Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-05-26
Congress.
WASHINGTON. D. G.. NAV Is


SENATE-EXTRA SESSION.
The senate met at II O'Clock, and Mr.. Gamer
on, at the request of Mr. Sumner, waived the
motion for executive session, in order TO allow
the latter to make personal explanation.
Mr. Sumner said he had seen in the Daily
Chronicle a statement purporting to give what
he did in executive session yesterday. He was
astonished that the paper conducted by gentle
man who officially occupied seat in the execu-
tive session of the senate should attribute to a
senator what he never said. He had now to
state that what was attributed to him was fab
rication. He made no such speech.
Mr. Cameron then renewed his motion to 90
into executive session.
Mr.. Wilson hoped that'the senate would first
act upon his motion to release the prisoners at
the close of this session.
Mr.. Cameron insisted upon his MOTION which
was lost by tie vote-21 to 81.
Mr.. Carpenter then requested Mr.. Wilson to
delay action on his resolution until the investi-
eating committee could present report on the
witnesses, and promised that it should be ready
in three-quarterS of an hour.
Mr.. Wilson agreed to go into executive ses-
sion, with the understanding that when the
doors were opened his resolution should be
taken up.
The doors were reopened at quarter past
three o'clock, when Mr. Edmunds moved to post
pone Mr.. Wilson's resolution, in order to take
up his fixing the time for the adjournment of
the session, adding that, as the senate had met
at the call of the president, it would be indec-
orous to adjourn without indicating to the presi-
dent that the business of the session was fin
ished
Debate ensuing on Mr. Edmund's motion, Mr..
Conkling made full statement of his share in
the investigation of the disclosure Of the treaty.
Mr. Chandler followed in a querulous COM
plant OF the continual reports of proceedings in
executive session and republican senatorial eau
cuses which, he said, had been kept up regu-
larry for the past ten years.
Mr.. Carpenter, from the investigating COM
mlttee, m ade report accompanied by all the
testimony, and stating that the manager, Tink-
er, and the operator, Kirby, of the Western
Union telegraph company, were in contempt of
the senate for refusing to answer certain ques-
tons.
Mr.. TrumbulPs motion to lay the report on
the table was camied-34 to II.
Mr.. Wilson then withdrew his resolution, and
MIR. Sherman offered a substitute, to the effect
that the witnesses summoned before the COM
mittee, having refused to testify where the copy
of the treaty was obtained for publication, and
no proof appearing that any senator or employee
of the senate was connected in any way with
the publication, the select committee be dis
charged from consideration of the subject and
the witnesses now in custody be discharged.
Mr.. Edmunds agued that TO pass this reso-
luton would, in the eyes of the country, be
looked upon as a confession on the part of the
senate that it had abandoned the investigation
btCluSe OIle Vi IT'S OWL llleIuUeTS was guilty.
Mr.. Wilson denied that the country would put
any such Interpretation upon the passage.
During his remarks, Mr.. Wilson stated that
the resolution to raise the committee of inYeSti-
cation had been prepared by Mr.. Conkling, and
introduced by Mr.. Carpenter, when Mr.. Car
penter called Mr.. Wilson to order for divulging
what took place in executive session, and Mr..
Wilson begged pardon for his forgetfulness.
Mr.. Conkling asked Mr.. Wilson to repeat his
statement.
Mr.. Wilson repeated it, and said he had in
tended to add that the resolution received a
unanimous vote of the senate, and every MEM
Der of the senate was equally responsible for it.
Mr.. Conklipg, laborng under great excite
ment, then took the floor. He said that the
statement OF Mr.. Wilson, whether so intended
or not, would convey the impression that he,
Conkling, had stated incorrectly his position in
this matter The statement of the senator bore
a strange Similitude to the corrupt libels recent
ly floating through the press. He would not
suspect that this was the second offence
of the senator; but, as that senator
had given what purported to have occurred
in executive session, he Conkling, now intend
ed to state what did take place in executive ses-
sion, Notwithstanding the rule, which was pub
licly and continually trampled under FOOT
"rhe matter was first brought to the attention
of the senate by the senator from Ohio, Mr.
Sherman, chairman of the committee on foreign
relations, who asked if it was intended to pass
over such breach Of the privileges of the SEN
ate The senator from Massachusetts, Mr.. Sum-
ner, said it would be a departure from the an
cent ways of the senate if it was passed over; it
was demanded Of the committee on foreign re-
lations that it should examine into it. 1t was
then alleged that the committee was overhurden,
ed with work. Some senator then proposed
that the judiciary committee should investigate
The senator from Ohio, Mr.. Thurman, spoke of
the committee on printing and on revision of
the rules. After all these suggestions, a special
h.. h,u..
friend, Mr.. Carpenter, but by voices all over the
chamber, Il was then, at the request of sena=
tors around me- that | put on paper hastily
drawn resolution, and handed it to Others to in
troduce"
He asked, would the senator from Massa-
chusetts, Mr.. Wilson, have it believed that he,
Conkling, drew the resolution as an original
act? that it was under his leadership that the
investigation originated? He had no quarrel
with Mr.. Wilson, He thought his amiability
often led him to do acts the hardest to defend.
He did not believe the senator had made this
statement with malice aforethought, but had
violated, in an unguarded manner the confidence
OF body of which he was a member. Had he,
Conkling, not been at hand to correct the false
inference to be drawn from the senator's re-
marks what he had said would have well helped
the persevering effort which had been made to
prove that the senator from Wisconsin, Mr. Car.
penter, and more particularly himself, Conkling,
had gone into this investigation with some ami
mus, with preconceIved malice, that they had
bent their bows and set up mark for their ar
rows. A more unfounded assertion than this
had never been made. Out of such facts as
these have come the extraordinary statements
sent to all parts of the country,
Mr.. Sherman said, after the revelations that
had been made, it was the merest idle farce to
hold in custody the two gentlemen that were
imprisoned by order of the senate. Every man,
woman and child in this country would SO re-
gard it, when senators were openly betraying
the secrets of the executive session, notwith-
standing the rule which prescrbes expulsion
for such violation. He had called attention to
the publication of the treaty, and should do so
again. What he did, and every member of tie
senate had agreed with him, was that invest.
CATION should be made, and If any senator or
officer of the senate was concerned in IL, he
should be punished,
The chair, Mr.. Anthony, stated that he had
not stopped the senators in their remarks, be-
cause the injunction of secrecy had been re-