Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-02-21

extend the sittinEs Of the Committee ap-
pointed % investigate the statement OF
Gen. Fisk. This resolution brought ON
quite a spirited discussion. MI Arm
strong desired 10 present q minority re-
port, and read a letter and kilograms
from Gen. Fisk, giving the reasons why
be. fthe General had not presented
himself before the Committee. II the
/ TeqisIsture did not show a willingness
| ~ Give the fullest investigation Of the
matter. no matter what "a decision Of
/ his body OF the facts in the case were,
/ he effect would be injurious; people
would not believe statements unless there
was an opportunity given for the other
side 10 be heard. MIR. Webb also urged
| The Committee 60 take this course, and
withdraw the majority report until the
minority OF the Committee could pre-
sent their report.
Mr.. Conklin hoped the resolution
would not be adopted; he could see no
good 70 be accomplished by extending
the sitting Of the Committee. The effort
Of Gen. Fisk 10 eXculpate himself, might.
il he chose, keep the Committee in ses-
sion during the entire interim Of the ses-
SION Of the Legislature at q great ex-
pense. He wished the investigation
should only be made I'm regard 10 the
\ MNAANAaANAAH va AHH1 NAAN A.LAAaEA HL lex
ingtOn. He did not want Gen. Fisk Ia
have the privilege of trsversing the
whole state 70 procure evidence of every
little act Of m-istre8tment that might
have been perpetrated upon the negro,
for the purpose OF justifying the speech
made at Cincinnati Gen. Fisk made 8
speech that reflected upon Kentucky.
The Legislature introduced a resolution
to inquire into the truth Of the
statements made in that speech-not 70
/ reflect upon Gen. Fisk. To this Mr..
Armstrong responded thatbe was willing
! TO modify theres0lution so as 10 have the
! investigation limited 70 the points
named, and also that the Committee
should sit without pay. Gen. Fisk had
certainly indicated his wish 70 come be-
fore the Committee, and he had never
been legally notified He was at Wash
inguOn City at the time the letter was
dropped in the post office directed TO
| Louisville. M. Stout expressed the
hope that the Committee would be al
lowed TO withdraw their report, and that
they would ask 70 do so. The gentle
man from Louisville .AE. Armstrong;
was absent on duty nj the time the report
was made. and he asked, in justice TO him
/ that this be done, aud also in justice 20
Gen. Fisk and the STATE. Gen. Fisk had
stated that the speech had been reported
by somebody who wanted TO make q
sensation paragraph Of il, and that
It was exaggerated. II was due 10 him
that the case be investigated. Col VOL
I ford OpD1sed the extending the la1OTs az
the committee. He understood the gen
tIemau from Louisville to say that Gen.
Fisk denied having made the printed
speech j he did So, that set him right,
and all hat was necessary was for the
: ate 70 be set right BE supposed that
every gentleman understood the matter.
We are marching right onward TO a CEN
traliZed government. This great power
Is marching forward 20 strike down and
destroy the very principles Of our Gov
eminent. No man can fail TO see the
tendency os these things. Lr. DaEiiu
{ looked upon this as @ question for col
deI6eraUiJu, and that the House should
not be carried OF by defamation. There
was no gentleman upon b GoCr who
would go further IN VIlCicatlug
the state Of Kentucky than himself BE
was satisfied that the resolution should
pass. he would not believe that certain
things did exist 10 the State, but he had
read letters written 10 officers OF his Bu-
reau from citizens of this State, and be
wanted 10 have these things invesr-
gated, and the authors unearthed, and
this the Committee could do. He was
satisfied in his OWn mind that the eZcQSe
for not appearing here st this time was a
good one. He never condemned a man
for what he would do himself under the
same circumstances, snd he would have
gone 10 his family in the same circum-
stances, no matter what mighthave been
the result of sucha matter. Mr.. Blur said
that the resolution contemplated thaUthe
Committee shaltake pr0of.of thematters
charged by Gen. Fisk, and lay the proof
before the Governor, and the original
resolution asked that he be Instantly re-
moved by the President if these state
ments should be shown 10 be false, 10 re-
move him Immediately from his position.
