The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-05-29
UNITED STATES SENATE.
Special Session.
WASHINGTON, May q.
The Senate met at l2 NJ.

ne SeUdte iueL dl IL NJ.
Mr.. Wilson called up his resolution
to discharge White and Ramsdell.
Mr.. Sherman took the floor and ad
vised their release. He thought tn,
committee had proceeded as far as i
had power and the matter had been re
ferred
Mr.. Conkling followed in a Ions
speech, making some points in favor O
the power Of the Senate to incarcerate
witnesses during the recess made in
former speeches.
A general though dissultory debate
followed, participated in by Messrs
Howe, Sherman, Thurman and others
No new points were made, but all the
old ground was gone over again.
Mr.. Sumner thought the importance
of the case up was not only on account
Of involving the liberty of two citizens,
but it was getting precedent which
might lead to the exercise OF power The
Senate had not a shadow of authority,
either in precedent, law or the Constitu-
tion, for the detention of these wit
nesses. He referred to the proposition
to break into the telegraph offices Of the
country and violate the privacy Of mes
sages, and asked if breaking into letters
and mails would not be parallel case,
and warned the Senate OF the danger Of
such a proceeding; that the people
would not submit to such high-handed
operations.
Mr.. Bayard wished to enter his
earnest protest against the idea attempt
ed to be maintained that the commit
ment did not expire with the adjourn
ment Of the session of the Senate. He
congratulated Mr.. Sumner on his return
to quoting from and treating the narrow
parts of the Constitution, and quoted
some of Mr.. Summers words regarding
liberalism and imperialism. He held
that the Senate could not delegate the
discretion to any committee for the i'm
prisonment Of a witness when not in
session, and hence it must cease with
the session Of the Senate He quoted
authentics from the Supreme Court
establishing the doctrines he held. He
thought the act Of 1851 was a substitute
for the discretion before existing for
Imprisonment by either house of Con
gress and was meant to prevent the
latitude OF the discretionary power
claimed.
Mr.. Wilson endeavored to get the
hour set for taking the vote on the reso-
luton but Mr. Edmunds objected to
everything proposed because he said he
had no time to ventilate his views
thereon. He was offered one hour but
refused. He was then offered two
hours but refused again, and the discus
sion continued. -..u.
III Mt67 Tie assertions made in Mr.. Conk-
Inns speech, and it was mere reitera-
zion of the ideas and points heretofore
presented by others. At the close OF
Mr. Howe's remarks Mr. Wilson asked
for the vote on the resolution. The
vote was taken on Mr.. Nye's amend
ment and developed the fact that there
was no quorum in the Chamber. After
some time enough Senators were hunted
up to make quorum. The vote was
then continued and the amendment de-
feated. Ayes lG; noes 20.
Pending the question on the resolution,
Mr.. Edmunds expressed views against
releasing the witnesses and insisted that
the Senate had the power to keep the
witnesses in custody and ought to exer-
else it.
The ayes and nays were then ordered
on Mr.. Wilson resolution to discharge
the witnesses, was carried by the follow.
ing vote;
Aves-Messrs. Blair, Bayard, Cas-
serlv, Corbett, Cragin, Fenton, Ere
linghuysen, Gilbert, Hamilton Of Texas,
Harlan, Hill, Logan, Morton, Schultz,
Sherman, Sprague, Stevenson, Stockton,
Simmer, Thurman, Upton, Wilson
and Wmdom-33.
Nays-Messrs. Caldwell, Edmunds,
CLAYTON, Cole, Conkling, Flanagan,
Hitchcock, Howe, Nye, Osborn, Saw
yer, Scott and Wright-l2.
Mr.. Harlan moved to 60 into exec
utive session. Defeated.
"a Mr.. Conkling moved that the Senate
adjourn sine die.
Mr.. Thurman amended by moving to
adjourn at 7 p. M.
Mr.. Conkling moved to amend 10y
substituting clock.
Pending this motion, Mr.. Morton got
the floor, and said that he had to sub
NIT to the Executive session a question
of importance, which he would demon
strate, if given five minutes, with closed
doors.
Mr.. Wilson asked to be relieved from
the visiting committee to West Point.
Agreed to, and Mr.. Morton substituted.
The Senate then, at D o'clock, on Mr..
Morton's motion, by unanimous con-
sent, went into Executive session.
At $50 the doors were reopened, and
the question came up on adjournment
sine die, pending which Mr.. Bayard Of
fered a resolution thanking Mr.. An
thony for the manner in which he had
presided.
After some minutes delay by Mr..
Thurman, Mr.. Conkling renewed his
motion to adjourn sine die, which was
carried and, Mr.. Anthony presiding,
declared the Senate adjourned without
date