The Portland daily press., 1871-05-29
Special session of the Senate.

WASHINGTON, May 27.-The resolution of
Mr.. Wilson, directing the Sergeant at rms
to discharge from custody White and Rams
dell at the termination of the present session,
was taken up.
Mr.. Nye had offered an amendment provid-
ed this resolution shall not be construed to in
terfere with any legal proceedings which may
be institu ed against said White and Ramsdell
upon a certificate Of the Vice President under
the third section of the act of Jan. "a, 1867.
Mr.. Sherman said that IN 1857 J.. W. Simon
ton was called before select committee of the
House to answer certain questions propounded
to him in relation to the charges against mem
bers OF the House which he made in the New
York Tribune, buG which he declined to an
swer on the ground that to do so would violate
his professional honor. The only reason given
for the passage of the law was that the House
could not hold the witnesses in custody after
its adjournment, the power of the House and
Senate icing inadequate to punish. They
made refusal to answer to the criminal offence.
Would it not be better to turn White and
Ramsdell over 10 the Law than to exercise the
doubtful power of OBTAINING them by the SEN
ate?
Mr.. Sherman said that the National Repub-
lican this morning contained an article giving
a rumOr that the executive session yesterday
was devoted to the consideration of question
affecting member of the Senate with refer
ence to the publication of the treaty, and the
Patriot also stated that the business in the exc
cutlve session concerned certain Western
Senator in that connection. Now it was
| known that the testimony which has been re-
ported to the Senate exculpates every Senator
| from imputaton. This only showed how facts
might be perverted and incorrect statements
| published.
Mr.. Bayard expressed his qualification in
hearing Mr.. Sherman raise his voice against
| the arbitrary power of Congress and at Mr.
| Summers coming back and standing on the
| narrow path of the federal Constitution, and
| his hope was that be would continue there to
| stand. AS to the witnesses now in custody it
| would not do to say the Senate has delegated
to the committee power to Judge as to the sui
| ficiency of their answers and that they have
the key of their prison in their own pocket be-
cause the sufficiency of their answers was the
| question in dispute. The Senate was to Judge
| Of the sufficiency OF the answers, and there
fore the witnesses should be discharged when
| the Senate ended its session. The power to
imprisoH aud the power to discharge must re-
| side i'll the same body and exist at the same
| time and could not be delegated to a compittee
Mr.. Wilson, at o'clock, suggested that the
| Senate come TO az agreement to take the vote
on the pending resolution at o'clock to day.
Mr.. Edmunds was not willing to agree to the
proposition as LIE desired to express his views
on the subject and did not wish to be limited
as to time.
Mr.. Wilson said it was evident that no ar
rabgement could be made to take a vote this
afternoon. He would therefore propose an ad-
,iournment till Tuesday, and in the meantime
SO they should get the full Senate. More than
thirty Senators have already gone home and
others will follows, thus leaving the Senate
without quorum, and the Senate could not
adjourn without a quorum,
Mr.. Howe was entirely willing the Senate
should come to vote at any moment this al
ternoOn after he should have submitted few
remarks An attempt, he said, had been made
to convey the impression to the public mind
that the Senate were Furnishing newspapers
fol- publishing intelligence or correspondents
for communicating 1T. This was not 80, Be-
hind newspapers and correspondents lurked
some miscreant who sold official confidence for
money. The effect he would not saw. The
motive of endeavOring to dismiss the object
was to cover up the man who committed the
act. The Senate and the people have a right
to know the mans name. whose position he
holds and what opportunities he has to hetray
vestigation continued. 1t would harm nobody
but the individual himself There could be nc
| perfect exoneratiOn of the Senate till the Of
fcpder's name should be known.
| The question was then taken on Mr. Nye'.
amendment, which was rejected yeas 1d, nays
co..
Mr.. Edmunds made few remarks, in the
course Of which he said that in his opinion
nothing would entirely exonerate the Senate
except to know the truth relative to furnishing
copy OF the treaty Cor publication.
The Senate then agreed to Mr.. Wilson's res
olutiOn to discharge White and Ramsdell from
custody at the conclusion of the session, yea.
%, nays 13, as follows;
Eeas-Bayard, Blair. Oasserly Corbett, era
gin, Fenton, Frelinghuysen, Gilbert, Haml
ton of Texas, Harlan, Hill. Hogan, Morton
| Schurz, Sherman, Sprague, Steven son, Stock
ton, Sumner, Thurman, Upton, Wilson, Win
dom.
Nays-Caldwell, Clayton, Cole, CoDking
Edmunds, Flanagan, Hitchcock, Howe, Nye
Osborn, Sawyer, Scott, Wright.
On motion of Mr.. Morton, the Senate. at
O'clock, went into executive session.
Mr. Bayard offered resolution, which wal
unanimously agreed to, that the THANKS Of th'
Senate are due and are hereby rendered t
Hon. n. B. Anthony for the courtesy ant
ability with which he has performed his dutie
as President
Mr.. Conkling, at 528 o'clock, offered reso
olution that the Senate adjourn sine die at 3 80
MIR. Thurman said the Senate had more thar
two minutes work 10 do. 1t was right that thu
country should know some things it does no
now know in an .fficial way. and Senator.
ought to Ne free from Obligations which woult
! otherwise rest upon them.
Mr.. Edmunds raised point of order tina
the Senate ought not to make allusion to wha
| occurred in executive session.
Mr. Thurman called for the reading of tn,
{ words 10 which Mr.. Edmpnds had objected.
They were read when the Chair decided tina
they were not out at order.
D Mr.. CoDkling said it was true that SOM
D some things were not known to the country
: The Senator was more competent than an,
| one else to tell the country. tet the Senate