New-York tribune., 1871-12-19
XLIID CONGRESS-IID SESSION
THE SENATE CAUCUS RESOLUTION AMENDED
AND PASED--A VICTORY FOR THE iNDE-
PENDENT REPUBLICANS - PROCEEDINGS IN
THE HOUSE.

THE SENATE CAUCUS RE5OLETION AMENDED
AND PASED--A VICTORY FOR THE iNDE-
PENDENT REPUBLICANS - PROCEEDINGS IN
THE HOUSE.
lBr TsLBGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNkI
WARRINGTON. Monday. Dec. 1s. 1sT1.
The weeks agony is ended with suDstan-
tia victory for the indepc ndent Republicans, who,
the true friends Of the Administrations have abored
hard TO the doors thrown open to the ilrs and
ost searching investigation into every species Of abusc
and tho light let In upon oil the doings Of the Govern
ment Tho general subject Of an Investigating Commit
tee came up soon after the meeting OF the Senate,
motion by Mr.. Anthony TO appoint the Committee, ~
had been agreed In the Republican Friday.
This at once led debate. The unusual proposition to
construct q Committee Of this kind without a single
Of the minority who had forced the Senate
to take tho present action shocked the parliamentary
Of propriety OF Mr. Sumner and others Tho de-
bate whether Mr. Tr,lmh1 or Mr.. Schurz other
OF the Independent Republicans, should not have had
place on tho Committcc continued until the morning
hour expired when Mr.. TrnmDuls resolution Of last
Friday came up by general consent this laid aside,
that the consideration Of the caucus resolution might 10
continued and the first opportunity, Mr.. Trum.
bull offered his resolution OF instruction as An
amendment to the one naming the COMMITTED
Then Senate launchedout into OF those endless
Of words which 1t Is wont to engage when no great
question before tho body. It's members. while they
claim agree In sentiment differ to trchncalities
Then the legal ability Of tho Senate asserts itself as IL
did to-day. 1t Is unnecessary TO follow this debate
through It's long OF unntcresng details but only
touch here and there points that redeemed from
degenerating INTO wrange.
Mr. Bayard, who had been nsmedJas the Democratic
member Of tic Committee, made. early In the day. .
speech treating Of the question from Democratic point
OF view Many Of his points had been made before In
debate but some Of them were new. In enumerafing
some OF the subjects which he would like to invest
gated he said that he would like to know, among other
as THE NEW YORK TRIBUNE had chargcda recent
Convention in York had been controlled By Federal
Office holders led by the late Collector of the port Of
NevYork. After he had finished his speech, Mr. Conk
ling who supposed the inquiry must Of course DO
directed to him. he is understood to be the keeper
Of Tom Murphy's conscience, rose 10 F'p!y' Duh
when Mr. Bayard assured the Senator that "heh
he used the word senior" no referred to the
ccntlcmans colleague COnkling gracefully yieided tno
floor to Mr. Fenton who merely remarked that nc dio
not propose to discuss that matter now, but that
should seem proper any future time he should atempl
10 show that such the He Thought ne couia
make It plain that the INQUIRY Of the Senator IRON De
ware was justified by the facts in the case.
Later in the afternoon Mr.. Frcinghuysen repeated
speech which made last week (se,era Senators whs
spoke to-day did this,. f., which hc protested against
giving such power was proposed TO the Comh'ce on
the ground that it was unconstitutional 10 'ro" sp
con upon any one by a report to the Senate, without
giving him a chance to cross-examihe Tue "i'"eN'e'
who appeared against him. anu " oH'i
testimony in Tebnttal lie intifialed tia' ou'n
Injustice had been done connected with the New
York Custom by the last report of the te fe-
trcnchment Committee. This charge brought Senator
Patterson to his feet who replied that in almost every
case where the testimony crimnated an officer that tes
timony was given by hm-clf and where charges were
made against Others in every those persons were
called and allowed to testify in their own behalf
In;ftn l,n.b 70 tl..
mel OF the Committee, Mr.. Sumner showing. from ny
mark which had been made by Mr. Buckingham that he
buckingham had felt that it would not have been quite
right TO accept the Craftsmanship of the Committee II
Mr. Trumbu would take 1t and Mr.. Thurman showing
that IL unfair first, to give the Democrats Du ONO
member of the Committee and secondly not to consu
with them to who that man should be. soon ailer
this Mr., Casserly added to those already named
The stirring speech Of the day Was that OF uen
Logan He attributed the opposition OF the majority TO
the resolutions offered Ivy his colleague ClrunDui 10
the that they had not been proposed by one o her
own number He protested against the king OF four or
five Administration Senator'S who took upon Themselves
the arrangement OF everything. lie said that II he
had friend who managed a cock-hght as bunsling'y
as tho majority had managed this matter ne should al
wise him TO step aside and let else conduct IT,
and protested against "calng caucus on man " no
happened to think differently from the moJory. The
folly OF making Mr.. Trunibus resolution party mat
ter by calling caucus. how 1t could be got rid OF
without exciting much suspicion, was also fully
shown up.
During a part Of the afternoon, after tho House Of
Representatives adjourned, many OF the members Of
that House were upon TIE floor Of the Senate and In the
galleries. watching the debate with the greatest interest
When 1t became apparent that vote would not 10
reached for several hours attempts made " I'd.
j0urn, but they unsuccessful, and after O'Clock
the discussion dwinded to q personal affair be-
tween Senators On opposite sides OF the question.
After o'clock the first vote was taken the caucus
amendment 20 Mr.. Trumbulps resolution which to
strike OF 1t all reference to the Civil Service, and all
power tO send for persons and papers This agreed
to by vote Of % to s After this, the resolution, a.
amended, was adopted. Then Mr. Wilson moved to give
the Committee, during the present session OF Congress-
power send for persons and and this was car
ried by vote OF p to H. the following RcpUbC voting
in the affrmatiye
Cragin, FentOn. Hitchcock. Kellogg, Lewis. Logan
Patterson schurz, Spencer sumner Upton. 1rumbun.
West, Wilson, and Window
The following named Republicans were in tie Cham
Der, but lodged the vote
buckingham, COnklug. Harlan, Howe, Pool, and some
Others
After this matter was disposed Of, Senator
Conkling who, All has become
very anxious TO have the affairs Of tho
New York Custom House Investigated. attempted
to got before the senate resolution 10 refer the matter
to the Committee but unable 10 do So Though tnn
Is deliberate attempt TO steal Senator Fenons Auh
der there Is no doubt that the Independent Republicans
will all support 1t when 1t up In tho morning. ana
that Mr. Conklipg's resolution will Ice passed.
There is no teilrng what the House may do on Ao0
day Anything and everything is IN order on that day
and can be passed without an opportunity Tor smS''
word Of explanation opposition II at"otnlrds 'os
can be got suspend the rules. There Is tnrn iSn
field and free fight, and every member who can eas
the Speakers eye can go with his bill or resoIuu'o'
and take bis chances for victory defeat. Thens
usually good deal OF skirmshng between tie twopN