The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-05-18

HReCsuA SeDDhOm Oh inc Sem0tes
WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE Vice President
State Solicitor Whiting of the War Depart
ment containing list of claims OF foreign
subjects growing out Of the war Of the rebel
lion, which, with TIE accompanying letter of
Secretary Fish, was ordered printed and the
Senate went into executive session. 81
At ten minutes past White and Ramsdell
were brought into the Senate under arrest.
Mr. Carpenter, from the select committee,
offered resolution requiring the Vice Presi-
dent to put the question to them, "What ex-
cuse they have Tor not answering certain in
terrOgatiOHs relative to the premature publica-
ton of the treaty, and whether they are now
prepared to answer all proper questions asked
by the committee" Mr.. Carpenter made
statement showing it was the undoubted right
of the Senate to make the interrogation and
the improperly of making public matters of
such vast Importance He said that there were
two courses, one of which they must pursue;
first, the Senate must 60 forward and COM
pei obedience to its rules or confess in the face
OF the world its want Of nerve and weakness.
Mr.. Fenton offered substitute for the pend
ing resolution requiring the question to be pro-
pounded as follows: did you receive copy
of the treaty, either from Senator or Clerk
or Secretary of Senator, or army officer or
employee of the Senate, or any member of his
family" This, Mr.. Fenten said, was as far as
they ought to 10. -.. sd. t-is
Mr.. Wilson supported the substitute, speak
ing in favor of free press, saying that this
tnek rney ought to stop. ~.---,-'
The treaty may have been given out BY an
official at the State Department, and if it
should be discovered that this had been done,
what action would the Senate then take. The
press were not bound to keep secrets of the
State Department, the Senate or any other
branch OF the government. 1t the secrets of
the Senate leaked out. it was the fault Of the
Senators and not the correspondents. 1t was
the duty OF the press to give to the people of
the country intelligence in regard to acts of
the government. The conductors of the free
press have the right to 60 into every depart
ment OF the government to obtain whatever
information they can get aid spread the same
information before the country. 1t was the
duty of the pless TO gather information every
where. In all countries where there is freedom
of press it is matter of honor and duty to
keep its own secrets in regard to its own bust
ness. $500 -ta- ... =
Mr.. Morton said he would support the sub
stitute as against the original resolution. This
treaty was not an exclusive Senate document,
and it was mistake SO to regard it. The treaty
belonged to the British government as much
as it did to the U. S., and suppose the former,
through its commissioners, had furnished CODY
of The treaty for publication, would the Senate
undertake to punish the commissioners. The
Senate might compel prisoners to say whether
they obtained it from a Senator or an officer of
the Senate, but they had no right to press for
further explanation.
MIR. Thurman said if anybody vas to be pun
ished ior pnDlishlng the treaty, it ought 10 be
the editor OF the Tribune, ana not the cores
pendent. No good will come OF this invests
cation. 1t is mere farce and the country
will so regard it.
Mr.. Thurman said he would support the sub
stitute. tss
MIR. Upton said the Senator from Wisconsin
(Mr. Carpenter) talked about the dignity of
| the Senate. Who cared for such dignity when
| the Senate made such uhtimely exhibitions of
| itself as to-day? MIR. Upton drew some ludi-
| crous pictures of this investigation and made
| some hits which OccasiOned much laughter.
| Mr.. Morrill, of Vermont, said OF White that
| he was in favor of having all treaties made
| public. He would vote for the resolution of
the Senator from Wisconsin. The only ques-
| ton was whether the interrogatory was the
proper one. File had no doubt that the facts
when discovered will implicate some Senator
| at least in carelessness. tw5 ar
Mr.. Fentons substitute was disagreed to by
| q to 81. 4-
MIR. Trumbull offered an amendment to the
pending resolution as follows: Adding to words
to be answered by witness, touching the dis
i closure directly or indirectly through any mem
Der OF the Senate or any officer or any EN-
| pOyee thereof, of what purp0rts to be the
Treaty OF Washington, now pending before the
Senate in executive session. He advocated
i the amendment.
MI, Trumb1lrs amendment was agreed to;
yeas %, nays %. - -
Mr. sumner asked whether they had not
| proceeded tar enough. They had already spent
two days on this subject. In the name of the
Roman Tribune he asked, "Cui Bono;" for
/ what good purpose could they continue theil
investigation He thought the Senate had
better stop. Thep had gone far enough. They
had shewn reasonable alacrity to the enquiry
and had better abandon the whole inquiry
To prosecute it further would answer no good
purpose to the Senate or the country. The
resolution of Mr.. Carpenter was then agreed
| to, AZ to IA in the following form:
Resolved, That q. L. White, now in the GUS
tOdy Of the serge ant alarms Of theSenate on an
attachment for contempt in refusing to answer
certain question propounded to him while he
was being examined as witness by the select
committee of the Senate, thereto duly author.
lied, be arraigned at the bar Of the Senate and
that the President of the Senate PROFOUND to
him the following interrogatories: First, What
excuse have you for not answering the several
interrogatories prOpounded to you by members
of the special committee of the Senate be-
fore which committee you were examin
ed as = witness on the 18th day May inst.
Second, Are you now ready to appear before
said committee and answer all proper ques
tions that may be put to you by said commit
tee touching the disclosure, directly or indr
| rectly. through any member OF the Senate o.
any officer or employee hereof of what pur
ports to be the Treaty OF Washington nov
pending before the Senate in executive session
that he be required to answer the same Thai
l
to writing; that the said witness be first swOrI
by the Vice President; that the Vice Presi
dent PROFOUND to him the several interrOgatO
ries which we're prOpOunded to him by the sait
committee and which he refused to answer a
shown by the report of the said committee
|. and that the Secretary of the Senate reduce
his answers to writing.
Mr.. White was then in pursuance OF the res
OlutiOn escorted to the front of the Secre tary'
desk by the sergeant-at-arms, when the Vic
President propOunded the questions to him.
Mr.. White said he was not now prepared t.
answer, and asked that leave be given till to
morrow noon for that purpose. The leave wa
) granted.
On motion of Mr. Carpenter similar reso
luton was adopted as toMr. Ramsdell. This gel
teman was also escorted to the Secretary
desk, when the Vice President propounde'
the questions. MIR. Ramsdell also asked leav
to prepare answers, which was granted. Tn
Senate at o'clock adjourned. Messrs. Whit
and Ramsdell were released on their parole t
appear and answer at the time stated.
A company with IS 600 900 capital, to con
struct eight canals for the irrigation of the en-
tire San Joaquin and tributary valleys, i
. California, was incorporated Tuesday:
Five stores were burned at HOnesdale, ia
Tuesday night, Loss $25O,e0Q.