Wilmington journal., 1869-02-05
deny that important evidence has been
suppressed by the committee
Mr. Rich said the committee had taken

deny that important evidence has been
suppressed by the committee
Mr.. Rich said the committee had taken
solemn oath to discharge their duties
faithfully, and to report all evidence ma
terial on the subject under investigation.
The committee were composed OF gentle
N en- of integrity, and it would be gross
reflection on the members OF that commit
tee to pass tho resolution.
Mr.. Welker snid he thought this Was d
strange proceeding, to attempt to shut out
important evidence, for the charge had
been made that evidence he'd been strick-
Ell out of the report; he thought the reso-
luton should be adopted, and did not
think the recommitment of the report
could be construed as O reflection on the
committee or impugning their motives.
Mr.. Forkner said it was due the commit
tee and the Senate, since the charge had
been made that evidence had been sup
pressed, that he should make a statement
of the facts as they stood The rumor was
that Mr. Stephens had said that he had
been misrepresented in the report, in 9TH
er words, that bis entire evidence did not
appear. The committee when they asse M
bled determined to be governed strictly by
the rules of evidence. That portion of Mr..
Stephens information which does not ap-
pear in the report they did not consider as
evidence, and to make the case clear he
would submit it to the Senate. When Mr..
Stephens was asked if he considered he
was buying Senator Robbins vote, he re-
piled not at all, because he (Mr. Robbins)
had already stated to him that he thought
it was just claim and should vote for it,
(but he, Stephens, acas Of The opinion that
he was buying Mr.. Robbins influence that
was only Mr.. Stephens opinion and not
in the report. The committee have sub
mitted oil the evidence in their possession.
If it is recommitted and they are constitu-
ted standing committee, probably they
might be enabled to secure other evidence
in the course OF time, but they had
none other at present. He, as a mem
Der of the committee, ii it was recon-
mitted, should endeavor to do his whole
duty, as he believed the entire committee
had done heretofore. Mr. Robbins had
made statement to the committee which
he was willing to qualify to, and he believed
the Senator was ready to make any state
ment or answer any questions in the pres
ence of the Senate in reference to the mat
ter.
Mr.. Graham said when the report came
from the committee he knew they had sub
mitted all the material evidence, but when
the charge was made on the floor by a
Senator with so much earnestness and zeal,
that the committee had suppressed por
ton of the evidence, he felt compelled to
vote for a recommittal. He had had no
conversation with Senator Robbins in re-
ference to the matter, but had given the
whole subject calm and dispassionate con-
Slderation, not in a personal or partiZan
sense, but as juror sworn to act on the
evidence presented, without being biased
by personal Or any other consideration,
but to decide simply on the facts lin the
case. There was no necessity for casting
this slur on the committee, when, if ther
were any additional :acts to be brought
out, it could have been done in the pres
ence of the Senate when the report was
properly before them. Another error oc
ours in the stat ment that minority of the
committee exonerated Senator Robbins
from intended guilt, but regarded his con-
duct as an inadyertance, &c. The facts are
that majority Of the committee signed
that report, there were only eight in all,
and four of them signed the report. Sena-
tor Robbins, of course, having charges
preferred against him, was not expected to
do SO.
Mr.. Davis offered substitute for the
resolution requiring the Messrs Robbins,
Stephens and Forkner to make full state
ment of the facts in their presence to the
Senate.
Mr.. Forkner said he did not see any pro-
priety or necessity for passing such reso-
luton requiring Senators to make state
ments on the floor when they had already
signiied their willingness to do SO, and
they were ready to answer any question at
any time in reference to the matter He
hoped the Senate would not cast such
1-o,1
at once tnat he Or they were disposed to
conceal knowledge of the corruption and
are forced to reveal it, was unjust, and
should not pass.
Mr.. Stephens said lie cOncurred in all Mr..
Forkner had said, and would state that he,
Mr.. Forkner, had alluded in his former re-
marks to the evidence which had not been
reported by the committee, his statement
in relation to that matter, was correct, and
he knew of nothing else to be brought
out-he was ready to answer any question
in relation to the matter.
Wr. Winstead said he voted to recOmmit
the report simply upon the ground that
charges had been made that evidence had
been suppressed, not because he believed
the committee had done wrong, but after
the charge had been made he thought it
due the committee. He thought the SEN
u0C ouI u W III ACAHeASA w UAAo AAdo
ter. The committee had been twitted
time and again because they were so slow
to act, and now they have reported the
Senate are not satisfied. He thought they
had presented the whole matter fully and
fairly.
The question recurring Mr.. Etheridge's
resolution to recommit was rejected.
Mr.. Rich withdrew his resolution, and
the report was accepted.
Mr.. Rich then introduced his resolution
in substance as follows While the Senate
disapproyes of Mr.. Robbins transaction
~, 'th Mr.. Stephens, they still have conf
dane Ia in his integrity.
Mr., C>"ok moved to postpone its further
oons;aeroti, ~ until Friday next.
NJ Etberio.re moved to amend by in
90 Mr. Sweet hoped he amendment would
not sr; prevail, eo he Believed it was the inten-
ton of the Senate to decide this question
according to the facts presented IN the re-
port, and it was impossible for senators
to become acquainted with all the 1acts
sufficiently to vote intelligently on report
covering so pages of manuscript in SO short
a time he hoped the Senate would see the
propriety of deferring it to longer time.
Al T+bori1oa'o m otiOO WAS lost.