Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-03-02

ncation in the evening, the motion was bitterly op-
posed as out of order and several hours We're consul
med in an attempt to talk it down. Seeing the in
tenton to TO this, requested my friends as per-
sonal favor to me, to wihdrau the paper as the OPP
position to its being received and read showed de-
termned intent to cut off from any hearing, and
to consume the remainder of the session in opposing
it; but then its Withdrawal was objected to by the
same persons who had opposed its being received
and it was, therefore, ordered to be read, and the
reading commenced.
The clerk had proceeded as far as on the third
page to this sentence-"A courtesy, as appeared
later, which the chairman was not able to apprcc-
ate when the reading was interrupted by the
most violent language and action of the Senators
from Orange and johnson, Messrs Turner and
Leach and the paper objected to disrespectful to
the 'Senate-most proper guardians of Its dignity,
these persons who were then disgracing themselves
and insulting that body!
Such was their conduct and language that the
reading, being of necessity, suspended, an irregular
discussion followed near the hour of eleven o'clock
at night) which seemed likely to last to the end of
the session. when seeing the determination of these
and other Senators to suppress this hearing and prn
ting, although even at the cost of every hour left
and seeing the large amount of private and public
business yet unfinished and waiting action in the
bills covering the Speakers table. again earnestly
begged my friends to acithdlun the communication,
as could not consent to this defeat Of public and
private bills and waste of precious time, for any rca-
son, and would rather suffer the outrage than allow
all Legislative action to be obstructe! on so much
remaining to be done, when the last hours Of the
session were rapidly drawing near
After much opposition in motion to adjourn, the
motions to allow the withdrawal was carried.
The Senator from Orange pretended to propose
resolution, which lie said was for receiving this pa
per, early in the evening after the motion of the
Senator from New Hanover to receive it.
His object was well understood to be insidous
and wholly for effect.
What has been the course of this whole proceed
ing will appear by brief review:
Early in the session, Senator proposes in his
place to raise committee to examine into the affairs
and condition of State Work-and the committee
i, appointed Some weeks elapse, and the chair
man writes to the chief officer of this work letter
in which he says:
1--WE give you this early notice because are are
aware that your Charter confirms no precision az
toriziny tie General -lxsemIiy 10 Investigate the
qytairy OF your CnmpaaM" dc.
My reply to this letter was prompt assent to
their proposed enquiry and whether or not there
was law or right, | willingly waived the question
Of both law and right and placed all material at the
command of the committee for its usc-impers,
books, men, officers. | offered my own aid and in
vited its free asked the committee to go with
me to the Company Shops and see for themselves.
They proceed in examination of papers, books,
and mcn for weeks as they please. They take in
to possession and into custody-they assume au-
thority if by law, not by courtesy, and exercise
it arrogant!y and extensively. All this usurpaon
is submitted to- The labor is closed, and a Bill 81
Itdtctmeat is preferred as its result, containing
statements false perverted and vrulent; bearing
every page the impress OF bid and ccnS0solls Spir-
it: showing what the law describes as malice aiore
thought"
Having been thus, without warrant of law,
brought into the Senate Chamber, alraigned, tried
and ccnsured on an CT parie hearing and statement
am in the opinion CT the honor,JIe and just Judges
who are prepared to 'puniM first, and try after,
wards"-to be ordered to depart in silence no re-
ply can be made by ian outsider this was their
refined term) before this sacred jurisdiction to false
charges-but they must 20 forth unanswered, as il
the truth! Well might an honorable and diStn
guShed Senator ask if the Senate of North Carolina
was to be converted into a Star Chamber!
1t was all right, in the view of these highly hon
orable and inst senatorial judges, for Legislative
| Chairman of committee to proceed on an unau
thorized investigation, upon &c iarte evidence, tt
suppress the TRUTH to perver plain transactions tC
receive secret information, not given under oath, t.
seek whatever is capable Of being turned to
! to find nothing whatever in term of years to ap
prove, to make out prosecutors report deilmator,
of character-and then come to publish it under tn,
sacred protection of the Senate, and no man Shal
dare to say it is false or he is committing an out
rage on the chamber and body!
The report of this chairman is far too contempt
bic in character and in substance to require ever
the notice | have given it in my reply, which, il
terms is respectful to the Senate and mild for it
deserts but | was required to answer because 9th
erwisc it would go forth as truth to mislead the I'm
suspccting and to serve the inscriptions, and hav
ing to reply it necessary to call what is false
properly. Since however, this respectful reply ha
been refused just hearing, intend, on my respOn
sbiHty, to characterize the whole proceeding as
deserves, without claiming any protection of priv
ilege" for what is said.
The effort will be made by those who disgrace
themselves and insuted the dignity of the Senat
by their violent conduct in this matter, to give tn
whole affair purity coloring and so shield themse
YES from public indignation, by exciting party pre-
udicc and protection. They shall not do this. Tn
unsrspectng honest arc too often so misled by dem
ayogues refer to the facts The Legislature wa
largely Democratic in majority. Did this majorit
interpose its shield over me? Did any voice objcc
to this proposed examination? Did Democrat
speakers constitute the Committees with any spe
cal favor to me? Only in the last scene of this pre-
ceedng was I sustained by Democratic men,-be
cause, first they were my personal friends, and jus
Ilcl ANU ScCoiluly, lie pioeeeuS Was lHeil VII
made to assume partisan aspect to protect an III
just action For Inc, the Democratic men of the LIE:
islature have done all asked of them, and this a
was to propose and vote to give my reply fiji
hearing, where the false charges were alleged
that is, the simple justice the law always secure
even to the humblest. Beyond this justice, hav
asked from the Democratic majority nothing wha
ever. Nor do now ask anything. Iplace myself III
der better defence than any political majority Ca
give. Under the defence of truth, justice and n,
own acts. Not as partisan was placed in charg
of this State work; not such have controlle
and directed its power and patronage
CHAS. F. FISHER
The FAMOUS FOUNTAIN OF FoRTUNE.-The famo,
fountain, of whose miraculous qualities it was SAT-
possessed the power of renewing youth to the age,
has been equaed, in another respect, by discover
which gives fortune to the penness. Prince
Leon travelled many miles and many years to di
cover the pure fountain of youth. The Prince