New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-05-26
THE TREATY INVESTIGATION


FULLY SHOWN UP-PROBABLB RELEASE OF
THE CORRESPONDENTS TO-DAY.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEI
WARRINGTON. Thursday May 25 1871.
The Senate began q long open session, to-
day. with the consideration Of report from the Com
mtee appointed ascertain who had violated the rules
imposing secrecy upon Executive sessions, and in two
hours thereafter that body was listening to heated
speech Of Mr. Conkng, prominent member Of the Com
mtee prefaced by the remarkable statement that In
spite Of these very rules he would tell all that occurredn
Executive session concerning the origin Of the pending In
vesgaon; aud tell 1t he did, and for 20 minutes he pre-
sened spectacle without precedent In the history OF
the senste-that of q deliberately announcing that
he would violate the rules and then carrying his threat
into execution uncbalenged.
The Senate met at II O'Clock, and motion to go into
Executive Session lost by tie vote-2l to 81 This
being opposed by all who wished to keep THE TRIBUNE
correspondents in Imprisonment during the Summer
was 80 far test vote show that the supporters OF
the Common Jailers" were losing ground Mr. Ed
munds contested every step that looked toward mod
crate action the part Of the Senate but spite OF his
efforts the resolution Of Mr. Wilson for the discharge Of
the correspondents at the close Of the session was taken
up. Mr.. Carpenter then announced that the report
Of the Committee would be ready n three-quarters
Of an hour, and asked for a delay till 1t
could be submitted. This was granted, and the Senate
went into Executive session. with the understanding
that the first business after opening the doors would be
the consideration of Mr., Wilson's resolution.
As soon as the doors closed the Jaers' adopted
an. N,a
for the evening train to start to give strength to
move for immediate adjournment which, II carried,
would leave the correspondents in custody This finally
failed, and at O'Clock the doors were opened
Mr. Chandler got the floor but yielded to Mr. COnkng,
who read written personal explanation. the substance
of which was that there truth whatever In the
perssteny repeated reports that he had originated the
present investigation and his friend Carpenter was
equally free from participation in It, They had only e1-
ecuted the viii Of the Senate. These statements must ne
borne in mind to appreciate the unexpected explosion
later IN the day.
Mr. Chandler next demanded that the Committee
should continue its labOrs till the regular" Senate re-
norter OF the Executive sessions was discovered and
peed This reporter could be employs since the
caucus proceedings given in full with the same
remarkable accuracy which characterized the doings OF
the Senate Tie could not be Democrat for the same
member since the thing had been going on with the
same accuracy years. He concluded, however,
without indicating whom he regarded as tho guilty
| man.
At point Mr. Carpenter submitted the report ofhe
Committee which really confession that no pro-
ress had made IN the task assigned the Committee
except that they had two more men in contempt
Nessrs Tinker and Kirby of the Western Union Tee-
graph who had refused TO give Information concerning
the business 90 their 'tfce.
NJ EduuL = = ted that the evidence should be
read at least that given by Senators employees Of
that body. His first from which It appeared
that he began by informing Committee that although
he received copy Of the Treaty from the State Depart
ment very conndenally he felt called On to violate MS
confidence the request Of the Committee The read
ing of the testimony OF Senator Morton showed that he
was badgered by Conklng and Carpenter in manner
| seldom adopted by Senators toward an associate.
When the true character OF this exam
| ipation began TO appear Messrs. Sherman and
Thurman attempted to stop IT, but Mr. Edmunds insisted
that read through although during the read
ing thus had absented himself from his seat and
only came in time to object TO stopping It, Mr. Ed
nunds declared that any member had right to have the
| ,eport read through Mr.. Sumner, TO show that the
reading was sometimes omitted instanced the fact that
humorous highly interesting and valuable reports from
Mr.. Edmunds himself, on pensions, were not always
read. Mr. Trumbul however, who knew the extent to
which Conking and Carpenter had pushed the crossex-
animation Mr.. Morto1 took the lead in movement to
table the report and order it printed.
Mr. Coning in vain protested that in this case the
evidence was the report and should be read through
but the Senate becoming impatient OF the diihcul-
ties which were crowdIng upon 1t, and by large ma
iority laid the report Of the Committee on the table,
Mr. Sherman then offered substitute to MI Wilson'S
resolution setting forth that the Committee had dis
covered evidence against the Senate, the committee
and the prisoners be discharged
Mr. Edmunds again and again srove TO hold the Senate
to the idea continued Imprisonment and, In lace OF
the fact that the Committee has no evidence liking the
matter complained of on any Senator, he announced his
belief that country would charge the matter on some
Senator and he himself had no doubt but that
senator did it, This entirely gratuitous that Mr.
wilson denied most explicitly that there any fair
ground for such statement In anything ascertaned by
the Committee aud began such scene as has never
been witnessed before in the Senate.
II will be remembered that Conkng had read care
fnly prepared statement asserting that neither he nor
CARPENTER had anything to do with starting the nves
cation. Mr.. Wilson, for the purpose OF making APPOINT
that all were responsible for starting the investigation
began by saving 1t was well known that they had all
voted for the resolution drawn by the Senator from New
York and offered by the Senator from Wisconsin.
At this Carpenter literally bounced from his seat, and
reminded Mr. Wilson that lie was disclosing the secrets
of Executive session. and thus violating the rules But
was too late.
Mr. Conklng now to his seat in ill-concealed
element and embarrassment, and at took the floor
TO correct the unntentonal exposure made by Mr. Will
son. All eyes him. He began with the heated
declaration mentioned at the opening OF this dispatch,
tina; he would assume the responsibility OF telling all
that occurred Executive session. He fully aroused
andwent with truly magnificent burst Of Conklne"
But When he ended the fact stated by Wilson remained
admitted too by Conklng,"- he had drawn the
resolution under which the Senate acting and that
Carnener had offered IL. Through his 10 minutes of