The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-04-03
DOU BILE SHEET.
NEWS BY TELEGR APH.
N~>o>o~o|~Ny~ooo~oo~~>e
1HPORT
COMMITTEE OF INVESTIGATION
ON THE
GAMBLING BLACK MAIL OPERATIONS.
TIE CANAL HL IN THE LEGISLATURE
,(NNN~~<~>~oo~oy~~o.>~>
Attempt 10 Eject United States Senator
In Massachusetts,.
ocv~~nO>~|Oo~NNo-~ooNe-ooo
The Rhode Island Electien.
&c., &C., &c.
discharge OF Mr.. Bull, Sergeant-at-Arms.
ALBANY April q 1851
The Senate have discharged Mr. Bull, the Sergeanat
Arms, declared guilty Of attempting to levy black mail
the keepers Of certain gambling houses In New York



t--s4--. ALBANY, April Q, 1851.
COMMITTEE THE
cffarcrs sEKcEAST-Ar-ARMs, ETC.
The select committee appointed to investigate the
charges brought against the and certain
Senators, msdc a fall report, embracing thirty seven
pages Of testimony The report, which condemns the
conduct of the scrgeantatArms and also the
Senators, is as follows
The Select Committee appointed to investigate the
charges made by Ssml. A. Suydam of New York against
a. W. Bull the Sergeant tat-Arms of the senate, and
against Senators Robinson Johnston and Stone ask
leave TO make the following report
On the afternoon of friday the 2Sth ult Senators
Stone johnson and Robinson each question Of
privilege stating ia substance that certain charges had
been made against occr Of the Senate In which their
Senate to which had been referred Bill for the
eectua suppression Of Gambling was committed and
account of which each Of those Senator's requested
signed 8. A. Suydam and to before A. c. Kings
land Mayor Of the City of New York and also presented
what purpsrrd to be copies of two letters written by
Geo W. Bi Sergeant at-Arms of the Senate, addressed
TO Samuel A. suydam, New York-one dated March 27th
marked "A the other dated March 18th, marked "B'
copies Of both of which annexed to the testimony
taken and also presenting copy of letter purportng TO
have becnwrittcn by Geo Bull and addressed Messrs
Robinson Johnston, and stone dated March ~ also
what purportcd be copy Of letter addressed by them
in reply to Mr. Bull, Of date. copies of which
also annexed marked q. which affidavit and letters
said to have been brought to Albany by Mr.. NJ Walsh
in behalf Of Mr.. s. A. Suydam. When the statement of
the Senators had far enough show this state
Of things the senate went into secret session. which
copies and the affidavit hcreinbeforc allud ID
10, read-rhercupon the following resolution
u SENATE March % 1851.
Resolved Tha. the eommu ncation of saul a. suydam
with the accompanying snl the charge: against Geo
sn na and se1 be ana smms wh
70 osssrdS ,ssa i & s ass.r Mann and pmmk be such
Committee.
The first meeting the committee took place satur
day 2th ult vt clock, when subpoena was issued
for Samuel A. suydsm rcturnabe on the 3st March at
"a M. towhich time the committee adjourned
On 3lst March, the committee met pursuant 70 al
journcnt when the testimony hereto annexed and sub
,mitted to the Senate was taken -
The charges against the sergeant-at-Arms Of II,
Senate gross and serious character lie Is in
effect charged with having availed himself Of his posi-
ton NJ an ocor of this body, TO extort money from
individuals. = consideration for his efforts TO de-
feat the passsge Of a bill which had been intro
.duccd here according 10 the usual forms OF lcgis
lation, and referred by order Of the Senate to a
select committee A charge Of this kind against one
Of officer l. calculated highly to affect the cha
raccr and dignity Of this body and to bring INTO
the people represent. when charge Of this grave
character preferred against any person officially con-
nectcd with The Senate u investigate H. and to punish
the guilty party II Il long recognized rule that every
legislative body should rccrye itself free from mpu
tntion rcpr0seh. and she ud OF it, officers or me
bcrs so conduct themselves - to attach oum 70 tn,r
associates Il l. due 10 the community and y required ~
the dictates OF reason and justice, Aa 'hs w =, seu
prcserys"n shield ourselves from the imputed Gen.
