The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-03-12

with propriey with dignity of the Senate
70 send out rowing commission in search of proofs of
fraud in order 10 deprive OF It's members of TO
which he is pr~u Jacie entitled and still less they
such when the parties alleging the
fraud and corruption themselves armed with ample
powers for investigation II 1t be- indeed that mem
bers Of the house Of representatives of have
been influenced by corrupt considerations unlawful APP
piances the of Investigation and redress in the
power of the very parties who geek the aid OF the Senate
of the United States Let their complaint be made to the
house of which they members and which is the hbu-
nal peculiarly appropriate for conducting the desired in
vesigaton That their complaint will meet the respectful
consideration of that house the committee cannot doubt
and II upon such investigation the facts charged are
proven, in involve the character
Of the recently elected member from that State the const
tuition of United States has left the Senate without
ample for protecting itself against the presence eff
unworthy members in it's midst In the time the
committee for initiating any proceedings on
the subject and ask 10 be discharged from the further
Mr.. PUGH, member Of the Judiciary Committee, made
report dissenting from the conclusions whch his col
league had arrived The majority report objects to the
charge of unlawful and corrupt means that the facts
not specifically set forth upon which the charge based
the only between contestor and contesee
individuals Mr. thinks there might be force in the
objection but 1t Is in which number of the quail
fed electors themselves public agents. inform the Senate
that corrupt well unlawful have been used 10
the election. The accusation from responsible
source and is too serious distinctly and directly made
TO be treated with indifference II concerns the honor
the Senate and the security of the that rule
OF merely technical character applicable between nd
viduas should prevent thorough investigation Of the
case This would seem to be duty the Imperative
in view OF the statute enacted at the late session. in which
very stringent and unusual have been made for
che detection OF Corrupt practices by Congress
tie however, cJncss with the majority of the committee in
reference TO the other points of contest
Mr. r said that he would agree that charge that
an election had been by corrupt should be
treated as thing not worthy of examinaton Powerb,
which sometimes denounced unprecedented and
espotca had been given to the committees of both houses
OF Congress for this purposes ard he thought this
eminently worthy Of being thoroughly investigated.
Mr. BENJAMIN protested against the inference which
aight be drawn from the remarks of the senator from
Ohio, that the majority of the Judiciary Committee
averse 70 An investigation OF any charges of corruption
dhs majority report asserts upon examination OF the
papers, that there charge whatever made against the
sitting member there only vague that the
votes of certain members of the house of
were influenced by corrupt means but does
not state that the sitting member had any knowledge of
those means or participated in the matter it does not
state what the means and gives not solitary fact
bass for the charge II is simply accusation in gen
era terms without allegation of any kind whatever
ana under circumstances like these the committee did
not feel called upon to take any action. 1t would be
just to the sitting member prosecute investigation,
in which it would be mpossibs give him any notice.
upon which he could shape bis defence 1.-THE protesants
have any facts to detail which yet stated let them
make their complaint In definite form and give the
mttee something to investigate.
Mr. BUTLER expressed his Interpretation of the idea
that the duty devoyed upon the Senate to try corruption
in State legislatures Let the members who charged
with corruption be tried by their peers While he would
not like to have in the Senate who obtained his seat
by corrupt means yet the duty Of the State egisa
turc to purge itself before making its complaint the
Senate II would BIO unsafe and unstatesmanke to take
cognzanoe of matter of this kind where details
alleged but his Legislature try the and send
the testimony here and If il could be shown that the sitting
member was implicated in corruption he would vote to
expel him when he was proved guilty.
Mr. PUGH, in reply the objection that the charge
not specific enough said that specific half
the charges in of contested elections gentlemen
would find upon looking into the book. 1t is direct
charge that corrupt have been used to procure
certain election. He assumed that those who made the
and ho Garofa npfrhf IN
investigate It, because II from those who The
electors of that body Would anybody contend that action
charge was true it VOID election and the duty
OF the Senate to the seat and whenever the Senate
assumed the ground that it would not investigate d
charge OF bribery and corruption in connexion with the
election of its members it would degrade ITSELF and be-
come unworthy of its name and position in the country
contestor were claiming the seat it would be incnm
bent on him to state his facts but here the is differ.
emit The protest is made by minority of the Legislature
and they ask leave to produce their witnesses and
their charges He thought this reasonable request and
hoped it would be granted
Mr.. CAMERON said that in Pennsylvania this protest
was looked upon as humbug. He had heard any
charge Of corruption before and believed that this thing
was got by Of those in his State who desired his
seat and hoped that by unseatng him they might get it.
de was too proud of his character desire here
by any other than honorable means and hoped the
would act upon this question promptly.
Mr. BGLER did believe that the sieners of the pro-
test were men who would trie with the Senate of the Uni
TED states by sending charge which without founda.
ton He knew many Of them personally and bore tes-
mony to their high character They might have been mis-
aken both in matters of form and questions of substance
30 far as affected the right of his colleague his seat but
ne did not believe they mpeed to this protest.
g against The eecon by any other than high and hon.
orable motives He proud of his native State and had
700 exalted opinion of the members of the
legislature TO that the mpuation should go
uncontradced thn this allegation trumped up with
out there being reasonable show of grounds for it,
There was doubt of the that the party which his
colleague did not belong elected majority of the
oers OF the Pennsylvania legislature and they entitled
toa United States They expected elect senator
and were disappointed at the result because three members
In violation OF their party principles and the assurances
given to their friends, v0t.d for member of the republic
can party. The members of the legislature who the
votes that have become subject of so much criticism
their constituents Immediately charged them with hav-
ing betrayed them through improper motives. Under all
These circumstances he hoped the matter would not be
disposed OF without full examination.
MI. CAMERON replied that there had been no time du
ring the last twenty-five years when there had not
more than three in the Pennsylvania legislature
any party opposed to him politically who would have
ted for him for any Office personal considerations IL
was solely to such feelings that he owed his election
now
The subject was laid without any action upon it,
Mr. FOOT submitted the following resolution for con-
alteration
this floor legally chosen from the State of Penn
sylvania
After the consideration of executive business the Senate
adjourned.
The Hartford Times furnishes its readers with the fol-
lowing curious piece of news:
VINO WRITE THE NEGRO SONGS 2-Tbe principal writer