Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-05-29
From Washington.
SPECIAL SESSION OF THE SENATE.

Washington, May 27. Mr.. Bayard ex-
pressed his satisfaction that Mr.. Sherman
raised his voice against the arbitration power
of Congress, and at Mr.. Summers COM
ing back and standing on the narrow path of
the federal constitution and his hope was
that he would continue there to stand. As to
the witness now in custody, tt would not do
to say that the Senate has delegated to the
committee, power to judge as to the sufficiency
oftheir answers, and that they have the KEY
of their prison in their owen pocket, because
the suficiency of their answers was the Dues
ito In dispute. The Senate was to Judge of
the sufficiency of the answers, and therefore
the Witnesses should be discharged. When
the Senate ended its session the power to
imprisoA and the power to discharge must re-
side in the same body, and exist at the same
time, and could not be delegated to COM
mittee.
Mr.. Wilson at 3 O clock, suggested that
the Senate come to an agreement to take
vote on the pending resolutions at O'Clock
to-day.
Mr.. Edmunds was not willing to agree to
the proposition, as he desired to express his
views on the subject, and did not wish to be
limited as to time.
MIR. Wilson said it was evident that no ar
rangement could be made to take vote this
7. NJ. He would therefore propose an ad.
journment until Tuesday and in the mean
time send the sergeant at arms after the alb
sentees, while they should get the full Sen
ate. More than thirty Senators have ALREADY
gone home, and others follow, thus leaving the
Senate without a quorum, and the Senate
could not adjourn without quorum
Mr.. Howe was entirely willing that the
Senate should come to vote at any moment
this Z. M, after he should have submitted a
few remarks. An attempt he said had been
made to convey the impression to the public
mind that the Senate were Furnishing news
papers for publishing intelligence, or cores
pondents for communicating it. This was
not so. Behind the newspapers and cores
pondents lurked some miscreant, who sold
official confidence for money. In endeavor-
ing 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, and whose position he holds,
and what opportunity he has to betrav I'M
portant trusts. Therefore he wanted the in
vestigation continued. 1t would harm no.
body but the individual himself. There could
be no perfect exhonoration OF the Senate until
the offenders name should be known.
The question was taken on Mr. Nyes
amendment which was rejected yeas l6 to 20
Mr.. Edmunds made few remarks, in the
course of which he said in his opinion nothing
would entirely exhonorate the Senate except
to know the truth relative to furnishing copy
of the treaty for publication.
The Senate then agreed to Mr.. Wilson's
esolution to discharge White. and Ramsdell
from custody at the conclusion of the session.
Yeas % Nays b.
At ) o'clock the Senate went into executive
session.
Mr.. Bayard offered resolution which wa.
unanimously agreed to. That the thanks of
the Senate are due, and are thereby rendered
to Hon. ii. b. Anthony for courtesy and
ability with which he has performed his duty
as President of the Senate pro tenn.
Mr. Conklng at 3 :2S offered resolution
that the Senate adjourn sine die, at 5 80 to-
day.
Mr.. Thurman said the Senate had more
than two minutes work to do. 1t was right
the country should know some things it does
not now know in our official way, and Sena-
tors ought to be free from obligations which
would otherwise rest on them.
MIR. Edmunds raised point of order that the
Senate ought not to make allnsion to what
occurred in the executive session.
Mr.. Thurman called for reading of the
words to which Mr.. Edmunds had objected
They were read, when the chair decided they
were not out of order.
Mr.. Conkling sa d it was true that some
things were not known TO the country. A Sena-
tor was more competent than any one else to
tell the country. Let Senators now allow a
vote to be taken, and he can tell his constitu-
ents and country some things.
Mr.. Thurman replied that if the Senate
would not remove the injunction of secrecy
how could he tell the country? His mouth
was gagged while the entire newspapers could
talk as they pleased.
The time fixed by Mr.. Conkling's resolu-
ton having expired, he moved that the pre-
siding officer do now declare the Senate ad-
journed sine die. This was carried and the
Senate adjourned accordingly.