The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-04-04


punishment Of the laws Even in the last Potsce
oa@dfe' the publication OF M els the court and
Jury III foughheeisie' Is Us strong as need be to
produce another convict ON; and already the
proper persons have t. xen steps Cor indictments,
winch VIII reach tue publishers, printers, and even
agents and disuibu' Of the sheet. The mysteries
Of stool rgeolisin are curious any of the odd
things Of u.e pre<ent philosophical age 1t appears
that eve,i Bristol Bill, who was one Of Wilkes own
agents in the conspiracy against the Drurys, hopes
that the stool pigeon editor will be sent to the
prp on where he suffers, for he would take pleasure
ip seeing him at useful occupation by his side.
Thus, even in prison, Bristol Bill has fraternal
feeling, which induces him to wish Wilkes all the
hal riness that Lie himself enjoys. 1t is, indeed,
curious.
THE LEGISLATIVE BLAcx-MAn OPERATION
TIE REFoRT THE SELECT COMMITTEE
published, yesterday, the report Of the select
committee of three, who were appointed by the
Senate Of this State to investigate and report
on the charge made directly against Mr.. Bull,
the SERGEANT Arms Of that body, and, ind-
Yectly, against Messrs. Johnson, Stone and Ro-
binson, three Of its members Of attempting to
levy black mail on certain parties in New York,
and to stihc legislation thereby. The excite
ment and Indignation caused by the publica-
ton Of this serious charge, have not been in the
least aayed by this report, or by the recommenda-
ton Of the committee, which it contains. The
charge against Mr.. Bull, and indirectly against
the three members named, was one of unusual
atrocity, being nothing less than attempt to ex-
tort black mail from the propretors Of certain gam
bling houses the consideration to be given for the
money demanded, being the sitting of bill before
the Legislature for the more effectual suppression
Of gambling. The charge is equal in enormity to
that made against Kemble and Bishop some years
ago, and which cause equal excitement throughout
the whole State, when it made public, together
with the expulsion of the Senators implicated
The report of the committee was very good as FAR
it goes but it did not 60 half far enough. Their
recommendation to the Senate as to how they should
act towards both Mr.. Bull and the three members,
was not enough. The committee were entirely too
delicate and mealy-mouthed towards Messrs. John
son, Robinson and Stone. What business had
these gentlemen toput their pens to paper and in
answer to letter from Mr.. Bull, dated from the
Aston House, write to him on the same day and
from the same house, "that other business pressing
upon the time Of the Senate, will (woud) prevent
any report further action upon the bill" in ques-
tiou J" ny suouiu write any sucn letter AT
such time, or at all Why should they say that
there would be no report upon that bill I! And what
business had they to assume that no further action
would be taken upon it by the Senate during the
present session If they had determined not to
take any action upon it themselves, for reasons
best known to themselves, they might certainly
assume that no further action would be taken upon
it; but under no other circumstances could they
L r. Al ~
members The committee, in their milk and water
report, very properly remark that the letter of these
gentlemen to MIR. Bull was not mere expression
of opinion, but was tantamount to stipulation that
the bill would not be reported. 1t certainly was
for they had the power in their hands to report
or not upon it, as they pleased. They say, too,
that these gentlemen could not but have known
that many bills are introduced and passed every
session Of the Legislature, after the of
March-the date Of the letter to Mr.. Bull.
Nomatter how charitaby disposed the public may
betowurds Messrs. Johnson, Robinson and Stone the
opinion cannot but be that the committee should
have reported that the Of those gentlemen
looked as black, almost, that of Mr. Bull himself
If those gentlemen were innocent Of the charge of
being concerned with Bull in this skilfully arranged
black mail operation, indirectly made against them
why did they refuse to be examined separately,
and one at time 7 Does innocence depend upon
punctilio, or etiquette, parliamentary or legal
FORMS for its vindicationl Will it not rather court
enquiry when assailed, and cast to the winds all
forms and all technicaltiesl And why did the
committee who investigated this disgraceful
transaction decline to exercise the power which
they said they possessed, to allow them to be
examined separately! They refused to accord
that privilege to the accusing party, and the
result was, the three Senator's were not examined
at all. Is this a vindcation that will exonerate
the gentlemen Of participation in this black mail
operation, or clear them ofimputation, in the ooi-
MON Of the people Of New York We should think
not and if the gentlemen themselves are satisfied
with getting out Of the difficulty by resting on
techni:altes, the public will at the same time en-
terrain their own opinions on the subject.
View this matter as VIC may, we have arrived at
the deliberate conclusion that the Committee of
Investigation in this case, should have reported
unanimously that the circumstances duplicating
Mcsrs. Robinson, Stone and Johnson, in this
transaction, Of such character a. to Justify
them in recommending their expulsion from the Sc
nate. They owed IL to themselves and to the cha
racter Of the Senate, TO make such a recommends
tion But as the Senate have concurred In the re-
port made by the committee, and decline to take
any action in the matter, except dismissng Mr..
Bull, the Scrgeant-at-Arrns, and declaring "that
Senators johnson, Robinson and stone, though
they have acted with imprudence, have not forfeited
the confidence Of the Senate, in their honor and in
kgIity as Senator'S and as men," they have placed
themselves on par with them-plan,ed themselves
la the same box with these worthless, and identified
themselves with them in this fair business trans
action" Well, be it so. In truth we did not ex-
pect any other result, from what we have seen Of
both branches of the present Legislature. To Us,
however, the matter il clear. The Senator's in ques
ton must have understood the view with which Mr..
Bull addressed them in reference to the anti
gambling bill, and the cautious, manner in which
thar rnt.lied 10 TINT letter enn1rms IL IheY in