The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-12-21
SENATOR CHESNUTs SPEECH.

Inc SeDdt6 resumed Tue CONSIDERATION
of the following resolution, submitted by
Mr.. Mason on Monday last.
Resolyed, That a Committee be ap.
pointed TO inquire into the facts attend.
ing The late Invasion aud seizure VI the
arDory and arsenal Of the Uuted States
at Harper'S Ferry, in Virginia. by band
of armed men, and report whether the
same was attended by armed resistance
to the authorities and public force Of the
United States, and by the murder Of any
of the citizens Of Virginia, or Of any
troops sent there TO protect the public
property whether such invasion and
seizure was made under color of any or
gauization intended to subvsrt Tue govern
ment of any of the States Of the Union :;
: what WAS the character aud extent Of
such organization q; ami whether any citi.
zens Of the United States, not present,
were implicated therein or accessory there
to by contributions Of money, arms, mu
nitions, or otherwise; what was the char.
acter and extent OF the military equip
ment in the hands, or under the control,
OF said armed band, and where aud how
and when the same was obtained and
transported 10 the place SO invaded
And that said Committee report whether
any and what Legislation NAV, in their
opinion I've necessary, on the part of the
United States for the future pie,ervation
of the peace Of the country, or for the
SAFETY Of the public property and that
SAID Cnmmittre have power TO send for
persons and papers.
The pending question lent on the fol
lowing amendment offered 10y NJ. Trum
bull /:
And that the said Committee also in
9ure into the facts attending the INVASION
sezyre. and robbery in December, 1855,
OF The arsenal OF the United States, at
Liberty in the State Of Missouri, bv Il
mob or body OF armed men, aud reppr,
whether such se zure aud robbery was a,
tended Hy resist, nee To- the authorities of
the United States, aud followed lv an in
vaslon Of the Torrlory of Kansas, aid
the plumber and mure oi any Of It's in
hahitan's, or Of any c,t'zru OF the United
StueS. by the person., who thus seiz.l
the arms and ammunition Of lhv Govern
m.ni, "r others CJmbine! with taem.-
WmeIh"r sad svlznro and robbery OF the
arsenal were made under color OF any or
gsu:Lt IoH intended - subNrrt the Gov
er"m"mi "i th" States or Territories OF
the tniuu wh a, Was the character and
"ltrut ut such urgAuIZt,,ou nui whelh
rr any cil,zrnn Of the Unucd States. not
present., were implicated therein, or acces
s.'r thereto by coatrlbu;vm uf money, ,
arms, ammunition, ur otherwise.
Mr.. Chesnut said: Mr.. President, when
the Senator fom Virginia Introduced the
resolution which u now before us, had
no expectation oi participating in this de
bate. The propriely % he resolution it,
self Was SO manifest, and the consequences
which would seem to flow from lis quiet,
easy, un'mpalrcl adoption by this body,
80 full Of ueces,i ,ity, aud bringing repose
10 tie country, that did not believe ,ilere
was suitHry man on the II Dor q the
American Senate vino wo1.l really op.
pose or impede IFS passage, 81, like
plain, strAi,: ,:ht!orward, manly dcaIing.-
Now, what is the mG uing Ut tins ainrnd
ment! VIII the Senator from Illinois
SAY that his purpose, and lis only purpose
is bona ti,ie I" elicit information on an oc.
currence which took place five Years ago!
As the Senator does not respond that
that is hrs bonn .tiie and ouIv pnrpose,
will take II far granted that the purpose
ia 10 clog, Ia impede, TO trnmmei, to b.uut
he very point aud ohject # lhls proceed,
ing. Why is il done The gentleman
upor. the other side Of the Chamber tell
Us that they court th S investigation. Sir
] believe they do; believe with the Sen
ator from Maine, Mr.. Fessenden, for
whom | entertain profound respect, and
Tor whose intellectual exhibitions | have
always AN admiration, that they desire
an Investigation. But, sir, that is not all;
this must come up AS n cOuntervaiIing
blow, as aspeci"s Of party tactics TO shield
party. What else eau IL be Is it
possible that the Senator from Illinois
sN?poses that the Republican party stand
III need OF such a shield lis compeefs
oar eompeers, all disclaim it. Does be
fear tina: III an investigation Of this sort,
untrammeled, an Investigation whose
point is not blun,ed by such n proceeding
as he proposes, where his party is invoI
we'd, u Yl!l appear that out Of the ranks
Of that party, and from the preachingl
OF that party the weapon has been fur
nished TO the hand OF the assassin Doe.
he fear that the motives which have i'm
Peded the hand Of the murderer have pro.
ceeded from the teachings unintended
unawares-ot those who have furnished
the impulse 10 the proceeding which ha,
caused this investigation II nor, why
this amendment
| speak in good faith, Mr.. President
II 1t Is not for such purpose, why is tn,
amendment introduced I ltls iInpossibl,
unless the Senator will assure us of 4
himself. and then we must so take il, tha
IL is for the purpose OF elciting new fact,
on an ancient transaction. The fscts, a,
he himself has shown, have been ELECTED
and acted upon by committees appointeC