The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-05-19

time OF adjournment
The yeas and nay having been called the passage
OF the resolution, Mr.. EDhUNDs, In explaining why
he should now vote for the resolution though he had
voted against 1t on Saturday said he did not believe
He would not go to the convention but would be In
huenced by what he might perhaps call without re-
nectnE on anyoody high public CONSIDERATIONS"
Mr.. DRAKE said his reasons were Of similar char
acter, for changing his vote ON adjournment.
The resolution as amended, was then adopted,
republicans being pretty equally divided.
A REBuKE TO THE IMPEACHMENT MANAGERS.
M: bUcKALEw ldem) OF Pa. rose to a privileged
question: lie said that the House Of Representa-
ves had recently undertaken only to protect the
interests committed to them-the dignity and honor
pertain to the senate sc Th ees nare oneny
he continued, in the face of the motion,
authorized certain number OF their members 10 in
vestigate questions which have relation TO The char
acter and 10 the transactions OF the Senate OF the
United States. The propose to enter upon an inves-
tgation OF the innuences-I think am correctly
pressing it-'which have been exerted and have
operated upon the members Of the Senate sitting in
their judicial capacity as a Court OF Impeach
ment." IL occurs To me, Mr.. President, that
il the House Of Representatives coordinate
branch OF the legislative department. or any of its
members, nave information affecting the character
OF senators or the integrity OF these proceedings IN
which the Senate have been engaged, ii is their
business 10 communicate that information to the
senate In orer mat II may note such action as IN us
Judgment pertains TO its dignity, to its character and
TO the prosecution OF its business; ana take II for
granted that, If such Information were conveyed
this Senate has yet enough of vgor 20 meet and dis
charge all the duties made obligatory upon it by the
constitution understand that when the Senate
rs charged Dy the constitution with duty and Is
proceeding to perform that duty, it has all the au-
thority and power requisite TO take care OF ali col
lateral questions connected VITA its jurisdiction.
me hous, having now sent us resolution asking
an official Transcript OF what the Senate had
done, ! ,n1 that it is not for the mere pnr-
pose OF informing that body, because IL was
present during all proceedings, and we
have published official copies OF all that has been
done except what has been done in private session;
but IL IL Tor the purpose Of having this body recOg
nZe by u deliberate vote the proceedings upon
which they have entered. What has the House TO
do with the records OF this Senate in connection with
any such volunteer proceeding III that upon which
some committee Of their members IL about to enterS
Mr.. EDMuNDS raised the point OF order that the
senator had no right TO refer TO any proceeding Of
any committee OF the House.
The Clerk read the rule by direction OF the Chair.
Mr.. EDMuNDS again stated his point
Mr. MISUNDERSTANDING to that the House
might do anything and everything with reference to
this body--pass any resolution and send it TO us
and In discussing that resolution cannot speak of
the action IN The other body That is the proposition
OF the honorable Senator from Vermont (Mr. Ed
munds) Nothing has been said disrespcctful OF that
body. The honorable Senator from Pennsylvania was
proceeding simply TO discuss the question Of what
tins was probably wanted for; and speaking OF that
object, 1t svery singular that we cannot speak at all
OF what Is done III the other House. submit that
rule has application The question raised by the
Senator from Vernon.
The CHAIR ovcrruied the point OF order.
Mr. BUcKALEw continued The House sends no in
timatOn the face of their resolution or by mes
sage OF any OBJECT Tor which they desire copy OF our
records.
Mr.. SuMNER-They never do.
Mr.. BUCRALEw-And the only suppOsition which
can reasonably be made from what know is
That thus information s required for the purpose OF
investigating the Senate OF the United States or the
influences, believe the resolution expresses 1t, by
which this Senate has been Affected
Mr.. DooLlrrLE trep of Wis interrupted the speaker
to read the House resolution in question.
