The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-02-12

mean man in one party was as bad rs
mean man In another party. If they
could not sustain the Republican party
without having II full of cutthroats, of
men who accept brides and fitch the
legacy bequeathed by the State to Its
children, then let the party burst--and
he was as much Radical as anybody.
AS regarded the falsely termed &c parte
nature of the testimony submitted by
the first committee (Which was cOmpos.
ed of men who could not be white
washed, who could not be bribed and
did not want hats and gold-headed
canes,) he would as soon accept the ties.
timony of one culprtt as another. He
hoped that the report just presented
would not be adopted as the sense Of
the House.
Mr.. welsh here took the floor, but
yielded to motion to adjourn.
Adjourned to 2 p. n.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The consideration of the Bribery In
vcstigating Committees report was re-
sumed.
Mr.. Welsh made some remarks on
the subject, taking the position that the
testimony failed to convict Mr.. Rich
ards. lie said there was no doubt that
the present agitation was mere effort
at " Justification" so as to split up and
demoralize the Radical party. Was it not
guite apparent that rebels and copper
heads were pushing the matter, and was
not their object quite apparent! Out
side pressure was being brought to bear
on this Legislature. and it was proper
that members of this House should he
cognizant of the fact.
Mr.. Bowles said that the "outside
pressure" brought to bear was tho acts
of guilty parties themselves.
Mr.. Brown thought the mere fact of
borrowing money from q regularly
chartered and solvent bank should not
be considered an impeachable oflense,
and beyond borrowing some money
from the Tennessee National Bank, of
Memphis, Mr.. Richards was not guilty.
During the course of his remarks he
made what Mr.. White, of Greene, con-
sidered reflections on himself, when
the latter got up and said in very en-
phatic way that Mr.. Brown was liar.
Here Mr.. Brown made for the gentle
man from Greene, when other parties
interfered, and the excitement subsidized.
Mr.. White endeavored TO explain.
Mr.. Doughty demanded that until
the former should make an apology to
the House the rules should be enforced,
and he should be prevented from speak
ing.
Mr.. White made the necessary apol-
ogy to the House, and Mr.. Brown pro-
ceeded in his defense of Mr.. Richards,
claiming that with the evidence before
it, the House could not refuse to indOrsG
the report Of the committee.
Mr.. Myers was the next speaker. lie
thought there were only two or three
main one, was found in the letter from
Mr.. Richards to Rutter, where he stated
he would appoint certain committee
that would be favorable to the latter
This was small matter after all, as j
was the prerogative OF Speaker Rich
ards to appoint committees. As for thu
Chicago dispatch, nothing culpabl,
could be made out Of it. The fact wa'
that Mr.. Ruttcr was trying to shift tn,
responsibility on others, in order t.
make his own villainy the lighter. Tn,
testimony failed to prove Mr.. Richards
guilt, and he was satisfied the whole
matter was a firebrand thrown into tn,
Legislature to divide and demoraliz'
, the Radical party in Tennessee.
f Mr.. Singletary, as chairman of thu
committee appointed to investigate thu
charges against Mr.. Richards, said tina
the committee had made the fullest in
vestigatiOn in the premises, and afte
mature deliberation had come to tn
conclusion that Mr.. Richards was no
guilty. The evidence submitted doe
not go to show that bribery case ha
been made out, but does exOnente Mr.
Richards.
, Mr.. Waters, of Wilson, said that tn,
report of the first INVESTIGATION commit
tee, although ordered published, hat
not yet been submitted to members o
the House, and he would move tina
final action on the question should b.
postponed until Monday, and that print
ed copies of the report be furnished
members of the House.
Mr.. Jordan was of the same opinion
} Mr.. Woodcock said that he had com,
to the conclusion that the House couli
not eXpel one of its members except fO
: disorderly conduct. Mr.. Cordell NOV
} ed to lay on the table the motion t.
postpone until Monday. Lost-ayes &c
noes 80.
Mr.. Doughty hoped the question
would be settled at once, saying it mus
be apparent that the House was prepar
ed to vote now in view of the report 0
. the committee submitted to-day.
Mr.. Ryder hoped that the HOUSE
would take action to-day, the evidenc,
was all so clear in favor of Mr.. Rich
ards, and postponement would leav'
J him under a cloud.
A motion to adjourn was lost, an(
the previous question being put ant
: carried OH motion to postpone unit
Friday, it was carried by ayes 80, noe
25.
The Murderer TWitchell.
The Philadelphia Led1er saws O