The register. (Monroe, La.) 185?-1861, 1860-05-03
81 From the Washington Constitution.
u ACalumny Refuted. iia-

|
at. the disposal Of the Houmas equatters,. and
which have been assiduous i'll the dissemination
Of the ca!nmnies which their employers have
originated with view to asperse Tie character
OF honorable men, have taken pains 10 make II
appear since the report Of the special commit
tee of the Senate to- which the Houmas land
grant was referred has become known, that the
trainers Of that report designed therein to i'm
pngn tile integrity of Senators Benjamin and
Slidcll. A baser calumny was never uttered.
The following extract from the Congressional
Globe giving . report of remarks which we're
made in the Senate on Monday by Senators
Benjamin. Toombs and Slidell on the subject
Of the Houmas Claim: proves beyond doubt
] that nothing was further from the intention Of
the committee than to question in any way the
motives or the integrity of the two distinguish
Ell Senators whom squatters and their organs
are continually endeavoring to traducc: ma
Ell, ,HOUMAS LAND GRANT. I..' ''-'
'+Mr. Benjamin. Before the bill is considered
desire TO trouble the Senate for moment on
q question personal to myself | haze waited
before saying anything until should see tie
honorable senator from Georgia MIR. Tooml,sl
back amongst us. The Senate is aware that
some time ago special committee was raised
Tor lhe purpose Of taking into consideration a
petition for the repeal OF certain legislation
which had recommended in report 10 the
Senate some two years ago, aud which passed
on my recommendation, That committee has
reported. recommending the repeal Of that L.
glslation. With that report, for the present. |
have nothing 10 do. | retain my own we'll
considered opinion that the legislation which
it is proposed to repeal was wise, just and pro-
per legislation, and that the repeal would he
unwise and mischcvous.- The reasons for that
shall give VI some future time. / should not
trouble The Senate on this subject, but friends
at-home have sent me series Of newspaper
reports from which it appears that solnehpdy
tor some cause which l am unable lo,divine.
iias taken the trouble, with great pains. TO
write to nearly every paper in the State which
is in the opposition a statement that. in COM
manting upon the legislation previously, had
before the Senate. and in recommending its re-
peal, my personal character was involved in
some way. Now, sir, it is al,natt.r which !
should look upon with entire contempt were it
not that the honor of my State is Involved in it
somewhat; and IT PROCESSES to depend OIL the
action OF IL comnitteo Of the Senate. have,
therefore, waited for the return of tho chairman
OF that 0mmiltee.. in orilerto put the question
to him. thai II may be understood explicitly in
the Senate aud in my State. whether in the ill.,
vestgalion touching this legislation before the
committee-what that investigation was know
not-,here was anything in the slightest degree
impngn'ng the purity Of my motives, the rccti-
tHde ,oi my conduct, or The integrity Of my
chaipctev ms n man or ms q legislator?
Mr. Teombs. Mr.. President, it gives me great
pleasure TO respond to the Inquiry Of the hon
orahle senator from Louisiana. The question
submitted to the committee was solely upon
the proprlety Of repeating the legislation which
was adopted by previous Congress. That
question alone WINS. considered. We neither
heard evidence, nor WAS there any fact in any
way brought to the attention Of the committee,
IN the slightest degree affecting the character,
or Integrity, or motives Of the gentleman. We
differed from the committee Of which he was n
member two years ago, the Committee on Fri
waite Land Claims. as TO the psopriety Of that
a,.l that was the sole question con-
slered and decided; and there was nothing in
the slightest degree affecting the gentleman or
his colleague submitted to orconsilered in any
way by tile select committee. ,,{ a. Ii \
Mr.. Sdell. Mr.. President, could ask no
more explicit explapationsthan has, been given
by the senator from Georgia. 1t ia q complete
Of numerous calumuies that have
been circulated throughout the country against
MY colleague and myself shall not at pres.
ent make any comment on the source from
which presume these charges have emanated |
or what prompted them, but am extremely |
anxious thWt this whole matter should be taken |
up and discussed. and maturely considered by |
the Senate; aud, for tlst purpose, u move that |
thebili reported by TIM select committee be
taken up now, informally, for the nprpose of |
liking it for discussion at some future and not |
distant day. take it for granted that no Sc
rions business can be entertained by the Senate 1
after Thursday next, and will therefore pro-
pose, IT 1t be agreeable ~ senator from
Georgia, to fix u day for it. 1904
Mr.. Toombs. hope 1t Ml1e taken up at
IN eafiy day, a. the action referred to WINS sus-
pended for this Congress ~
Mr.. slidell. will name, thN u fifst Mon
day In May. or II there can be oil eatliesday in
May u will be gratifying to me. .eou
I NJ. Teombs. hope the Senate will concur |
IA " second the notion issr'ib
Mr.. siidell. / move that the bill be made |
The special order for the fret Monday in May, |
and TRUST to the Indulgence and courtesy Of
senators 70 diepose of the question. :
The Presiding Officer. It il moved to take |
mp the bill Is. No. 395) to repeal the second
section nnd other portions Of an act passed the
ID day ofJune, 1885,, entitled ran act to pro-
Tide for the location of certain confirmed pri-
rate land claims ln the State Of Missouri, and
Or other purposes; and also, to provide for the
Inal settlement Of certain private land claims
d the State OF Louisiana." NJ sf -l]E 'sg,-''t7 |
Tbs motion was agreed to; and the bill was |
saae the special order for the ofst Monday In
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