Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1857-02-10
p THD NATIONAL LINE.
oEFIoE. CoRNER wATER AND MONROE sTRERra.
CONGRESSIONAL.

w ASHINOTONt REQ. U.
SENATE.-Mr Bright presented the creden-
tials of G. N. Fitch, setting forth that he was
elected u Senator by the Legislature of Indiana,
and moved the oath be administered to him.
AIr. Trumbul! said he had had placed in his
hands by special messenger from that State
protest Of the Senate against the loyalty OF the
election, and also a protest. signed by ~ mem
bers of the House of Representatives of Indiana
to tho same effect.
Mr.. Bright said twas not necessary to read
the protests as he believed his colleague, accOr.
ding to precedent, was entitled to be sworn in.
The protests were read.
Mr.. TTumbnll objected TO the administration
of the oath.
Mr., Douglass thought it better that Mr.. Fitch
be sworn, and the Senate Investigate elegaLi-
ty of the election afterwards, as had been the
custom heretofore.
Mr.. Trumbull replied that the custom had
been both ways.
After long debate, by vote of SO TO 10, re-
fused to refer credentials and protests to the
judiciary committee.
Mr. Fitch took the oath. Adjourned.
HousE-The House passed BY n vote of / 10
against 90, Mr.. Chapman's bill for wagon road
to the Pacific.
The pending question was stated to be, on the
motion of Mr.. Barbour, to suspend rules to ena-
BILE him to introduce the resolution from the Ju-
dietary Committee, declaring that John q. Wat
sons U. S. District Judge, for the District OF
Texas, be impeached of high crimes and misde.
meanor.
Mr.. Letcher said these were serious charges
and demanded that the report of the Committee
OF the case be read. LE %
The report says specific charges are made
against Judge Watsons, Of corrupt combinations
for the determination of suits in this Court, and
of having acted with Partially and IN disregard
of all the rules Of law and rights of litigants.
Mr.. Bocock wished to know whether Judge
Watsons ever had an opportunity to defend
himself
Ii. Marshall, member of Judiciary committee,
thought the investigation ought not to proceed
without notice to the accused party.
Mr.. Evans said Judge WatSOns had been Judge
ever since the admission of Texas as Immediate
" after his appointment, suspicion regarding
his integrity took place in the public mind. No
party in Texas except u few persons who are
engaged in litigation pretend to defend him. 1t
was due to the purity of courts and the admin
istration of justice. Judge WatSOns is put on
trial in order that he might show whether the
charges result from persecution, prejudice or
a combination of circumstances against him. 1t
was a mockery for district Judge, in whom
the public have no confidence, to be continued
in Office against the remOnstraHce of the legisa-
ture Of Texas.
Mr. Kelsey, from special committee, made a
report that j. N. Simonton had been summoned
before the committee and his responses were
such as to render it unnecessary to examine
further. Under these circumstances, the COM
nittee do not desire longer to continue him in
custody of the Sergeant.at.urinS, and therefore
report resolution that he be discharged. The
resolution was adopted. Adjourned.