New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-06-09

reference
President on the articles impeachment preferred by the
house OF representatives against HIM, nor any auson
Your petitioner having thus purged the contempt
charged against MIN by answering the question referred
might hereupO from the justice Of the House that
ne De dschsrged without bringing to the consideration
OF your honorable body other facts connected with
his case But sense Of justice to himself demands
and he 70 afPS"1 Of %
preston which he Is being made to suffer And
tee from the report Of the Managers submitted the
House on the 29th OF May, wherein he is charged with
by him from one OF the banks in this city The report
sets forth that your petitioner accounted for the dis
position sn OF SAID sum OF money as follows
sf T. , be- be b bad pa, pal. Sq on cs1 S1s
bank there forgetting that sending cheek bank Ohio would not
That PAID between sisoS and $1,000 the same
to sbendsn Shook; which Sheridan SHOOK denIe,
The report refers TO the statement the Hon. b.
Butter by your petitioner as he believes on Tuesday
the 10th of May, when he was first summoned by the
Managers Your petitioner has on several occasions re-
quesed TO be allowed to examine the statement referred
to, that he might correct the same If he found to be
erroneous but such request has been refused by the
Managers lie submits that the Managers have strangely
e he 3 Ss was
entire OF said sum was disposed OF in each OF the teUr
said money expended his private business and
portion OF 1t paid out on the business OF his client He
ted to Cincinnati by check, but he did represent that
part Of the money for which he drew on NewYork had
been furnished by Of his clients In Ohio and that he
drew the bills and put them In his pocket and sent his
client In Ohio check for the amount his bank account
before the Committee Of Managers the fact
be established by him. and the reputation OF the unjust
pshed lie did state that he handed large amount
81 said bills IN his possession to Sheridan shook ana az
the day after making the said statement TO w.t. on Wed
in the morning Of that day, met Ransom van valken-
burgh, OF the State OF York. with whom he had been
formed your petitioner that In the conyivial par
~ on the preceding Sunday at when Time
ana occasion ne believed l ne W haa v eSen
burgh had taken the same, and then had in his posses
sion Your petitioner was very much surprised ana We GG
cined TO take said money and requested the sara van
Vakenburgh to retain 1t until his examination was over
Your petitioner fet deeply aggeEed g oi ON
the preceding day, and believing that he was not re-
CURED to disclose anything IN regard 70 ms private az
lars Ia no way connected WIN OF Ielhtng 10 ene
subject which the Committee had IN charge resolved
eyan question: and TO refuse all answer 10 suc, ana iet
that he had committed grave error IN submitting 10 he
Your petitioner did not thereby intend any dsrePecr 20
this honorable body TO the Managers but he believed
that grave principle Of constitutional power ana pINae
right was involved and that your honorable Dody WSuu
pass upon any question at issue between the su Nan
, as az aud yq%r at as the proper e
II the House should determine that 1t was legitimate
there should be no change the condition Of things as
they then stood and therefore declined TO take SAID
of the said Van Yalkenbuuh. Your petitioner files
herewith, part OF this petition the affidavit OF sld
Ransom Van VOlkenburgh, Robert Strong, Cornelius
Wendell and Charles H. Shelley, one OF the proprieors
OF the Metropolitan Hotel of Washington City IN which
the circumstances attending the disposal OF said money
by your petitioner fully set forth and explained,
which said afdayits are marked Exhibits a, IS q ana
ID. and prayed to be taken as part OF THIS petition
Your petitioner further saws that he advised by his
that in view OF the position in . Thfh rs YRs
Committee OF Managers 20 investigate hs 1riSs,e ahnrs
ict houi which he was inquired OF had relation TO
the matters given by the resolution Of the House In
foregoing facts any further disclosure OF any kind
whatever should be made, at least until the House
should approve question 10 which such dis
closure would be necessary response But your
petitioner feels and he Is now advised by his counsel
IN the debates In the House aud by The Committee or
Managers IN the prosecution o. ae1 iaSo65 SGana
aud reputation should be shielded against abuse ana
aspersion that he should submit this statement 70 the
House Of Representatives and the people OF tue United
States while lie Is still ncarceated under an order OF
your honorable body upon the charges OF contempt az
and lie is informed, the course OF tho examination
OF a upon trial for onenses neither specified nor
made Known.but which areto be generally through
his life by investigation into all his private relations
SntoI The Managers his bank accounts from Ncw-York
and Cincinnati aud his clients from Ohio have been
durcd 20 attend and produce his letters ana
GGorrespondence IL would not be either beconl-
into an argument IN petition such as this: Upon
the question Of the intent OF the authority con
ferred on the Managers by the resolution directing them
o inquire whether improper aud corrupt means nave
used 10 influence the determination OF me senate on
the articles Of impeachment preferred by Tue House OF
Representatives against the President OF the Inilcu
states. aud for the more eicleht prosecution OF ne III
parchment to summon and examine witnesses" But he
may be permitted to submit TO the HOUSE tnat, tneIe
is limit the authority III the resolution by when
10 is conferred, there ~ IN tho llButs OF u
citizen of the Republic barrier which, under the Const-
tuition and laws, such authority must De stay me
private business Of the citizen having no relation 10 INC
subject OF inquiry should be protected nom disclosure
he is Trial he should have the privilege the nst
aud the OF protection assured 10 inc accuscu; nc
should be confronted with the witnesses brought against
him allowed 10 Examine them. and be- permitted TO
summon others In his behalf While your
open inquiry ON any period or act OF ne me-
left Tree 10 meet and epe the accusaton and apply the
recognized tests OF truth 10 evidence adtuced ne respect
fully submits that secret investigation conducted Dy
one or few gentlemen into the private affairs and per.
sOnal and social relations OF the cLe Whcfc petohd
hostility aud personal malice may md revenge IN re
counting It's story from witness stand contrary to
the OF free country ana ~ % INC u
IL cannot DO answered 10 these suggestions that the
Committee OF ManageTss performing the FUNCTIONS Oh
Grand Jury Grand jury nquring into onenses com
mtted within the territory subject TO s Jullsdletion
is unauthorized agent OK judicial power sMorh
ing except through It's presentmen!s , ana III
dictments. The honorable Committee OF Managers,
House from time TO time such portions OF
the testimony taken before them as tney n may e a5
drawing their conclusions from the general statements of
WIZ not saDeeea 10 sG es. u ~ s San@S
send r tG tS sri hfraGve to The country It's Grand Of
was Obtained is beyond the call OF the victim, and the
tribunal shut against all contradictory ana eAeupatoy
Your petitioner with all respect to the House and the
Managers, having herein answered the questions when
at the time they propundod ho felt constrained by
honor to decline sSaeTtS%s ren ga the 6ro re-
i rus hin, % he held IN custody, DECLARED y be the
Contempt he Is required to pdfe pra that ne may be
now dschorged And II there is any other matter or
NM ssHttfh connected and not IN this petition met
Unnamed and answered to the satisfaction Of the House
he prays that he may be brought 10 h par OF me House
and informed thereof aud nteTfOgated In regard thereto
Ms TO the Judgment OF the House shall seem just ana
proper In the premises. Respectfully sepmltueat
r. j. Brent r T. Merrick, OF Counsel Tor Petitioner
.rr1nAyIr OF Mr.. VAN YALKENBuRGH