The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-01-29

The House then took up the bill for the
admission Of Colorado aS State, which
was discussed until four o'clock, when the
death Of Julius L. Strong, late Repre-
sentative from Connecticut, was an
nounced, and appropriate eulogics deliv'
cred, alter which the House adjourned.
@ SENATE.
The Vice President In q personal state.
ment, asked the appointment Of q COM
mittee to investigate the charges against
him in connection with the Credit Mobi'
ller.
The Vice resident-senators: Before
commencing the morning business I ask
your indulgence for few remarks per.
sonal to myself in my relations to this
body as the, presiding officer. Grave char.
ges, affecting my character as man,
are before the American people, and do
not underrate the circumstantial evidence
by which they are supported, but con-
scious Of my innocence and my rectitude,
respectfully ask for the appointment Of
committee Of Senators to make most
thorough and exhaustive investigation
into these charges, with authority TO send
for persons and papers, and Q majority Of
which committee shall be Senators po.
lltically opposed to me. The Senator
from Rhode Island will please take the
Chair.
Mr.. Anthony took the Chair as presid-
Mr.. Pratt-Representing as l do in part
tho State Of which tho Vice President Is
citizen, 1t Is proper that l should move
the appointment Of Q committee in ac-
cordance with his wishes. In doing that
desire 10 say that do not wish myself
appointed q member Of that committee,
and perhaps 1t Is not out Of place that !
should say upon this occasion that hay
ing known the Vice President from his
youth, 1 have the most perfect confidence
In his truth, his integrity and his honor.
It would require great deal more evil
dence than | have seen or heard to con.
vince tho people Of the State Of Indiana
that he Is o dishonest or dishonorable
man. In compliance with the wish he
has expressed, ! now move tho appoint.
ment Of Q committee Of 1--WE.
Mr.. Thurman cannot as at present
advised vote for the appointment Of any
such committee. If the Vice President
were member Of this body-it we had
power to expel-it would be very proper
that this body should appoint q commit.
tee to investigate the charges against him,
aud 1t would be very improper for any
other tribunal than the Senate to take
that course or do anything In the matter
further than to refer to the Senate any
evidence that might have come out in an
investigation elsewhere. But the Vice
President Is an officer Of the Government
The Senate has no power over him TO ex'
pei or censurc him. If he has been
guilty Of anything that subjects him to
punishment, 1t is by impeachment, and
that can only originate in the House oil
Representatives, II evidence be pro.
duced that tatisfles the House Of Repre-
sentatives that he ought to be i'm
peached, 1t Is the duty Of the House
to impeach him, and 1t Is the duty
Of the Senate not TO form any opinion as
to his guilt or innocence until the eVi.
dence iS produced and we are called upon
as Judges to deliver our verdict. We
cannot enter into an investigation Of his
conduct and iorestall judgment. II he
be guilty, 1t Is the duty Of tho House TO
impeach him; and II he be innocent, It Is
the duty Of tho House to refrain from Inn
peaching him. Our duty, II such char.
ges come to US, will be the duty ofjudges
or Jury, and 1t Is not for US 10 investigate
in advance, I do not say that the Senate
has no power to investigate the conduct
Of an individual where an investigation
becomes necessary In considering some
public measure upon which we have to
pass in our legislative capacity, but that
Is not this case. The paper just read
by the Vice President informs us that
certain charges duplicating his private
character have been made the subject Of
investigation elsewhere. With that We
have nothing to do, unless IL comes
to US in the mode appointed by
the constitution, and we have no right by
any investigation Of ours to forestall the
action Of the House Of Representatives,
or to affect tho investigation in any way
whatever, either taVorably or untaVora'
by. can very well understand the mo-
tives which induced the President to
make this communication to the Senate,
and can very well understand why he
should ask this body, over which he pre-
sides, to investigate this matter. But he
has made mistake, however honorable
may be his motives, in asking an investi-
CATION the Senate ought not to order.
I hope, therefore, that the Senator from
Indiana, Mr.. Pratt, will moi. press this
motion.
The President, pro ten, Mr. Anthony,
then put the question and the motion was
lost. Mr.. Pratt, alone, voting in the afnr.
native.
BIr. Thurman offered a resolution,
which was agreed TO, directing the Sec.
retary Of the Treasury TO inform the Sen.
ate as to the aggregate amount Of money
proceeding from fines, compromises and
seizures paid since the lst Of June, 1869,
to officers, detectives and informcrB, with
the specific amounts received BY each,
Mr.. Upton introduced bill TO pay DR..
Mary L. Walker for services in the
army.
On motion OF Mr.. schurz the amend.
mcnts of the Honse to the Vienna expo.
sition bill werO concurred in. The bill
Is therefore passed.
Mr.. Merrill afterwards moved to recon.
slider the vote by which the bill was
passed.
The bill to pay tho Government OF
Japan for the land occupied by the United
States in Japan for postal purposes was
passed.
The consideration Of the legislative ap.
preparation bill was then resumed, and
the amendment offered by Mr., Morrill,
yesterday, requiring that no judgement Of
the Court Ol Claims shall be paid except
to persons whose loyalty has been prov
cd, was agreed TO.
Mr.. Morrill, explained that II was aimed
principally against Lamar, one Of the
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