Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-12-21
SENATE.
WASHINGTON. December

WASHINGTON, December IL.
Mr. Hale rose to a question of privilege He
desired to send to the Clerks desk, to be read,
newspaper paragraph charging with bribery a
Senator from New England in securing the re
lease, for the sum of 5000, of two prisoners
from the Old Capitol From information receiy-
ed from a Senator he was led to believe that he
(Hale) was the person alluded TO-. He wished to
make statement of the facts on which the charge
was founded. Mr. Hale then at some length ex-
planned that he had acted as counsel for these
persons, and that previous TO doing SO he had
asked the advice of Hon. Reverd johnson and
others, if he could consistently with his position
as United States Senator act as the legal ad-
wiser of the above mentioned parties. He was
assured he could, and that there existed rea-
son why he should not. Hon. Reverdy Johnson
stated to him that he was himself engaged in the
same kind of cases almost daily. Under these
circumstances he Rad acted for the prisoners.
He (Hale) then stated the facts of the case, and
concluded by saying that if there was bribery or
even indelicacy, il was not done inadvertently,
but advisedly and with cautious elaboration.
Mr.. johnson remarked that he recollected dis
tinctly that Hale called on him. stated, and re-
ported the conversation materially as stated.
In answer to his iHale's) inquiry whether a
Senator was precluded from acting as counsel for
person charged before a court martial with
fraud, he (Johnson) said he saw no legal impedi
ments in the way, or even ildelicacy. What he
(Haie) had done was no doubt done in conse-
quence Of this opinion.
Senators did not cease to be lawyers when
called upon for professional services. He saw
no difficulty in complying, unless the services in
volved the neglect of public duties. He (John-
SOM had repeatedly acted upon this assumption.
The only question that arise isis there
any law prohibiting tl There was a law pro-
bibiting Senators from prosecuting claims against
the Government before the Court of Claims. He
believed that the same law expressly excepted
cases pending before the courts. Ii was not the
intention of the laws to prevent lawyer prac
ticing in bis own profession. If a case of fraud
in contracts is brought before military court, a
lawyer whose services are desired has no right,
because he is member of Congress, to refuse
his services any more than be would in capital
case in the civil courts.
| Mr. Hale submitted the following resolution,
which was agreed IN:
Resolved. That the Committee on the Judi
ciarv be instructed to inquire whether John p.
| Hale, member of this body, in connection with
the case Of one Hunt, charged with crime by d.
rection OF the War Department. has been guilty
of any conduct inconsistent with his duty as a
Senator, and that they have power to send for
The following resolution submitted by Mr..
Wade was agreed to:
Resolued, That the Secretary of the Navy be
directed to communicate to the Senate all official
reports, dispatches and papers in the Navy De-
partment relating to actions In which any Of the
armed vessels have been engaged
Mr. Lane Of Kansas introduced bill to grant
land to the citizens OF Kansas 70 indemnity them
! for losses.