have escaped
GALvIRNsIs.