Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-05-18
Congress.


SENATE-EXTRA SESSION.
The vice president laid before the senate
copy of the report of the late Solicitor Whiting,
of the war department, containing list of
claims from foreign subjects growing out of the
war of the rebellion, which, with the accom-
panying letter of Secretary Fish was ordered
printed, sand the senate went into executive SEES
sion.
The senate opened its doors at five minutes
past one O'Clock, having decided to conduct the
examination of the Tribune correspondents in
open session.
The scrgeant-at-arms appeared at the bar with
the prisoners, in compliance with the senate
resolution directing this to be done.
MIR. Carpenter spoke at length, citing the rules
of the senate and the law regulating testimony
before committees of congress. He said, in con-
clusOn, that the senate must go forward and
execute its order.
Gov. Fenton followed, and presented as a SUBJ
stitute resolution propounding different
questions, simply asking the witnesses whether
they received the treaty from any senator,
officer of the senate, senator's clerk, or any
member of a senator's family
Mr.. Wilson supported this speech in a manly,
frank speech, showing that the substantial parts
of the treaty had been published by the Secre-
tary of state, and that the people desired to see
the whole. The free press of the country has
the right to obtain information and to publish
it. 1t was not the business of the press to keep
the secrets of the senate, but to obtain informa-
ton for the people.
Mr.. Morton said he would support the substi-
tute as against the original resolution. This
treaty was not an exclusive senate document
and it was a mistake to so regard it. The treaty
belonged to the British government as much as
to the United States; and supposeEthe former
through its commissioners, had furnished copy
of the treaty for publication, would the senate
undertake to punish these commissioners?
Mr.. Thurman said that if anybody was to be
punished for publishing the treaty it ought to
be the editor OF the Tribune and not the CORE
spondents. No good will come of this investi-
CATION. 1t is a mere farce, and the country will
so regard it. Mr.. Thurman said he would sup
port the substitute
Mr.. Upton said Mr.. Carpenter talked about
the dignity of the senate. Who cared for such
dignity, when the senate made such an untimely
exhibition of itself as to-day? Mr.. Upton drew
a ludicrouS picture of this investigation and
made some hits which occasioned much laugh
ter.
Mr.. Morrill,, of Vermont, said that while he
was in favor of having all treaties made public
he would vote for the resolution of the senator
from Wisconsin. The only question was whether
the interrogatory was proper one. He had no
doubt the facts, when discovered, would impli-
cate some senator, at least in carelessness.
Mr.. Fenton's substitute was lost-21 to 81.
Mr.. Trumbull offered an amendment to the
pending resolution, as follows, adding the words /:
'To be answered by the witness, touching the
ulSClOSuTty ulIGtbly Ut 1uulTeCIlV, through any
member OF the senate or any officer or employe
thereof, of what purports to be copy OF the
treaty OF Washington, now. pending before the
senate in executive session."
Mr.. Trumbulps amendment was agreed to-
20 to %.
Mr.. Sumner asked whether they had not pro-
ceeded far enough. They had already spent
two days on this subject. In the words of the
Roman tribune he asked "CuiibOno" For what
good purpose could they continue their investi-
CATION? He thought the senate would better
stop. They had gone far enough. They had
shown reasonable alacrity in the inquiry, and
would better abandon the whole inquiry To
prosecute it further would answer no good pur-
pose to the senate or the country.
The resolution of Mr.. Carpenter was then
agreed TOP TO 14-in the following form:
Resolved, That z. L. White, now in custody of
the sergeant-at-arms of the senate, on attachment
for contempt in refusing to certain questions
propounded to him while he was being examined as
witness by select committee Of the senate thereto
duly authorized be arraigned at the bar of the
ate, and that the president of the senate PROFOUND
to him thefollowing heterogeneous:
First-What excuse have you for not answering
several interrogatories prop0unded to you by MEM
bers of the special committee of the senate before
which committee you were examined as witness
on the 18th day of May instant?i
Second-Are you now ready to appear before said
committee and answer all proper questions that
may be put to you by said committee touching the
disclosures, directly or indirectly, through any
member of the senate or any officer or enploye
thereof of what purports to be copy of the treaty
of Washington, now pending before the senate in
executive session.
Aud that he be required to answer the same, and
that the secretary of the senate reduce his
to writing; and that said witness be sworn by the
vice-president, and the yice-president then pro-
pound to him the several interrogatores which
were propounded to him by the said committee,
and which he refused to answer, as shown by re-
port of said committee; and that said witness be
required to answer the same and that the secre-
tary of the senate reduce his answers to writing
Mr. White was then, in pursuance of the reso-
luton, escorted TO the front of the secretary's
desk by the sergeant-at-arms, when the vice
president propounded the questions to him.
Mr.. White said he was not prepared to reply,
and asked that leave be given until tomorrow
noon for that purpose.
The request was granted.
On motion of Mr. Carpenter, similar resou-
ton was adopted as to Mr.. Ramsdell.
This gentleman was also escorted to the desk
of the secretary, when the vice president pro-
pounded the questions.
Mr.. Ramsdell also asked time to prepare an
swers, which was granted.
The senate, then, at five o'clock, adjourned.
Messrs. White and Ramsdell were released on
their parole, to appear and answer at the time
stated.