Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1869-02-26
sPEAKER RICHARDS.
Hl- Exam. s., 4; !. 2. s,.s,., Com


In the House, on Monday, the
special committee created and ap-
pointed under House joint resolution
to examine the testimony submitted
by the special Committee on the
School Fund In reference to that part
that implicated Speaker F. s. Rich
ards In the same, and see whether
or not the testimony was sufficient
to warrant his expulsion, made a
lengthy report, concluding as follows:
Your committee, deeply impressed
with the magnitude Of the task. hav-
ing, as IT might be termed, the h0r,ea
and happiness Of an Individual fbat
has occupied high and responsible DO
sitions since the formation of the
State Government, and has worked
zealously to'support and perpetuate
the same, be he guilty or not IA nm
douhtedly a task and position that In
by no means enviable, even To those
who cherish and cultivate the burn
ing fires of passion, and who desire
to lower their feilow-men tn the
depths of abject poverty and dJsgrace
consequently, In this light the House
may rest assured that our position in
the premises Is quite delicate; vet
y0urcommittee, divesting themselves
Of all prejudice and passion, have
given the subject that consideration
of thought which it demands, and
have acted, or tried to act, as impar-
tial Judges, knowing that the result of
our deliberations will be read by I'M
told hundreds, and IL without refiec-
ZION, will cast more odium on the
committee than the accused, should
he be guilty of the charges. -
Approaching fully the magnitude
OF the subject, and knowing that IL
becomes the duty of the representa-
tives of the people to decide upon the
the reception OF this report, pro or
con-, your committee have camIy
deliberated and matured fully the
whole testimony, and from that testi-
mony have come to the following
conclusions: III. - =. $500
LIST. That the records of the Saith
General Assembly fully exOperate
Mr.. Richards Of aiding BY vote or as
sisting by any legislation whateyer
to place the School Fund'fn Mr.. Rut-
ters bank. IIU = 49, IL
2tk That the statute laws of Tan
nessee, passed by the 35th General
Assembly, entities and gives Mr.
Richarts the right to testify In his own
behalf, notwithstanding The ercen.
tions made by Mr.. East, the attorney
for the State. .F4 - I-'''''-'''l
Sd. That after carefully weighing
the proof, as developed In the proceed.
ing evidence, your committee are I'M
aoie 10 arrive at any other conclusion
than the innocence Of the accused
member of the charges implied
against him.
Your committee do, therefore, re-
commend the passage by your honor
able body of the following resolu.
tions, to-wit: .fla1 - -0'-.
Resotved by the House of Repre-
of the General Assemble
Of the State of Tennessee, That the
committee raised under House reso-
luton No. 315, to whom was referred
the investigation of certain charges
made against Hon. F.S.
member of the House
from the country of Shelby, having
fully investigated the charges of com,
plicity In defrauding the State of a
large sum of money belonging to the
school fund, and said committee hav-
Ing submitted their report to this
House, generating the said +. 81.
Richards, member of this body, nom
any completely whatever In said
transaction, 1t Is therefore declared
as the sense of this House that said
f. 3. Richards, member rs aforesaid.
and Speaker Of the House of Repre-
Is not, either directly or
remotely, guilty Of any of the charges
or implications made against him by
The testimony of George r.. Rutter
before the special committee appoint
ed under House resolution . to in
vestigate the matter pertaining TO the
school fund; and that said f. s. Rich
ards, member from the county of
Shelby and Speaker OF this House, is
hereby requested to resume the chair
IS presiding officer of this body.