The Portland daily press., 1868-05-22
xLth OoNaREss-seoond Session.
SENATE.

| SENATE.
| WASHINGTON, May 2.-There was barely a
Mr.. Davis, as a question of privilege, offered
resolution that a committee of three be ap.
| pointed to examine and ascertain from parties
who had been engaged in the meanful act of
attempting to influence the action and intimi-
date the Senate in regard 10 the disposition of
| the articles of impeachment.
The resolution was laid aside temnorar;Iv
The chair submitted Communication from,
the President submitting the new Constitu-
lions of Louisiana, North Carolina onJ Gnon
gia. Referred to the Committee on .1nd;c; our
Mr.. Henderson rose to question of nriv2-
lege, and read note he had received on Tues
day from the Board of Impeachment Mana.
gers, requesting him to appear before them, I'd
as o',ia by giving such testimony
as would tend to instruct the House of Repre-.
sentatlves on the matter they had been deputed
W investigate by resolution of the 18th inst,
ne then read his answer, sent yesterday, in
which he said that personally he had no OBJ
lection to comply with their request. more
particularly as his refusal would be miscon-
strued and subject him to further calumny. but
as a Senator he could not comply without first
submitting the matter to the Senate for their
advice and concurrence. He considered the
terms OF the resolutions under which thew
were acting as insulting to the Senate. MI.
He anderson said he felt that it would be injuri-
GUS to the dignity of the Senate, to public ius-
tice and to public interests to countenance the
assumed right of the House to sit in inqnisi-
ton on members of this body He thought
the resolution calculated to deprive the SEN
ate of proper control of his own affairs and
would even oblige Senators to dyulpe their
secret deliberations under fear of committal
tor contempt and removal from protection of
the Senate. He stated he appeared before
another committee of the House yesterday.
and had testified to what little he knew about
the Chief Justice and the Senators in the for
nation OF a new party, and protesting only at
the close because he did not wish to expose
himself to miscOnstruction by refusing to tes-
tlfy, although he felt most of the Questions
were not current. In regard to this other
committee, however, he would refuse to COM
ply with their request unless the Senate
thought it best to do SO, and to the Senate he
now submitted the question with the letter
from the Managers he had just received.
:. The letter was read, disavowing any inten-
tional discourtesy to the Senate, and saying
that the former letter was not intended as
subpoena but simply request in which his
right was to decline to answer any question
he considered improper.
Mr.. PomerOy said he had received similar
notice and had given his testimony, not sup
posing ne had thereby compromised the digni-
Mr.. Sumner followed in the same strain, and
thought no obstacle should be thrown in the
way OF justice, as 1t was possible another arti-
Gle might be framed on the evidenbe now be-
ing taken.
A0cOiu sioH VI hT. OaVlS was Cnen con-
sldered. 1t refers to the action taken by GER
tain parties which reflects on the integrity of
the members of the Senate, and calls for the
appointment of committee to investigate the
whole matter and report.
Considerable discussion ensued.
Mr. Ross offered an amendment calling on
the House to send to the Senate all the testi-
mony bearing on the subject which they had |
Already taken. The amendment was accented |
by Mr. Davis, and the debate was Continued at |
length. 'N "'
At $50 Mr.. Conkling moved to adiourn Init |
yielded to motion to go into executive ses- |
day. -' S