Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-06-11

| age.
| The resolution granting the right Of way
to the Memphis, Ell Paso and Pacific Rail-
road Company, was indefinitely postponed.
The Senate then adjourned.
/ HOUSE.
| Mr.. Davis reported bill amendatory Of
the act for the removal of causes in GER
tain cases from State to Federal Courts, by
extending their application to cases of eject
ment where the parties in interest are
citizens of different States. Passed.
| Fitch's Personal-ButIer's ExpIana-
ton UnsatIsFactory-Wa on the
Reporters.
| Mr.. Fitch, as a question OF privilege,
called attention to the statement of the
| correspondent of the New York Post, that
| Gen. Butler had said to him that there was
no direct evidence against Fitch, but was
indirect testimony, he hailed on Butler to
state whether that was true or not.
Dir. Butler replied that it was not cor
rect, and said he would not be able to re-
port because the Judiciary Committee had
been too much pressed with business to
reach the subject but hoped to do SO by
gentlemen named In the testimony before
the sub Coamittee, but there was nothing
| in any case which impugned the honor or
propriety Of action of any member of the
| House. In reference to this correspondent,
he had simply been asked question by
| him, not, as he understood, affecting the
gentleman from Nevada, and any infer
ence from what he said affecting or sup
/ a., oea H.
vGda was wholly incorrect.
In reply to a question by Mr. McCor-
| mick, MIR. Butler made similar statement.
MIR. Fitch offered the following:
Resolved, That W. Scott Smith, the re-
porter of the New York Eoen5ng Post, be
| brought to the bar of the House to show
cause why he should not be expelled from
the reporters gallery for libelous state
ment, rejecting on the integrity Of men,
bers of the House.
A discussion ensued attended by a good
deal of confusion aad excitement-Dawes,
Garfield and Butler, taking position that
the proper course to be pursued was to re-
ter the matter to committee. The pro-
position was strenuously opposed by
Sargent and Woodward, who thought the
resolution ought to embrace all the report
ers; by Eldridge who thought ii better
to take them one at time; by Farnsworth
and Scoield, who expressed the opinion
cynically that the correspondents Of the
New York papers particularly and OF some
of the Philadelphia and Western papers,
were very truthful and careful as to what
they said affecting mems reputation, and
by Bingham, who recalled similar cases in
both houses.
Finally the resolution was adopted with
out division.
Another infringement OF Rights.
The Speaker then submitted as ques-
ton of privilege, letter from Charles H.
Porter, Representative from Virginia, re-
lating to the circumstances Of an assault re-
Gently made upon him, with murderous in
tent, in Richmond, Va, by person nam
ed Patrick Woods, alias Pat Dooly. The
letter having been read, Mr.. Ward offered
resolution directing the Speaker to is
sue warrant to the Sergeant-at-Arms for
the arrest of Woods, alias Dooly, and his
detention subject 10 the further order Of
the House. Adoptedby 126 to 10.
Naturalization.
The naturalization bill come up as I'M
finished business. The vote tabling it was
reconsidered, "a to SO, and the bill was re-
committed to the Judiciary Committee.
The Evening Post Reporter before
the Bar of the House.
At 1870 the Doorkeeper and an assistant
! of the Sergeant-at-Arms appeared at the
bar of the House, having in custody w.
Scott Smith, reporter of the New York
E0eRiRg Post.
MIR. Smith having been placed on an
area Immediately in front OF the Speakers
chair the Clerk read the resolution under
| which the arrest was made and the COM
munication or dispatch complained Of
The Speaker said: ''NIr. Smith the House
has adopted resolution requiring you to
| appear at the bar and show cause why you
| should not be expelled from the privileges
you now enjoy as one of the reporters In
the reporters gallery for these alleged Ii
bells on members of the House. You are
at liberty to speak,
Mr.. Smith in response presented the
! following communication:
''To the Speaker of the House of Rep
resentatives.- regard to my first dis
patch in the New York Eg6HiHg Post Of
Monday June 6, 1870, the statements
! contained therein, were based upon official
:
| dispatch were identical with those con-
tanned in said documents, and they were
used there in the same connection as used
in the dispatch.
Secondly, upon these statements being
denied by Mr.. Fitch in the House Of Rep
resentatives, l called upon Gen. b. f.
Butler and conversed with him upon the
| subject. l asked him whether he intended
| 70 Oh fha boE
dence before his committee directly or in
directly duplicating Mr.. Fitch? Gen.
| B utter said this was not the exact
meaning, and that Mr.. Fitch's name ap-
peared in the affidavit of Mr.. N. b. Taylor
as having been approached, and copy Of
the affidavit was among the papers
before his investigating committee, but he
did not consider this as directly implicit
ing Mr.. Fitch, as it does not appears he had
in any way responded to the approaches
alluded to by Mr.. Taylor.
''In answer to a question, Gen. Butler
| further said that the names of all the
members mentioned in my dispatch ap-
peared in the affidavit Of Mr.. Taylor as
having been approached by him to secure
their aid for the Cuban cause.
''W ScoTT SMITH"
Mr. Fitch, through the Speaker, asked
what was the character of the official docu-
ments and who exhibited them.
To this answer was made that the papers
were affidavits of N B Taylor and others,
before the grand jury; but that they were
shown to him in confidence, and he
could not disclose the name Of his inform
ant, as it would be a violation Of good
| faith.
Several resolutions were offered to com
pell the witness to disclose whence the
informat'o on came - to expell him
from the reporters gallery-to lay
the whole subject on the table,
ETC.. and much excitement prevailed.
Finally, a resolution to appoint a special
committee of five, to investigate the mat
ter with power to send for persons aud
papers, was adopted.
Mr.. Smith was discharged from the Gus
tody of the House.
The Latest Development
Subsequently the Sergeant sent to the
Clerk desk dispatch from n. B. Taylor,
dated Montreal, DENYING he ever had any