Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-03-18

why ne ShOuIG De Kicked out OF this Hall.
| If upon any Republican, let him go the
same way. The grave charges now resting
upon this body should be sifted to the
very bottom, and the members of this
Legislature owed it to themselves as honest
men, whose fair names were dear to them,
that every means should be taken to ac-
complish that end, and not the slightest
obstacle should be thrown in the way of
full, fair and searching investigation.
harris, of Wake, colored, opposed the
motion of Mr.. Durham.
MIR. Welch again took the floor in ad-
vocacy of Mr.. Durham's motion If ite-
publlcans on this floor chose to crush this
investigation in order to shield some of
their friends, and think the crushing a
party victory, go ahead /: but you are
making black record for yourselves be-
tcre the people, and they Will hold you to
strict responsibility. You are sacrificing
yourselves upon the altar Of party, and
you will soon find it out, dc.
Mr.. Downing said he would inform tt o
gentleman from Haywood (Mr. Welch)
that the Republicans could take care of
themselves without the advice of Conser-
vatives, &c. He hoped that Mr.. Durhams
motion would be rejected.
Mr.. POu said it was strange that gentle
men should talk continually about the
Bragg Committee being SO much more
corruption than the Committee of the
Whole, when glance at the resolution
under which the Committee (Bragg) was
acting, would show that it gave them no
power to take cOgnizance of such matters.
If he, as purely business transaction,
should have borrowed money from Gen.
LittleGeld, he would not object to have it
spoken of in relation to this examination.
The question recurring upon Mr.. Dur
OllT a mot of IVlCfNI thn
mittee of the Whole, the yeas and nays
were called, and the motion was adopted.
Mr.. Durham moved that the House do
now go into the Committee of the Whole,
and on that motion called the previous
question.
The yeas and nays were had, and the
call for the previous question was adopt
by vote of yeas 49, nays 48.
The motion to go into Committee of
Whole was put to a vote and adopted.
Mr.. Pou again took the Chair.
MIR. Durham's question was then again
propounded.
Answer-It is impossible for me to re-
member the names of members [ have
loaned meney to without some circum
stance to refresh my memory, as I was
not here but few days during the last
winter session or this, and nearly all the
money loaned was to members during
the election for the adoption of the Con
stitution or during the Presidential elec-
tion. l. have been in the habit of loaning
money to parties ever since I came to the
State-but the way it occurred has been,
they would meet me on the streets or else
where and call for a loan. IF [ had it
[ generally let them have 1t, if not 1 de-
cllned; they generally returned it to me
or gave me their notes, or assigned their
certificates of pay. When have the notes
Ifcan tell, and in some instances, of a re-
cent date, have met members and Sena-
tors away from home as was the case Of
Mr.. Harris, loaned them money because
they were short-I call to mind the fact
that loaned Mr.. Barnett of Person 800
in Washington City a short time ago, and
did I think, Senator Jones, of Columbus,
and find in looking over my papers this
morning, [ hold note for $75, money
loaned, signed by Mr.. Renfrow; also Mr..
Gunter, from Chatham solicited from me
some time last Spaing, loan for one
year of $500, giving his obligation; he has
since written to me about the payment, as
it falls due within the next few months.
The witness here stated that he would
swear solemly that not a cent of this
money was loaned or given directly or
indirectly for any purpose of bribery or
corruption, or to influence in any way the
votes of the gentlemen alluded to.
Question by Mr.. Foster-Have you, or
have you not issued free railroad passes to
members of the General Assembly for the
purpose of influencing his or their votes.
Answer am not President or other
officer of any railroad that has any trans
portation but carts, and [ have given no
transportation over them.
Question by Mr.. Durham-Did you MOI
| swear before an investigation committee
| of the Legislature at the session of 1868
| and '69, that you loaned member of this
House 81, 200.
Answer-I did not for the reason I was
not sworn before any Investigating COM
mittee at the session of 1868-'69.
By Mr.. French-Are the cases Of loaning
money that you state, all that you remem-
| ber :?
Answer-I cannot swear whether it is OF
not, I cannot now call to mind the name
of any other member.
| The witness here made a statement IL
regard TO Mr.. Barnett, exoneratiag him
| from anything like bribery or corruption
given him his certificate of pay few days
ago for the money advanced.
| Question by Mr.. Durham-Dld you
loan Mr.. Stevens. of Craven, 81. 200 during
the session of 1868-'69.
| Answer have no recollection of e7el
having loaned Mr.. Stevens any money.
Question by the same-Did you draw
your draft On any house in New York Cit!
or elsewhere in favor Of any member o
this General Assembly during the year
1868-'69.
Answer-[ may or may not have drawn
drafts on my bankers in New York Cit.
in favor of some members of this Genera
Assembly, as have sold exchange in New
York, but I cannot tell without seeing
either my check book or the account o
my bankers, whether I gave them in th
name of any member of this General AS
sembly, for during the course OF the yea
I draw many hundred checks.
MIR. Ames moved that the eommltte
rise and be discharged. Carried.
Mr.. Pou (chairman) reported progress.
Mr.. Durham moved that Gen. Little
field and MIR. Stevens of Craven, be sum
moned before the committee of the Whol
tomorrow.
| fnfo