Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-12-19
CONGRESSIONAL.
Continued Debate on Retrenchment,
Rhode Island Ku.KIux.

fn ~ r q.
Rhode Island Ku-Klux.
WASHINGTON, Dec. lS.-Seyeral ne
titions were referred, including one by Mr.
Sumner Of the negroes of Rhode Island
stating that they are outraged and degraded
and asking the passage Of the supplement
airy civil rights bill.
Specie Payment
Mr.. Corbett introduced a bill that thu
National Banks on the LIST of January 1872
shall have 3 per cent. of gold coin on hand
Of the aggregate circulation of currency
hereafter annually, until they have 10 pel
cent thereafter, and to keep their reserve In
gold instead of legal tenders. Ordered
printed. -
The BmOthering Committee.
2 MIR. Conkling offered The following
Whereas it has been declared In the Senate
that at New York exists and Is maintained
By the Government officers under the name
Of General Order Business a monstrous
abuse, fraudulent in character; and whereas
the following statement made by Senator
(here is set forth Scburz's statement about
Mr.. Leet, the head of the General Order
Business, and of a mysterious power
sustaining them against the protests of mer-
chants and the wish of the Secretary Of the
Treasury
Therefore resolved, that the Committee
on Investigation and Retrenchment be In
structed to enquire into the matter fully,
and particularly whether any collision or
improper connection with such business
exists on thePart of any officer Of the Uni
ted States, and to further enquire whether
any officer has been, or is known by his su-
perior officers to be guilty of bribery, taking
brides or other crimes or misdemeanors,
and that the committee be authorized to
send for persons and papers.
Consideration was postponed until the
committee is appointed.
Mr.. Anthony offered resolution for the
appointment of the following Committee on
Investigation and RetrenchmeAt: Bucking-
ham, Pratt, Howe, Harlan, Stewart, Pool
and Bayard.
Mr., SUMNER ask the Senator who Of
fered that resolution to state whether there
are named in the members of this commit
tee any of the Senators who brought for
ward this inquiry and especially urged it on
the Senate?
Mr.. Anthony-The Senator knows that
as well as l do. l think the gentlemen
named are exceedingly judicious, sensible,
moderate men, who command the conf
dence of their associates, although do not
know that they have made themselves very
conspicuous in connection with the charges
that have been made here.
Mr.. Sumner-When l heard the list,
was Eastonished at the absence of certain
names. find on the list not the name of
a single Senator who urged this investiga-
ton, or who voted for investigation in the
strongest form, unless it be the Democratic
Senator from Delaware (Mr. Bayard).
The Senators on this list all voted against
investigation in the strongest form, and
understood every Senator in favor of iaves-
tigation in the strongest from, except one
Democratic Senator, is excluded from this
committee. 1t is for the Senate to
determine after the debate that has
occurred whether a committee organized
that way can satisfy the country. Perhaps
also it would be worth while to consider
whether its conformity with parliamentary
laws as laid down in Jeierson's Manual,
that those who take exceptions to some
particulars are to be of the committee, but
none who speak directly against the body Of
the bill, for child is not to be put to q
nurse who cares not for it. You smile, Mr..
President, you naturally smile when you
see that process going on in this chamber,
Qaughter.) Jefferson proceeds to say, it is
therefore the constant rule that no man is
to be employed on any matter who has de-
clared himself against il, and when any
member who is against bill hears himself
named Oh a committee he should ask to be
excused Qaughter.) For five years past
there has been Committee on Retrench-
ment joint in character but still representa-
tive of the Senate. l know not whether
any members of that committee appear on
the list. The Senator from Rhode Island ?
Mr.. Schurz-No.
Mr.. Sumner-My friend before me says
not one. Neither the Chairman on that
committee, Mr.. Paterson, who had, gained
much experience in ferretting out abuses,
nor one Of his associates finds place on
this committee. Why, sir, to me it is simp-
ly inexplicable.
Mr.. Anthony-I believe that the appoint
ment of this committee is strictly parlia-
The committee was voted for I'M
The Senator from Illinois
(Trumbull) moved joint committee, and
had that committee been agreed on he would
have been entitledto the Craftsmanship, but
the resolution under which this committee
is appointed, was moved by me, and If the
committee were to be appointed by the
chair, i would probably here askto be excused
as chairman. l don't know what my friend
from Massachusetts, (Mr. Sumner,) means
when he speaks of Senators here who are
opposed to this inquiry. don't know of
single Senator who is opposed to the most
aorob;,,n, oY.1 int
charges of corruption by whomsoever made
in this chamber. Every Senator who has
spoken on the subject has declared himself
in favor of thorough investigation, and l
ask my friend to read the names of the
men on this committee and say if there is
man there that he believes would cover up |
corruption. l consider this committee an |
judicious one.
Mr.. Thurman, the Senator from Rhode |
Island, wholly evades the question. No |
Senator will say word in disparagement |
If the character of either the Senator'S pro- |
posed as members of this committee, and no |
such issue can be forced upon the Senate. !
We are not here to investigate the char
acter of Senators. We are here to inquire |
whether this proposed committee will be /
a accordance with parliamentary usages |
and good sense. The question is whether,
having having resolved to investigate, the
Investigations shall be committed to a COM
nittee. TO say that those who favor inves-
igation ought to be upon the committee
IMPLIES no imputation on the motives of |
hose who would be excluded from it.
There is difference in opinion in the SEN
tie as to the existence Of frauds and the ne
,essity for investigation.
Mr.. Conkling-What difference?
Mr.. Thurman-The Senator from Nevada
laid the other day that there was no neces-
iity for investigation at all ; that this admin
stration and its officials were so pure, there
vas nothing to investigate.
Mr.. Frelinghuysen asked Mr.. Thurman
whether the parliamentary rules was not
hat Senators who voted for the measure
Ih6uld be on the committee.
Mr.. Thurman-You cannot evade the
ule by taking six or seven gentlemen that
-oted for the resolution, There is rule
hat the Senator who moves for an inquiry
s to be placed at the head of the committee,
f he is of the dominant party; but the
senator from Illinois (Trumbull) is not put
It the head of this committee.
Mr.. Buckingham, The Senator from L.
inois (Hir. TrumbulD distinctly declined,
lot publicly but privately, to be either
hairmrn of the committee or on the COM
nittee.
Mr.. Trumbull, The only conversation l