The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-02-03

the committee III liNtStiShtinH ot CtdiS cs
of Fraud and Corruption. The great
length of the report prevents us from giving
it in full That portion relating to the case
of Senator Robbins will lie found in another
column of to-day's Standard
Mr. Rich offered resolution generating
MIR. Rphtnns from intentional wrong.
1t was moved that the report anil rcsolu-
ton should I've postponed until Wednesday
next and ordered to he printed
Mr.. ROBBINS arose to question of privi-
iege and said:
Mr.. President, ! feel solemn A man on whose
name the breath OF reproach or suspicion was
never before breathed, now held up in the iace
Of all the people OF North Carolina Win ah lih
putation of a serious nature resting upon my
Under these circumstances, desire u ,Fo.'I
the statement which voluntarily maze 10 tfe
Investigating committee SIX DAYS ago, anu PC
lore any steps had been taken 10 eAauii"o 'n's
case.
Tho occurrence out of which this whole trouble
has arisen took place about as follows: On
Saturday morning, Aug. I'D, being the last ac-
five day OF the Summer session. as l was pass
inU through the lobby with my mind much ell
gagged and pre-occuped with various matters,
and especially with the preparation OF an adj
dress which Senators had appointed me TO de-
liver that morning, Mr.. j. w. Stevens approach
ed me and asked what thought OF his right to
~.
should rote for it. Hethch said something to
this effect that as was in favor Of it, he would
like To get me to attend to the case for him
his ldlpYer; and he would pay me fee OF twenty
dollars for my labor and Trouble. My recollec-
ton is that replied, that is just as you please,
Mr. Stevens, but will do as you have requested
This was the substance of our conversation
which altogether did mt last five minutes. 1
did not myself offer any resolution on the matter
of his per diem, at any time, but when the qucs-
tlatp af,fh SanQ
tors motion, remcmbrr making some remarks
in its favor, and illustrating the matter with OK
amples and instances of the same kind. | had
expressed my views in favor of his claim to
Senators Lindsay and Cook, on the day before
all this occurred, as MIR. Lindsay testites.
By nadvertence aud preoccupation of mind, l
failed TO recognize ut the time the TACT that my
public character as a Senator rendered it i'm
proper for me TO take this fee as tascyer. In
the latter point of view only did it then present
itself to me. l did not think deliberately about
it, II the amount had not been so tritling it
would have called my attention at once to the
nature of the thing, and it would never have &C.
CURED.
Singular as it may seem, Iaver that had to-
tally forgotten this MATTER until after we parsed
the resolutions ordering this investigation. In
all the discussion upon those resolutions, in
which made myself conspicuous, this incident
never occurred to my memory. But one day,
| sometime after this Committee had been consti-
tutcQ, as was walking aiOng Tue STREET,,
| ing also how sweet it was to feel that was ill.,
| nncent and in no danger, suddenly. as my mind
! glanced back over the past, the TACT OF money
| having been paid me came to my memory Ike
| a flash, and began to ponder over 1t, and saw
| in a moment how it was capable of being mis-
construed.
When this matter first began to be stirred
was in great strait. felt conscious of no in
| territorial wrong. But / knew how had men
would pervert my act; and this caused me at
first fO hpSit utQ &c IN wi N
confess was not then collected enough to know
| what to 10. But sober meditation soon decided
me to preserve the substance of truth and honor,
| rather than the se0ibtdnce only; and resolved
| to tell the facts without reserve, and trust my
cause with the good people of North Carolina,
! and with God who searches all hearts.
| l frankly own an inadyertant mistake. l deny
| all thought of wrong. Ifany man charges me
with bribery ve'aaiity, corruption, dishonesty
| utterly and Indignantly deny the charge!
| In all this matter i recognize the hand of an
overriding Providence. Perhaps He saw that the
| fond hopes of distinction opening before me were
growing too DEAR and has appointed this singu-
| lar and mysterious train of incidents to snatch
| this world from me. With reverent awe bow
to Him, and Commit my destiny into His bands.
Serene in the consciousness of my own recti-
tude, Senators, await your decision as my peers.
Mr.. GALLOWAY had never believed any
Senator guilty of fraud when the investiga-
| ton was commenced. He regarded the
Senator from Rowan as having inadvertant-
ly committed an error but did not believe
him guilty of any intended wrong.
Mr.. LINDSEY was always disposed to lean
to the side of charity. He had rather throw
mantle over the vices and follies of his
race than to expose them to the scorn of the
world. Who among us was so wise that he
might not stumbled He did not suppose
there wasa Senator on the floor who did not
believe that this was matter of inadver-
lance and that there had been no design OF
doing wrong. Why then should we crush a
broken reed2 He hoped the resolution
would pass that it might show the opinion
of the Senate that the Senator from Rowan
had been guilty of no wilful corruption.
Mr.. BLYTHE rose to point of order. The
gentleman was not combining himself to the
question.
The motion to postpone and to print pre-
vailed
On motion of Mr.. BARROW the Senate adj
journed until Monday at 10 A. NJ
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
SATURDAY, Jan. 90, 1869.
The House met at 10 o'clock.
Mr.. ESTES in the chair.
Prayer by Rev. s s. ASHLEY.
The Journal of yesterday was read and
approved.
Leave of absence was granted to Mr.
HOrney.
Mr.. JUSTICE, of Rutherford, moved a sus
pension of the rules to consider his resolu
ton to authorize the sale of the penitentiary
site. He said the penitentiary had beer
dragged into the Legislature continually fol
political purposes, costing the State thou
sands of dollars. This resolution would dis
pose of the whole matter.
A lengthy debate sprang up between
Messrs. Leary, Sinclair, Downing, ingram
and Pou.
Mr.. SEYMOUR said he was not prepared tt
vote upon the resolution, nor to assume tina
tile State owned the property 10y passing
the resolution; and moved that it be made
the special order for Monday evening mex
at s o'clock.
The rules were suspended and the motor
to make special order prevailed.
On motion OF Mr.. SEYMOUR, Senate bill tt
repeal an act to provide for the location of q
penitentiary and the employment of convict.
was taken up and made special order fo
8 o'clock on Monday evening next.
Mr.. FEREBEE presented a petition from thu
Commissioners of Camden county, accom-
panied by resolution to authorize the Com
mssioners Of Camden county to levy spe
cial tax to provide for the payment of ma
tured interest on the debt of the county
which was considered under suspension O.
the rules
Mr.. ARGo suggested that to authorize 6
tax itwould require bill