Mr.. BUCKALEw proceeded-l rSe not because this
resolution Of the House touches me In the remotest
particular, stns up any feelings in my mind other
than those rcuret that the HOuSe 9hOulu have
gone beyond what think is an appropriate urisdIc-
ton, and encroached on what cannot but think TO
be prerOgative OF the Senate, and that Is to vndi
cate itself and its own proceedings from
any imputatlons which would AFFECT them
to the Consent PROPOSED that these procs ed
ings may be transmitted to the House. Now sir, f
we SIT quietly by and allow everything to take place
by temporary eXciements, with regard to the Senate
or its proceedings, we will justly suffer in public
reputation; we win fall below the standard which
1t is our duty to maintain; we will lower the
dignity of this branch OF Congress, and
we win have no right hereafter to object
directed against the Senate by a member OF the
House OF Representatives, or by some inadvertent,
Sress. insist that Il there be any cause for an m
vestgati0n OF this description the information should
be laid before the Senate itself, and 1t should act,
and that we ought at least to oppose any such
yielding of powers to the House OF Representa-
tves OF TO the President or to the courts or TO any
one else whatever. We are competent to vindicate
ourselves. we are competent to preserve pure and
unsulei the streams OF public justice, so far az we
are concerned; anu for one, am disposed to up
hold the u9nity and rights OF the Senate.
Mr.. SUMNER said the idea that the House had such
purpose in asking for these records 10 be found
only in the imagination Of the Senator. IF he had
looked at the statement OF the chairman OF the com
mittee Mr. Bingham), he might have seen that the
purpose was to see whether the right Of
lnent is attempted wrongfuly or corruptly
TO be interfered with or controlled by anybody,
either by the President or his agents He (Mr. Sum
nPrl knew nothing or the proceeding DeVOnu what
appears upon the record; but he considered 1t one
with which the Senate could not interfere lie
reminded them that the articles OF impeachment
conclude with reservation to the House OF
Representatives OF the right at any time there
the House should ind that the President
his agents have been engaged in
attempts of corrupt character would they rot be
justified In making an inquiry into the character OF
that attempt would the Senate interfere with the
inquiry we know, he said, from the evidence be-
Pres President Of the United states. We know
how utterly unprincipled and wicked he is
II is in evidence. We also know what some OF hls
IN his defence-nOt Of course IN this chamber-we
know what they have openly said. have in my
hand brief extract from the New YORK WOTtd-a
paper which understand has throughout this trial
sustained the President day by day-inssting that
he was not guilty: quote It as part Of history aud
showing the character Of some OF the Presidents
defenders. Mr.. Sumner read the paragraph from
the New York WOrid, proposing TO buy Senators
whose term would shortly expire.
Mr. DIXON asked n it was an editorial.
Mr. SUMNER replied in the affirmative He went
on TO ask whether these words were not calculated
to stimulate inquiry the part OF the House, and
he again insisted that the Senate should not stand
the way OF the inquiry.
MIR fEssENDEN asked the Senator whether he was
one of those referred to whose term would shortly
eXpiref
Mr. SUMNER-I am.
Mr.. FEssENDEN with a quizzical expression Of
communicable has MOI seen anything OF the
money, suppose. Q.aughter.)
Mr. SUNNER-No. tMr. Sumner made remark in
an undcrtOne about not belonging to that sde.)
Mr. FEssENDES-Oh, but there are several articles
left yet TO vote on (saughter.)
Mr.. SUMNER-l would say that am not afraid of
an investigation.
Mr. CONFESS repeated that there was reason TO
suppose that the request for the records had
10 10 with the investigation by the House. He char
acterized the article quoted nom the World as VII
famous.
Mr. DIXON asked If the Senator was aware that
the article was not an editoral2
Mr.. CoNNEss replied in the negative.
Mr.. DIXON said such was the case, and that IL was
Intended TO be ironIca, being intended IA a trap for
republican papers that had denied the legal chirac
ter OF the impeachment proceedings and that they