,urc reflected dsgrncc
MI has been well said that life. liberty property. and
the pursuit of happiness materially dependent on
The integrity of iegislaton. Laws affect whole commu
nifty and much respect and obedience they inspire
arises from the purity Of the motives from which thy
The evidence adduced before the committee in relation
the conduct of Mr. Bull in their opinion. fully snstans
The charge nadc against him We will not attempt to
state the evidence In detail IL l. herewith presented TO
the Senate aud every senator VIII have an opportunity
10 examine and form his conclusions as to ia
force and eject. but think y wc established by the
letters written by him. and which were proved before us
and are annexed 10 the evidence In the caaeas wei ~
Ly The trifpopy Of the witnesscs-that he corrnptly
made of his position officer a this body 70 OBJ
tain money from individuals consideration VI hiS e
forts To defeat the passage a bill before the Senate
The acts of which he Il proved 70 be guilty are IN tnr
opinion of the coInmitte breach Of the privilege u the
senate md punishable a contempt.
1t 10 declares an the Revised statutes volume l. page
100 that persons guilty q Offering brbc 10 member
attempting. Wy mnaces or any othcr competent
means dhccy indirectly 70 control or influence a
member In giving his vote - e prevent him from giving
The same guilty of breach a the privileges of the
senate and may he punished fYr contempt by i'm
prsonusni term not extending beyond the session
II ihS<frrislturc II u clearly established that Mr..
ul did receive money consideration Of his efforts to
defeat the pa--sgc pf bin for the more efiectual sup
,.ssiop ~ gami,lnv and from all evidence in the
ease ~ opinion that DC has been guilty by corr
fup advice. a. attempting directly or indirectly 70 pre
vent the passage q the il IN question: o. 70 influence
The votes or action members thereon IL this fact l.
established the ratifaction q the senate he Is then
10 be- gritty a breach u the privileges Of the
senate and may bc punshcd r contempt by imprison-
Inen during the of the Legislature, or otherwise
~ the Senate may determine ,
The committee did not understand, from the proceed
ns and evidence before them that there any charges
official mi conduct against Mc-srs Johnson Robinson
and Stone. other than whnt are " be implied or hieu
iron whole circumstances proved In this cae con-
n,ctcd with the fsct Of signing AZ the Ador House the
note certificate of the 23th March, addressed to r
Bull The signing ~ this note was. in the judgment oi
he committee. wholly uujustihabe their part. AZ
Senators committee 4 this senate. they had no
right 10 sign srch letter certify TO the facts therein
.tsted They should have known that u could have
been uscd for improper parposes and although " may
have been signed inadvertently and hastily as y claimed
We, that cannot justify the act excuse Il from being
rtgsrCod A. violation a their duty as senators.
IL was in fsct the means q enabling Mr. Bull 20
p.f hfz Erht g4f
l. moi e,sy 10 scc what excuse NJ defence can be
given 10 Justify the signing q this paper under the
circumstance or prevent u from being regarded
violation o. their ues as senators IL cannot be said
that official act proper for them 70 do NO ~
tisactory for dong this act y SHOWN excsp y
clgc NJ Duli aud without this paper Nlr Bull probably
could have obtained plrtipn VI inc m 'ney nc ud
They had right scnntgrs 70 say other business
pressing the time a the senate VIII prevent any re-
irt ss further acton the bl mentioned 10y you on
the other side h sheet IL u not the expression ~
opinion bu, 10 the nature 81 m s.a hc.n MIN n,ro w..
.uccd the 9Th pf March appears w the journal On
notice ~ Scracr Robinson. and referred 70 sseet ea
tnttcc u which hc chairman The committee ha''
been called together. and they, thereTe haa no
right to say that the bill will not be reported or ha,
other husines pressing the time of the session Wnu'
prevent further action II. Although referred 70
mmittcc n was still subject. at oil times. to the CON
,is wcrr every session introduced aud passed through I'll
The stsges ~ ievislation after the 2ith q March
Tiiese facts aud circumstances constitute. n the opn
ION a. the cumIattce. In which c0mpcrd
90 declare that the conduct of the named
aighly improper in their character cf Senators IL !:
geary testified 10 that q thogc Senators
eeived nny nonty promise Of money valuable
liberation Mr. Bull any othcr person. ny reason
.nxtbiug thcy might do omit do In relation /,
Ie mi ,u,,amrcd Nv senator Robinson but opin
isn tot fact alone cannot exempt thcn from the cha'
~ irprofer conduct IN their Office q Senators.
does r,s reanrc committee ~ suggest recommend
sny n proper TOR the senate 70 take
sad thcrcfrc having briefly aiScrtea 70 inc promsen