The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-02-17

Oh excitement
l am, very respectfully. &c,
j. NJ BENNETT.
MI CoGHL said he had heard the reading of
the communication with pain and astOnshment,
as had every Senator in the hall lie had observ.
ed the conduct of the president OF the Senate sEce
the commencement of the session, and l. ba |
seemed to him marked with intelligence. fairness
and honor. With regard to the Northwestern
Railroad consolidation bill il had been distinguish
ed by extraordinary deicacy, inaAmnch az even
decaCy did not call upon him to pursne the course
he had adopted. TO wit: yacating the chair whenev-
er the question was mp. lie WAS not compliment
ing that officer. This was not the time for con-
pliments. II it should prove that it was not the
intention of Senator CALDWELL to make the
charge, he should be rejoieed; hut If on the
contrary, it was intended by that gentleman
that the charge should be brought t. the no
tice of the Senate. il was proper that it should
be investigated, iai he would submit Ies-
oluiion to accomplish that object Such course
indicated in his resolution was not without pre-
cedent. In 1856 Mr.. Calhoun, then presiding over
the U. S. Senate, was the sui ject Of charge
brought against his conduct as secretary of War
under Mr. Adams, aud the Senate, At his own re-
quest, raised committee to Investigate 1t. He
closed by Offering the following resolution:
ReS0lrGd, That the communication and accompa-
nying documents be referred to committee Of
sevea, with power to send for persons and papers.
Nj. AUGUST agreed with pride in the views eI-
pressed by Mr. CoGHiLL. regarding the official con-
duct of the President of the Senate. lie WAS at "A
loss TO knew the proper course TO be pursued by
the Senate. 1t was, however, certain that the Ian
guage used i'll the communication Of Mr.. Bennett
rendered it improper to take notice of it at this
time. Under the constitution, the members of the
Senate became the trers of this case, and if there
was any one who entertained these charges, he
should prefer them, and then let Senators sit in
the trial Hs Judges Should these charges be made
they would necessarily have to originate in the
lower House, and he deemed it Advisable to delay
any action and await the result. lie moved to lay
the communication on the table.
Mr. FLOYD thought the proper time for examina-
tion into a charge was when the knowledge of it
was first had. 1t admits neither of delay nor re-
ficcton. The allegation is not alone against the
President OF this body but against at least eightee
Senators.
Mr. CALDWELL l did rot make the allegations
against members of the Senate, but against the
1t Governor, on information obtained from mem
Der OF the other house
Mr. FLoYp / hope that the resolution of the
Senator from Amherst (Mr. CoGHILL) will be
adopted.
Mr. CoGHILL. ! confess had hoped, on hearing
the communication read that the Senator from
Ohio would have risen i'll his scat aud disclamed
MIR CALDWELL, Gnterrupting) viii the Senator
permit me to interrupt him! wish to explain
the grounds
Mr.. CoGaIL declined giving way. 1t was true,
he said that the Senator now discIairs any charge
against Senators. but the charge stood unmodi
fed aud unimpaired, that eighteen senators on
this hoor had been Influenced IN their votes by the
It. Governor, who had prostituted his once TO
pass a bill aud that that officer was tmreachahe.
THAT officer had risen in his seat aud demanded an
investigation of that charge, affecting, rs it did,
the honor Of himself and the Senate Now, what
is the effect of the motion Of the senator from
Rjchmondp Why, that at some future time, wn1ch
possibly may never come. these charges may be
investigated We are not asked to make ah I'M
pesch,nept against the It, Governor, hut tc Inves-
tigate the propriety OF making an impeachnieh'
against him. Whether the charge ne Iight or
wrong it is due to the Senate, to the Senator from
Ohio and to the 1t. Governor, that II shohid pe
Investigated promptly and at once, and iet the
presiding officer be brought face TO lace WIN ms
accusers. lie hoped the senate womb oroer tue
appointment of the committee. In the case Oh
Mr. C.lhoup il was done without a dissenting
voice. though the charges concerned MS eonuue =
in different department Of the governments anu
did not necessarily, come under the cognizahee oi
the United States senate.
tke Senator from Amherst would not be iald upon
the table. lie could see no reason for deierfihg
an examination into the charges.
Mr.. Caldwell said that he had made the chatge
on Saturday evening last under considerapie IA
citement The language was broader than was 'n-
tended, and If the Lieutenant Governor haa au.
di essed HIM q note, he should have been giad oi
the opportunity TO explain it. He had been 'h,
formed by friend in the lower House that ne naa
found the Lieutenant Governor eiecti0neeriDR WIN
a member of that House in fiVor OF theNorthwest.
ern and Baltimore and Ohio consolidation bill. III
the Lieutenant Governor had spoken 10 him Oh
the subject, he would have been glad 70 have ex
piained it to him. lie said that he was excited,
as Senators had seen, during the day on Saturday
and the words uttered that evening were OF broad
or import from that cause
Mr.. CosuiIL. DO / understand the Senator as
making any charge.
Mr.. CaLDaELL. Not in connection with this body:
Mr. CoenIiL. Do you make any chargel
MIR. CALDWELL repeated what hv last saii.
marx. Of the senator from Ohio were made nnder
sxciteme nj and founded on the information OF 9th
ers. IL was due, however. to the Lient. doverher
that this investigation should take place. lie de
sired 10 know who WAS the persoA VINO ease u.'
ed With The course of appointing eommHtee
was not a new one. When the charge OF bargain
and corruption was brought against Henry Clay