New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-05-17
GENERAL PRESS DIsPATCH.l

WASHINGTON, May 16.-Nhen, at lew nln-
ues past II o'clock to-day the Senate went into EXecu
tive session. Mr.. Carpenter made report from the Sc
lect Committee appointed to investigate how and by
whom the Treaty Washington, and other recent pro
ceedngs in the Executive session Of the Senate, were
made public this report the Committee state they
held a meeting last evening, when Mr. H. L. White, VINO
had been duly subpenaed as witness before the Com
,nittee appeared and duly sworn. He was shown
copy Of THE NEw-YORK TRIBUNE Of date May II, 1871.
He stated he was correspondent Of that paper and that
what purpors TO be copy OF the said treaty III inc sd
manor was transmitted by him the said paper for pub
caton on the night of Wednesday, May TO- 1871 that the
same was transmitted 10 said paper from
the City of Washington by telegraph; that he
obtained a copy, which he transmitted at about
10 o'clock In the evening of that day. The witness was
then asked hut refused TO state when where, and from
whom he obtained said copy, resting his REFUSAL not
upon inability his part to answer the question: nut
upon the ground that he was under obligation OF honor
not to answer the The witness was then directed
to retire and after consultation, the Committee being
unanimously Of opinion that the questions which he had
refused to answer proper questions ana that tho
witness under obligation to answer the same the
witness recalled and having been informed by the
Chairman of the opinion of the Committee, and admon-
ished that It was his duty TO answer the Chairman
Of the Committee asked witness this question;
From whom did you obtain the printed copy
OF what purpOrt be tue treaty spoken OF by me, when
YOU transmitted to THE NEwYoRR TRIBUNE, and which
youhave stated aud transmitted at ABOUT ~
D. m Wednesday, May IL ~ This question said wit
refused 10 stating that he because
he unable to it, but account Of his profess
sional honor saying that whenever he received any
item Of lie considered ii dshonOrabe 70 divuge its
source unless lie had the permission of the person who
furnished TO him; he gave other reason for his re-
fusaL The said Witness White, also testified that he
TO said examination with a fixed purpose not to
dyuge the from which he obtained the Treaty
tee also examined Homer j. Ramsde, who testified that
he assistant Of said White and correspondent Of
The TRIBUNE that THE TRIBUNE Of May IL contained
what puported TO De copy Of recent treaty between
the United States and Great Britain that it was trans
mtted from Washington TO the paper for publication by
said White; that the copy was in writing, which
was copied from print. He was then asked:
"Who had that printed copy from which this manuscript
was cOpied' which question the witness refused TO an
twer He stated that he last the printed copy in
GHE TRIBUNE Office in Washington, after o'clock on
he evening Of May 10. He then asked In whose
possession did you first It'll which he refused to an
swer not upon the ground that he unable to answer
st. but because he in duty bound, a man Of honor.
not TO answer 1t. He then asked " DO you know
from whom that printed copy obtainedr which
question De also refused TO answer He then asked,
DO yOu know what paid for it :" which he also re-
fused 10 answer and he also stated that as TO all the
Questions which he had declined to answer, that he de-
ohhod not upon the ground that he could not answer
The witness then directed to retire and the Com
mittec upon consultation being unanimously of the
opinion that the questions which the witness had refused
70 answer proper and that he bound TO answer
tbem, the witness was recalled, and informed by
The Chairman that such the opinion OF the Com
nittee, and that his refusal to answer the ques
IONS iaight subject him 10 proceedings for contempt
Tie Chairman then said 10 the witness, Having made
hl' explanation InOw ask you as j did before from
whom the printed copy OF what purports 10 he the treaty
o. which son have spoken Obtaned2" This cues
uoh be sso refused 10 He also stated that lie
came 10 The examination with fixed purpose not TO
answer any question that shOuld show from him the
source from which that copy Of the Treaty obtained
and that he thon OF his Judgment understanding
the u circumstances Of the case persisted in his re-
fusal 10 answer sad questions
In the opinion ~ the Committee the ane,4op mt 10
Aad witnesses respectively proper questions nece
gary make the iDycs cation ordered by the r. soluoD
81 the Senate aud thf each OF said witnesses is i con-
ept Of the senate and merits TO be dealt with for his
uocnduct and th5t the dignity of the senate requires
that tie pretense upon veh witnesses based the refusal
should recognized valid The Committee there
FORE recommended thr senate the adoptOh the fol-
LGil2 resolution:
kf21ieSd That ZebulOn T. White witness heretofore
az summoned before select Committee 0l The senate,
dl tebg lawfully required 10 testify before said Com
IA zee and who, appears b. the report 81 said Com
i-V Las fefueed 10 ahswef proper inquiries put 10
mn ia the Of the INVESTIGATION by said Committee,
red ~ tbe Senate Dc forthwith arrested by the SEP
'Shta Arms and brought before the Senate at ITS bar
~ We cfbcrs Of the bslate duly issued by me wee
fI1sident under is hspd aud the seal of the Senate