The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-05-20
U. S. SENATE.
EXTRA SESSION.
More Discussion Over the PnbIIca.
tiOn Of the Treaty.
A Lively squirming Among the Sena-
tors.
WAsmINnrnN Mnv 10

more than twenty.iour members were
present al the opening of proceedings.
Mr. HARLAN remarked that It appeared
from the discussion yesterday and tue
day before that certain advance copies OF
what purpOrted to be the treaty Of Wash
ington were communicated To the mem
bcrs Of the Senate before the official docu-
ment was communicated TO this body on
the 10Th instant,
The VICE PRESIDENT reminded the
Senator that the Senate had not yet pro-
mulgated tho fact that any such treaty
had been communicated TO the Senate.
MIR HARLAN begged pardon. He
thought the Senate by its recent proceed
ings had so declared.
Mr.. SUMNER said that the resolutions
adopted yesterday in open Senate advGr-
| tiZCd 10 the world that the Senate had In
its possession an official copy Of the treaty.
MIR. HARLAN remarked that It had been
stated In the debate that certain papers
had been privately communicated In lin
tied number to the Senators that the
text OF these papers was similar TO the
papers printed In the confidence of the
Senate. 1t was also stated that the As.
sistant Secretary of State had informed
the select Committee Of the exact number
of copies printed by the Department Of
State, and was able to account for the dis
position Oi each Of them. 1t was also
said by members of the Committee on
Investigation, that II they were permitted
to proceed in the line they had adopted,
the disclosure of the document would be
traced To certain member Of the Senate
lie supposed that every one knew that
tho Committee on Foreign Relations
are on confidential terms with the State
Department and that If any Senators had
copies, the members Of that Committee
were furnished with them. They all con.
Cured with him in the opinion that it
would be proper to call each Senator who
was supposed to have an advanced copy
OF the paper and that he might bo eX-
amincd before the Committee. lie made
the suggestion In order to relieve the deli.
CaCy Of any Senator IN the matter. The
members Of that Committee rs far rs he
had conferred with them, regarded this rs
thing proper to bo done.
Mr. MORRILL, of Maine, suggested that
there were several other copies furnished
outside Of those placed in the hands Of
the members of the Committee on Foreign
Relations, therefore the examination
should be extended to all Senators who
had obtained advance copies. Several
voices Certainly, that should be done"
Mr.. FENTON said: 81 am glad my
friend from Iowa, Mr.. Harlan, hns made
tho request that those Senators who were
furnished with an advance copy Of the
treaty at Washington, should be examined
by the Investigating Committee with II
view to their vindiCatiOn, as II affords me
an opportunity to make statement and
suggest for myself, and so far MS have II
right for others, that every member of the
Senate may appear before this Committee
for the same purpose. read from the
Patriot, Of this city, In an article in refer
encC to this investigation, as follows:
During the last two or three days CAR
PENTER and CONKLING have been bold in
declaring that II the Senate would insist
upon its rights and exerts its authority,
the Committee would iasten the RESPONSE
bilily upon the Senator, and they have
not hesitated In sCmi.public manner to
almost point TO FENTON, saying In the
language Of Nathan to David, Thou art
the man." II the Senator from New
York or the Senator from Wisconsin were
present, should ask them TO state TO the
Senators whether in IN official, semi.olll-
Cial, or any other manner, they had made
statements or insinuatiOns that would
warrant such publication, but although
they arg ont of their seats ut this moment
cannot allow this occasion to pnss without
saving a few words. Twill simply state the
facts: Iarrived here Wednesday, the 10Th
inst, and was not favored with an nd.
vance copy Of the Treaty, nor did ] have
or see an advance copy, or any other copy,
except II was read Mt the Secretarys desk k,
until Thursday afternoon about . o'clock,
when the Senate copy was placed in my
hands, full ten hours aler 1t was published
in the Tribune. Therefore, tho thought
by any one having far more inlOrmA.
tiOn, ns the members Of the committee
had, that had anything to do with or
acknowledge of the disclosure to the
Tribune, would have been entirely unwar.
ranted by the circumstances, and n most
unlIind insinuatiOn without the least
shadow which justified the suspicion that
| had anything to do with 1t, would have
been as cOwardly rs base. The
positive charge would have been
no more Infamous than wantOn and ridi.
culous. am free to say should not thus
characterize the matter hnd 1t not come
to me from other sources than the EtitrtOt
that an attempt had been made IN connect
me in some way with the transaction. In
conclusion beg to ask that every SCna.
tor have an opportunity to appear before
the Committee md vindicate himself 1n.
der such form and sOlemnities rs the Com.
mittee may prescribe.
Mr. HARLAN, moved the Senate pro.
ceed to the consideration Of Executive
business.
NTr. MoRTON, said he desired to make a
statement. lie had been informed OF mn
attempt to connect his name with the
violation of the abrOgation Of secrecy.
Mr.. TRUMBULL said he was sorry that
the Chairman Of the Investigating Com.
mittce was not present. but rs a member,
he desired to say that so laras the eXaml'
nation had proceeded, there was no inlor'
nation from any source pointing. To or IN
dicating that any Senator had furnished
n COPY of the treaty. No one had said
or intimated before the committee that
either tue Senator from New York, or the
Senator from Indiana, or any other Sena'
tor, had given to any outside party copy
OF the treaty. ,
Mr.. SUMNER, rs n member of the Sc.
lprt Iommittee, confirmed Mr.. TRuM.
BuDLs statement. Mr. MoRToN remark
ed that the Senator from wisconsin
Mr.. CARPENTER, chairman of the com,
mitlec, had stated, in the most pointed
and significant manner, that the objcc'
i;nns had been made to the examination