The course Of the Committee thus far
would not have that effect upon the Pres
ident. We are a nation u lawyers, the
President Is a lawyer, Gen. Fisk is law
yer, and they can judge Of the effect Of
purely negative testimony. The positive
proof as TO what occurred is what viii
have weight, and that proof is necessary
In order to attach any weight TO the re-
port. The Committee intrUsted with
this investigation have made IL with q
view TO lay the result before the Presi-
dent Of the United States, and have an
LLAlEEA AA AAAA EAA4AAGaaAA AEAAahEAa
When commencing that investigation
they drop a letter in the pOstofiee, for
Louisville, when that party was well
known 20 be IN Washington. The
moment he receives that, be notifies the
Committee that be viii meet them.
When he reaches Louisville, he receives
news Of Affections in his family at St
Louis, and sttends the funeral of his
sister-in-law, and 70 watch by the sick
bed of his wife. Yet the Committee
hurry back TO Frankfort from LexinE-
ton, against the protest Of one member of
the Committee. They hurry back here
and make a report, thus disregarding
the obligations of q fair trial and for
wh8t2 To clear Kentucky Of these
charges. I deny that Gen. Fisk has
made any charges against Kentucky.
In the very speech from which this
tract is taken, he says that ga majority
Of the people Of Kentucky are imbUed
with a sense Of justice and law, but he
charges cruelty upon some Of the inh8bi-
tants. II the report Is received by this
House without any further Investigation,
these charges viii 90 forth to the world,
and the world viii believe that We are
avoiding an investigation. Il viii fail
before the Presidents and before the world.
The minority Of the Committee shall
have q hearing, and Gen. Fisk shall
have an opportunity OF either showing
the truth of what is stated. or OF retract-
ing what Is false. I, sir, am but an
humble citizen OF Kentucky, but I am
as anxious 20 see the honor OF the STATE
vindiCated As any citizen Of the state.
NcHeury supported the resolution
in a few pertinent remarks, and moved
that the resolution be referred 10 the
on Federal Relations. Mr..
Backner followed IL a short but caustIc
sreech, snImadyert-ng sharply upon
Gen. Fisk, and expressing the fear that
he would escape the condemnation due
20 him. ia tEe same manner that Judge
GoOdlOe was likely %. The motion OF
Mr.. McHenrv Eas then carried, and the
resolution referred 20 the Committee OF
Federal Relations. We suHioin the report /
Of the Minority Committee. which Will
the present status OF the whole
better than any comments OF
other parties.
Minority Report in the Ee~sisssture or
Kentucky on the risk case. bF EEoB.
=. ~. Armstrong, Of Eoui-yiEie.
To the Legislature OF Kentucky.
The undersigned, one Of the JointCom
Of the Two Houses Of the General
Assembly OF Kentucky, appointed 10 in
the Tutl OF ceFt&In statements 7
alleged 10 have been made 10y Brevet
Clinton b. Fisk. in a public
speech in Cincinnati, January eiEh-
teeuth, eighteen hundred and ,iNty-six,
5egs leave 90 offer g reason why he does
not concur with the majority I'm their
The C0mDiJJee visited the city of lex
as Der agreement, on the third
day oi February, eighteen hundred and
9iZty-siN, and proceeded 20 the office of
Inc Clerk OF the County Court Of Fayette
county, at the houy OF eleven o'clock A.
al which time he received the follow
ng telegram, which was read 10 the
jOmmlJtte:
WAsHIN8ToN, Feb. 2 1896.
10 Hon. IN. Armstrong, Legislative Gem.
Please delay investigation until / re-
urn. The cOlOred soldiers We're from
i've different counties. I have ordered
ny subordiuates % procure all the facts,
0uching not only the thirteen referred
o in Cincinnati, but Of all similar csses
n the entire State. 1 VIII meet You at
frankfort on my return, and we viii go
10 the hard-pan on the whole ques-
ion. / wrote you fully at this date.
CLINTON D. FISK Brsvet Maj.-Gsu.
He asked for an extension Of the time
the taking OF the testimony, IN order
o allow Gen. Fisk an opportunity Of ap-
'esring before the Committee. The