Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-07-19
THE "BOUGHT UP" COM
MITTEE.
What Col. Fleming Says about 1t
synopsis of His Evidence


Synopsis of His Evidence.
From the Rockville Press and Herald.
1t has been made known to the people
of the State that grave charges have been
made by John Baxter against certain
members of the joint select Investigating
Committee appointed by the present
Legislature to investigate the condition
and management of certain railways in
the State. Through a series of articles in
the Knoxville ChrOnicLe-the Radical
organ of the State-he elaborated his
charges, and gave assurances to the public
that he would make good his charges if
permitted TO do so by the General Assem-
bly,. Promptly a committee was APP
pointed by each house, to act jointly, with
power TO send for persons and papers,
and of this fact Baxter was notified. He
repaired to Nashville and remained there
until he learned the resolution had been
signed by the Speakers of both houses
and approved by the Governor as re-
qUired by the new constitution. Imme-
uiately upon this Notwithstanding
that both Houses--and especially the
members of both branches of the Railroad
COmmittee-,Fere anxious for a thorough
investigation, he ingloriously fled from
the city the same evening, leaving be-
hind him for publication an arrant false
hood, which have exposed in previous
communication.
Immediately upon Baxter's fight a res
olution was promptly adopted requiring
the committee to summon him peremp-
torily to appear before the Committee and
give proof of his charges against the
Railroad Committee. While protesting
against the right of John Baxter, mere
outsider and private citizen, to call to ac-
count, for their official conduct, a CON-
mittee of gentlemen who have been en-
trusted by their respective bodies with an
important and delicate trust, and whose
investigation have fixed upon the said
Baxter, by the simple narration of the
testimony before them, q willful cOmpli-
city with one of the most brazen frauds
ever perpetrated upon the people of Ten
nessee, nevertheless felt constrained by
the advice of associates and friends, and
by purpose TO protect the reputation of
myself and family, to waive any techni-
cal Objections to the examination, and
very cheerfully went before the commit
tee at the request of the chairman, Mr..
Senator Cooper of Bedford.
InasmuCh as the proceedings of that
committee, owing to the fact that Baxter,
under the terms of the resolution raising
the committee, may take his own time TO
pursue his Investigation, and, believing
that it will be his policy to withhold the
evidence from the public in order that his
ISLANDERS may remain unexplained as a
cloud upon the character of myself and
other members of the committee, have
thought it proper to make public synop-
sis of my evidence. Being under no OBJ
legation of secresy myself, in so doing l
violate no personal pledge, and am guilty
of no discourtesy to the committee, all
of whom treated me with perfect polite
ness.
sNUBBTHG THE INVESTIGATOR.
Upon making my appearance before
the committee, and before being subject
to an examinatiOn-BaXter being present
I notified the committee that / would
not permit Baxter TO Catechise me, but
that any question prOpounded through the
chairman or other member, though writ
ten by him, would cheerfully answer.
To this the committee assented and the
examination of myself proceeded, Baxter
writing the questions and passing them
through the hands of the chairman. |
proceed to give a substantial account of
the investigation and beg to apologize to
our readers for indulging in so much of
personality, inasmuch as this matter is
not one of my own seeking, but has been
forced upon me by a man who seeks to
withdraw attention from his own frauds,
by his unblushing SANDER of others.
A sOCKDOLOGER.
was first asked what was my ''pecuni-
airy condition" when became member
of the General Assembly, Baxter writing
all the questions
To this replied that | was then, as
now, poor man. That my circumstance
might have been much better, if the pro-
fessional affairs of Baxter and Fleming
had been fully and fairly settled ur.
ANOTHER OF THE SAME.
was next asked if had any source of
income during the session aside from my
per diem and mileage.
To this answered in substance, that l
have an editorial interest in the Knoxville
Daily Press and Herald and Weekly
Press and Messenger, and from the Of
fee, in my absence, my family have oc-
caSionally drawn some supplies, for
which expect to account on the book of
the Office. Finding that the fees of Bax-
ter and Fleming have generally been col
lected have no other source of income
that / know of, besides that indicated
l was asked whether my wife had not
received many presents since | had been
a Representative.
A CHRISTMAS GIFT.
Still protesting against the indecency
of such an examination, l answered that
aside from the presents bestowed upon nv
wife by her husband and my BROTHER