The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-03-09
EXTRAORDINARY PROCEEDING.
IN THE COMMITTEE
.s.- ON ROADS. I,
a AsELE.0oNsT1TUTED IYQUlsITT0g'
INVITED GUESTS ROUGHLY HANDLED
BUT MAINTAIN THEIR s ~
EQUANIMIrY,

/ BOT MAINTAIN THEIR
| EaUANnIrY.
An Honest and Indignant Protest.
Yesterday afternoon, after the adjourn
ment of the House of Delegates, DR.. GRA-;
HAM, the chairman Of the Committee on
Roads, &C., at the request of certain mem
bers Of that committee, sent through the!
Clerk of the House an invitation to be
present at meeting of the committee to
be held at the Exchange Hotel last even
ing at 8 O'Clock, for the purpose OF throw
ing some light upon the bill recommitted
yesterday. The gentlemen thus invited
were the signers of the proposition to buy
the States interest in the Richmond and
Petersburg railroad at S15O per share, or 80
per cent. more than was offered by General
Malone. We append the names General
Joseph r. Anderson, 81. 4. Ellyson, Isaac
Davenport, Jr., Franklin Stearns, A. F.
Harvey, Reuben Ragland, +. R. Scott, j.
Fl. Cox, e. &. Bridges, John Lyon; also,
r. F. Walker, C. W. Statham, and William
Malone.
THE MEETING.
The committee met, according to appoint
ment, at the hotel. There were present the
! following members Messrs. Graham (chair-
mgn), Wood, Segar, Marshall, Guy, Budd,
Horton, Thurman, Hill, and Moss. Nearly
ali of the gentlemen invited to attend were
also promptly on hand. -,
Mr.. THURMAN asked that a testament be
sent for, IN order that the witnesses might
be sworn. No objection was made, and
after some little difficulty one was procured.
Mr. THURMAN then moved to proceed to
business. ..
WHAT IS 1T ALL ABOUT! .-
Mr.. Guy asked what the business was. IL
| seemed to be understood among some mem
bers of the committee, but he had not been
| informed.
Mr.. THURMAN: We want to see what is
the object Of the proposition you intro
duced in the House to-day-what it is, and
where it comes from.
Mr.. GUY: Well, while I have no doubt
the gentlemen invited here will gladly be
examined, and assist in the enlightenment
of the committee, I, as a member OF the
committee, feel called upon to protest
against any formal investigation or exam
nation at all, unless there is distinct un-
derstanding that there Is to be full and
fair hearing of witnesses on both sides. He
would suggest also that the authority of the
committee to so into the formal examina-
tion of sworn witnesses was questionable,
as the House had not ordered an investiga-
tion or empowered them to send for persons
and papers. ~. .....
| Mr. THURMAN said he had offered reso-
luton in the House providing for such IN
Investigation, but it had been objected to.
He thought it perfectly proper to go on
and swear the witnesses.
ONE or THE GUESTS SPEAKS.
Mr.. II. X. ELLYsoN here said that he had
been requested by the chairman Of the com.
mittee, through the Clerk of the House OF
Delegates, to appear here this evening. He
icertainly did not understand that he was
here as witness.
The CHAIRMAN: No, sir 3; you are not.
Mr.. ELLYsoN Well, sir, so far as the gen.
tlemen who signed the proposition intro.
duced in the House Of Delegates by Mr..
Guy are concerned, we are perfectly ready
to answer any questions, fully and frankly
we mean what we say in the paperto which
our names are attached.
WE MEAN BUSINESS.
We have no concealments to make, ant
are now ready to give the committee th'
benefit of anything that we have to say.
Mr.. THURMAN said the idea in sending fol
Mr.. ElIyson and others, was to get all tn,
light available on the subject under con
slderation in view of the recommittal of th,
bill.
MR.. GUYS POSITION. a-.
Mr.. Guy said he made no objection what
ever to the investiga ton on its merits, bu
wished it understood that if entered into
should not cease until both sides have beer
fairly and fully heard. He was willing t.
waive all technical objections, but asked 81
assurance that all parties likely to know
anything about it should be summoned anl
examined. ...........ga aa
WON'T PROMISE ANYTHING.
Mr.. WooD can answer for myself.
won't promise anything, lest my promise
should be misunderstood.
| NO BLUFF. ...t.
Mr.. Guy Very well. sir; then 1 under
stand your position. But let us have NJ
bluff. ....a ... ns ra
He (Mr. GUY) then formally raised the
objection that no witnesses could be sworn
the committee not having been empowered
by the House to 60 into any investigation
He was sure that the gentlemen present by
invitation were perfectly willing to be
sworn, but he really would not advise them
to do so under the circumstances.
Mr.. BUDD ssid this was
AN UNHEABD OF PROCEEDING.
He was no lawyer, but believed that If
person was to take false oath under such
circumstances he could not be indicted fol
perjury in court of law.
THE QUESTION RAISED.
MIR. WooD then said that ih order to de-
eide the matter, he would move that MIR
Fl. z. Ellyson be called and sworn. He
would take Mr.. Ellyson's statement with.
out oath, and believe every word of it, but
did not wish to set bad precedent. Some
one else might hereafter appear before the
committee whom it would be necessary tc
swear.
AND SETTLED.
The Chair put the question whether Mr
|Ellyson should be called and sworn, and II