The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-02-14
From Lansing.


alarms of the Senate, went to Paw
Paw about week ago, with SUM
mons for John Mckinney to appear at
Lansing forthwith. The Officer re-
turned without Mckinney. Hehowever,
informed the ,Sergeant-at-Armst that he
should be in Lansing in a very few
days. Contrary to all expectation. on
Thursday last Mr.. Mckinney arrived
in Town, and on Friday evening made
his appearance before the investigating
committee On being asked to be
sworn, he desired to be Informed of
the powers of the Committee, as he
doubted their authority very much to
compel him to answer, unless he chose
to do So The joint resolutions were
then shown to him, he still doubted
their suficiency but would like to see
the form of the oath which he was
was asked to subscribe to, this was
written out to him in full; after read
ing 1T said, I respectfully decline to
be sworn by this Committee for the
following reasons: 81 have been in
formed that criminal proceedings are
about to be instituted against me, there
fore / cannot answer to this committee
without acknowledgements 'ia h.a
Of course the powers of the Com
mittee so far as he was concerned had
then ceased they could do nothing
more with him, and he was informed
that he could retire for the present but
that the Committee would most likely,
under the direction of the Legislature,
have need of his presence at some fu-
ture time b. 5isbls81t ~ hD.s y
ii This condition of things was report
ed to the Senate early Saturday morn
ing, when an order was Immediately
made for the arrest of Mckinney. He
was brought to the Bar of the Senate,
and continuing to refuse to answer to
the Committee he was put into the
custody of the Sergeant-at- arms and
ordered to be restrained Of his liberty
until he should be willing to purge him
self of contempt for the action Of the
Legislature. Should he persist in re-
fusing to testify before this committee
it will most s .riously -embarrass their
efforts, to place before the people the
real condition of things connected
with the Treasury department, as it is
supposed that his testimony would be
of more valuein leading directly to the
rotten places believed to exist, than all
others supposed to know anything
about the matter.
Rumor is afloat that criminal pro
ceedings are in progress against him
but as yet nothing is made public, next
week will no doubt unravel much
which to-day seems involved in sc
much mystery. / see by the papers
that the so-called Democratic Conven
ton which met in Detroit this weel
adjourned without making any nomi
nation for Judge of the Supreme Court
the only laber for which it was called
together. What on earth the Conven
ton was called together for puzzles
every one who knows anything abou
lit, for suppose that party stands jus
about as good chance of succeeding
in this State as it does i'm the stronges
Republican towns in the State of Yer
mont, where there are not Democrat
enough to say no, when they are voting
direct upon party questions. But tn
meeting did not adjourn until it passed
resolutions to meet again sometime
and giving out very friendly invita-
ton to all conservative gentlemen, t.
meet with them next time. Who are
the conservatives, pray !? 1t is though
they must be some old relics of tn,
Fillmore party. For they certainly arr
entitled to the name conservative, i
to not old Fogy. Surely they canno
mean Republicans, black Republicans
whose principles are so fatal to the ex
istence of our Government. And i
they do mean them l am disposed t.
think they would have fine time find
ing them, unless they are willing t.
take up with a sorehead here and there
who the Republicans have no use fol
any longer. sYai hhas y1sad rsgaA
lam anxious Mr.. Editor, to get peer
at one of those conservatives meeting
in Democratic Convention the sigh
would be novel, and much desired
Why you might advertise literally uT
this way for the next forty days, fol
one of these conservatives, and hi
could not be found, but at all events lei
the Convention come off, so as to af
ford the anxious, an opportunity to see
a conservative, public curiosity will
then no doubt be satisfied until ther