The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-23
THE FoRTIETH CONGRESS.
Second Session.
SENATE.


from the Secretary OF War nclosIng copy OF letter
from Brlgader General Over, Chief OF Ordnance,
dated July 90 1861 asking trial by court martial for
the offences imputed to him in the recent report Of
| the Joint Committee on Ordnance.
On motion OF Mr.. Howard, the subject was referred
| to The Joint Committee on Ordnance.
SOUTH CAROLINA SENATOR'S.
| Mir. WILSON, (rep.) OF Mass, presented the creden-
als or Frederick A. Sawyer, elected Senator for
| the long term, and Thomas J. Robertson Senator
for The short term, by the Legislature Of South Caro-
| lima.
MI: Toward rep;,, Of Mich, presented re-
| monstfance, signed bT about dozen members OF
the South Carolina Legislature, protesting against
| the admission of Mr.. Sawyer to represent &C., I'm
not legally entitled to O seat. He moved that the
credentials be accordingly referred to the Judiciary
Committee. with power to send for persons and
papers.
MI. HOWE trep), of Wis, opposed the reference,
saying 1t would exclude for hong time repre-
sentative from State we have not had the pleasure
ana advantage OF seeing represented here for years.
lie testified in behalf Of Mr.. Sawyers integrity, and
argued that the proper way TO test his ability To
take the oath was TO tender 1t to him.
Mr.; HARLAN, (rep.) OF Iowa, made motion to
which he claimed to be privileged, that Mr. Robert
son, to whom there was no objection, be sworn in.
Messrs. CAMERON, (rep) OF Pa and HOWE con-
tended tnas the proper tr way would be to first swear
Judiciary Committee for investigation.
Messrs. DRAKE, rep) OF Mo-. and HOWARD held
that the same rule should be applied here in The
case of Thomas, of Maryland, where the matter was
referred to the Judiciary Committee.
l IT.
| Sawyer native Of Massachusetts, vino stumped
the State for the Republican party in 1864, and was
then sound to the core.
| Messrs PoMERoy, (rep) OF Kansas and FREIING-
HUysEN rep.) OF N. j., called for vote on the
ton TO allow MI Robertson to take tile oath, saying
| he might be able TO throw some hight On the sub
| ject.
Mr.. DAVIS, (dem.) of KY, had some objections,
based on the fact that there were other Senators
constutionaly elected from that State ana he pro-
duced what he stated to be the credentials Of the
gentleman elected under the Provisional Government
| OF South carolina.
| The motion prevailed and Mr.. Robertson came
forward and was sworn.
On motion the documents presented by Mr..
Howard were read, charging that Mr.. Sawyer was
engaged In blockade running in 1862, 1858 and 1864
and that he held Office under the rebel authorities
during that period; that he was member OF a rebel
military organization In 1884, and that he was voted
for at the election by members whose seats
| tested.
Mr.. HOWARD said these were grave charges, ana in
justice both TO Mr.. Sawyer and to the country there
should be fair investigation.
Mr. FEssENpEN rep) OF Me-, asserted that the
practice OF the Senate is to allow Senator pr'Iaa
| .Jdcte elected to take his seat.
Mr. CoNKLING, rep.) OF N. Y, thought there was
nothing in the charges to justify the exclusion. The
allegation was merely that il is alleged and believed
| that Mr.. Sawyer was guilty Of blockade running,
&c while In the case Of Mr.. Thomas facts
Mr. HOWARD interposed that the statements are
accompanied by aildavits.
Mr. CoNKLINo was speaking Of the case as pre-.
sented. He called for the reading OF the adavits.
The afldavits OF G. c. Bowen,r ember OF Congress
from South Carolina, and i. J. Mackay, OF Charles
/
OF the allegations, repeating them and giving the
names OF witnesses who they claim can substantiate
| them.
Mr.. WILSON, trer.) OF Mass attributed the opposi-
| ton TO the sharp contest between Messrs sawyer
and Mackay for the position OF Senator, saying that
| Mr.. sawyer had been superintendent Of Public
| Schools OF Charleston, :. g., during the rebellion.
lie produced AFFIDAVIT OF The Assistant Treasurer
OF the United states at South Carolina estifyng to
| the loyalty of Sawyer, and explaining the circum-
| stances connected with the charge In regard to
| blockade running 10 the enoct mat the only ven
ture-onc less than hundred dollars-was under
| the stipulation, which was complied with, that the
| vessels should not return. ana that the proceeds
| should not be used to aid the rebellion The paper
| also conradlcted others OF the statements made in
| Mr. CoNKLISG thought this paper fully met with
| the allegations OF the other. lie denied that the
BODY could question the composition OF the Legisa-
na ernr ~ th a,u pu,naea on, ,he paona
s e tho uS nno seneu oy sne uro.ner
tended fbai NJ sa,ynr pI ", VI sawye.. mv 0o"
Mr. eo,,"no, ,novssd -, oe sw ~, a -. onue'
roi,a inc noin, aba, +, , ea' u, MT. oawsu, na
and bad nrecnde nee ovor a lue :, , vi pNheso
Tne CrI.Ir decdea tbat mo g,, ~ , ode had
| precedence saving Inc rniis are .i,,ni on rho s"h
| iect. wv ''''' o' WIZ S"'
| Mr. HOWARD replied 10 MIR conkling claiming that
the afidayiis contain as rnuc "a a. oeneraliy con-
| - "a