Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-03-08
The Republicans RndeaYOr to Make the
Democrats Responsible for the Es-
cape Of the Witness Marsh.
And the Democrats Charge Upon the
Administration a Purpose Of Pro-
teetlDg Belknap by the Absence
Of Marsh.
Blaine and his ChIcanery Defeated He
Meets his Match in Lamar-Rich
Things Coming and to Come.
Opinions Of the Leading Papers Of the
Country on the Crime and the Grim.
inal-The Union Disgraced.

WARRINGTON, March 7.-During the
session OF the house to- day, Mr.. Clymer,
rising to question Of privilege, stated
that a subpoena had been serve d en- him
last evening, Issued by the supreme
court Of the District Of Colum bis, sitting
as criminal court, to appear before that
court, and bring with him all the pape 9,
checks, documeats, etc, and to testi p
in regard to the charges pending in that
court against the late secretary of war
His colleagues, Robbins and Blackburn,
had been similarly subpenaed. he
lClymerl had appeared before that court
and had stated that in obedience to law
be appeared at Its bar to obey its order,
but that as q member OF the committee
OF the house, he felt that it would be-
prejudicial to the highest interests Of
the country thai his colleagues and him.
self should be compelled to state what
mad trsnspired in their commits room.
He believed that such q course would
not only close the mouths of all the wit
nesses, but that 10 many cases It would
drive them from the land. He had said
furthermore, thai while not pleading
their privileges as members of the house,
they must, nevertheless, protest lainst
being examined, and would only cor
sent to be so examined after an order
being made specially to that end by the
court. The court bsd determined, if it
needed their attendance thereafter, TO
send for them. He had felt it his duty
TO bring the matter to the attention Of
the house, In order that the house might
take such action In the matter IS might
be right. just and necessary.
Mr.. Blaine asked Mr.. CIymer If the
court had asked or had desired to SIX
for any information that was rot con-
tsinsd ia the published report and wss
not matter OF record and OF general
uotOriety. He could very well conceive
that the gentleman from Pennsylvania
might not wish 10 be called upon In that
court to testify of what was still q COM
mittee secret, but what point OF delicacy
could arise as to those matters which
were as common as history could make
them he could not see.
Mr.. Clymer replied that the court had
not proposed to ask them any question
at ali-they were TO be examined before
the grand jury. If questions were to
have been asked by the court il the
presence Of the public he might not
have IS great an objection, but he and
his colleagues had felt that II they were
to go before a grand jury, whose pro-
ceedings were necessarily secret, that
fact would strike terror every where
throughout the land, and would close all
avenues Of testimony TO the house and
its committees.
Mr.. Blaine reminded Mr.. Clymer that
his own privilege as a member protected
him, and there was no power to compel
him to testify.
Mr.. Clymer repeated that he had
stated TO the court that he did not in
tend to plead his privilege, so that it
might not be said that he intended to
exclude anything which should be right
fully known to the puOlic.
MIR. Robbins, another member Of the
committee, made like statement In
reference to his being suspensed, and
declared 1t as his belief that the effect, II
not the design, was to intimidste the
witnesses and throttle the investiga-
ton.
Mr.. Danford, another member Of the
committee, said that he had no sub
poeaa to 90 before the court, but he
would like to know from the chairman
whether any additional testimony had
besD tsken before the committee.
Mr.. Lamar objected to that question.
MIR. Biaine-Ihe objection must come
from a most inconceivable motive.
Mr.. LAmsr-It may be motive that
you misconceive, bat nevertheless, IL is
8 motive which have, and that is the
preservation of parliamentary order.
maintain that no member has the right
to reveal the secrets of the committee
room.
Mr.. Clymer said that there had been
no additional testimony before the COM
mittee; but he repeated that the attempt
to drag forth what occurred in COM
mittee could result in nothing else but
detrimsn1 20 the public veal.
Mr.. Blsine-There should be no
division or seeming division between
the two sides Of the house in regard TO a
prosecution OF public criminals.
What was the object OF this investiga-
ton except TO bring the offenders 10 a
jHs'ice2 The cOmmitte could
not punish anybody. Everybody knew
thst this was byU'unl fillD1eo.
Mr.. Ciymer-I have stated the facts
Of the case to the hOuse, and If any
necessary imputstiOn arises that some
one in this District wishes 10 close the
avenues OF evidences all over the coun-
LEN, IL rs EOg Il WHO ulAhkB TIC CuaIEGs |
but the fscts OF the Case.
Mr.. Blaiue-The gentleman closes the |
avenues himself
Mr. Clymtr-I will not permit the
gentleman from Maine, to impute to me
motives which do not understand, or
to put insiuuaiiOns in my mouth which |
! have not uttered.
Mr. Blackburn, another member OF !
4 n Fp0fttan cold the he nnf. m
ptised at the uneasiness and nervousness |
by the gentleman from |
Maise. He Blackburn did not intend |
to charge that it was the purpose Of the |
executive to intimidate witnesses, to |
throttle investigation, and to afford i'm. |
munity to criminals, but he did say |
that unless this gag process was stopped !
the country would believe that that was |
his purpose, and he would believe Ii too. |
app. suse on the Democratic side, and |
q QUESTION by Mr.. Btaine-"Whst gag /
process?"l It had gone forth to the |
country that the committee had con- |
nived at the Ascending Of an important |
against the protest OF the Re- |
publican members of the committee, but !
it was needless for him 10 say that that /
charge was fatty fslse, and he only /
wondered that the Republican mem /
beers bad allowed IL to 60 cut on their |
without contradiction. He |
went on to argue thst ii would be utter /
ly impossible TO convict the late secre- |
tsry Of war or any other cabinet officer /
except by the testimony Of sccompiicea,
and yet the house was now to be toll 1
that an accomplice should not testify /
before the committee except at his own |
peril. A. was against that that be pro- /
tested. He minated that the phrase /
let 10 guilty man escApen would be !
construed by tie country 10 mean let no :
man escape who dsre tell on those who I,
sre in authority. H warned the house I
that the vOluminous Investigations lba
we're now pfogressi & would be Stop Is,
and that it would b. utterly impossible
to carry them further successfully unlees I
there was a declaration that the taab. 3