Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-04-10
s.s.ndfpg for Persons and Papers,"


A day or two ago we referred to The fact
that one B. f. SANBoRs. OF Mass. had been
arrested as a witness to testify before the u.
S. Senate Harper's Ferry Committee, and
that be had been taken from the officer ma
king the arrest on a writ Of habeas corp.s from
the Supreme Court of Massachusetts. Since
then be has been discharged by that Court,
on the ground that the Sergeant-at-Arms
could not deputise any one to make the ar
rest. As to whether the Sergeant alarms
himself could have made the arrest, the Court
expressly declined to decide, as the arrest in
this case was made by person deputised by
him. This it il hardly necessary to say. is,
in our opinion, an erroneous decision. The
power of the Sergeant-at-Arms of either
House Of Congress TO deputise another person
TO s,s7ae.os, uitnosses has never been question
ed, from the foundation of the government.
Ifsuch deputy can legally serve subpoena,
he certainly, by the same right and authori-
ty. may legally use such power as his princi-
pal could, to compel the attendance of wit
nesses, where they refuse to comply with the
summons. We therefore regard the action OF
the Massachusetts, Court as nothing more nor
less than a defiance of the Federal authority.
Let the Committee send the Sergeant-at-Arms
ia person for SANBoRS; and if he should fail
to bring him up, let them send forward q de-
taehment of United States troops. and zee
what effect that will have.
Another committee, ito-wit, that of CovoDE,
is getting into trouble with Mr.. SCHELL. who
has been before il as a witness. On his ex-
animation he stated that he had a written
memoI andum of the names Of persons who
contributed to the election fund in 1856,
but that list was in New York. He, howev-
or, denies the power of the committee to de-
mand an exhibition of that paper. In this
view the n. Y. Tribune concurs. The Tribune
thinks that this whole business of develop
ing political scandal by legislative investi-
cations has already been about run into the
ground, and warmly deprecates the idea that
Mr. ScHELL should be constrained to give up
this private paper and blazon to the world
the names Of private citizens under circum-
stances calculated TO expose them to odium.
So. it appears the Republicans are getting
tired of these Investigations. So long as in
uuiries were instituted into the conduct of
Federal officials, and the persons who were
summoned as witnesses we're Federal Office
holders, The Republicans felt secure, and in
terpo.ed no objection but Mr.. SCHEIL was
@ private citizen in 1856, and the philosopher
of the Tribune sees very clearly that If one
private citizen may be made to testify an
other NAV also. He may be more deeply ill.,
terested personally in precedent of this
SORT than is entirely comfortable. In one of
Its searching articles on such subjects the n.
Y. Herald says: " Sanborn was the individu-
al who furnished the funds to John Brown,
and was mixed up with HYATT and FORBES,
with whom GREELEY dined in New York,
giving FORBES $40 to help him 10 Kansas,
where he was to teach military tactics to the
disciples of JOHN BROWN. Let GREELEY be
brought before the committee. He knows
all about SANBORs and the plans of the lead
ers in the conspiracy" In view of this ex-
posure, il is easily understood that the Tri-
btae should think the thing was about
run into the ground, aud that be should en-
Ter the plea of a private Citizen" in be-
half of Mr.. SCHEIL- The knife of investi- |
CATION cuts both ways. Between the Har-
Per's Ferry treason committee in the Senate, |
and the CovODE corruption committee in |
the House, the democrats and Republicans |
are both likely to get into hot water.
But, nevertheless, let these committees |
but prove honest and thorough in their work, |
aud we are satisfied the country will lose |
nothing. Let the committees, therefore, 60 |
on sending for persons and papers"