The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-01-10
CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON, January 9.
SENATE.

SENATE.
Mr.. Sumner presented several petit
tons for the passage of the supple
mentary civil rights bill.
Mr.. Fenton presented petition OF
the lace importers of New York for an
alteration Of custom cases.
Mr.. Scott made special report from
the joint Ku.Klux committee, involving
a question OF privileges. He said that
the committee, in investigating the
condition of affairs in Arkansas. had
found that no Ku.Klux outrages were
alleged to have occurred in that State
for more than two years, but incident
ally had been given by TWO witnesses
from Arkansas named Wheeler and
Whipple, duplicating one OF the Sena-
tors from that State, (Claytonl, J, and
member of the House (Edwards),
which evidence the committee thought
it their duty to lay before the Senate,
80 that the Senator implicated might
have an opportunity if he chose to
move for an investigation. The testl-
mony charges that Clayton, when
Governor of Arkaneas, made bargain
with the Democratic members OF the
Legislature to disregard the regular
returns of the election for member oi
Congress in the district now represented
by Mr.. Edwards, and to give MIR.
Edwards q certificate of election, al.
though Boles was really elected, and
that the consideration for this was the
promise Of the Democrats to vote for
him for United States Senator.
Mr.. Scott in submitting the report
said that if the charges were found TO
be true it would be the duty OF the
Senate to consider whether the Senator
from Arkansas was fit person to hold
a seat in the Senate, and that if on the
contrary they were untrue the Senator
was entitled to have them investigated
and himself exonerated.
Mr.. Clayton-I suppose, Mr.. Presl-
dent, that under the rules this report
would have to lie over for one day.
The Vice President-lt wOnld.
Mr.. Clayton-Then, sir, as | am the
Senator implicated, and as l do not
desire to lie under this imputation one
day longerthan can possibly be averted,
ask the unanimous consent to proceed
at once to the consideration OF the
report. =, =,
No objection was made and Mr..
CLAYTON read a long address reviewing
the evidence OF Messrs. Wheeler and
Whipple and vindicating in detail his
own acts as Governor OF Arkansas.
He described Whipple as foreman OF
the United States Grand Jury, which
was a mere political machine and
Wheeler, the United States District
Attorney, as a mere factotum who moved
only as others pulled the wires and said
that these charges as well as his indict-
ment by the Grand Jury were made as
a part Of q systematic persecution to
which he had been subjected by enemies
at home.
tthe expiration Of the noon hour
the amnesty bill came up as unfinished
business; but, on motion OF Mr.. Sum-
ner, it was made a special order tor
Monday next, and Mr.. Clayton con-
tinued his remarks.
In conclusion Mr. Clayton asked the
Senate to appoint special committee
to investigate the charges against him.
On motion OF Mr.. Wright resolu-
ton was adopted to refer the matter to
a special committee Of three, with
the power to send fer persons and pa
pers, and to report upon the charges
against Senator Clayton.
Mr.. Conkling gave notice that on
Thursday he would call up the pending
Joint resolution (Mr. Sumner's) TO
limit thePresidency to one term, and
would address the Senate on the subject.
Mr. Morrill,, Of Vermont, moved to
take up the concurrent resolution ac-
cepting the statue of Roger Williams,
presented by the State Of Rhode Island.
Mr.. Sprague then, in brief address,
presented the statue in the name and
on behalf of Rhode Island.
Mr.. Anthony also delivered an ad-
dress on the same subject, and the con-
current resolution was adopted.
Mr.. Thurman moved to take up the
pending resolution to admit Mr.. Gold
thwaite, of Alabama, to seat in the
Senate, pending the investigation OF the
question of the validity of his election.
The resolution to admit q Goldthwaite,
Of Alabama, as Senator from that State,
was adopted without opposition:
Mr.. Morton, ofIndiana, called up the
resolution to pay Foster Blodgett, OF
Georgia, who was declared not en-
titled to a seat in the Senate, the COM
pensation usually allowed in such cases.
Adopted.