National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1876-03-13
Xxx ROBBINS, ONCE MORE.
Protsst in his Case Of Republicans Of tn,
North Carolina Senate.

Extract from Senate journal, North CarolIna
State Senate, pages ees-s-le-ii.l
FRIDAY, April 2, 1860.
The Senate met at 10 O'Clock, the president
in the chair. The journal of Thursday was
read and approved.
Mr.. Brogden presented the following pro-
test, to be entered on the journal, respecting
the action of the Senate in the case of VIM.
NJ. Robbins, Senator from Rowan, receiving
twenty dollars from J. W. Stephens:
The undersigned, members OF the Senate,
desire to vindicate the truth of history rela-
tive to VIM. NJ. Robbins, Senator from Rowan,
who was accused of having received money for
advocating the passage of resolution in the
Senate In favor of John W. Stephens.
1.-THE facts in the case are unquestionaDle
and conclusive. At the summer session OF
1865 John W. Stephens was a contestant for a
seat in the Senate, but failed to establish his
right to 1t. A resolution was then introduced
TO pay him for mileage and per diem as Sen
ator, and was voted down by the Senate.
But the next morning, according to the
evidence, VIM. NJ. Robbins agreed with John
W. Stephens to try to get reconsideration Of
the resolution, and If he secured its passage
he was to be paid twenty dollars. Whereupon
John W. Stephens, in his evidence upon this
subject before the Committee on Bribery and
Corruption, declares as follows +
"'Mr. Robbins did appear in my bshalf. and
succeeded In getting my per diem, when paid
Mr.. Robbins the tweaty dollars
"Thus the fact is proved and admitted that
Stephens paid Robbins the money near the door
of the treasurer's office as soon as he received
it from the treasury.
Snow, If Mr.. Robbins acted inadvertently 1t
is indeed remarkable that he did not happen to
recollect the transaction from the 22d sof Au-
gust, the day he received the money, until
some time in January, when the matter was
about to be exposed, aud when he learned that
he was accused with having received and &C
cepted money for advocating in the Senate a
resolution in favor of John W. Stephens. He
denied it, and, in conversation with Stephens
upon the subject, he said that he had under
stood that rumors of the transaction were
afoat, and he wished him (Stephens) to deny
the whole matter that he (R0b5ins) had made
up his mind to do so; that if the facts were
made public he (Robbins) and Stephens would
be eternally damned.
eve believe that no man should take ad-
vantage of his own wrong. In courts of JUS
tice Jurors are sworn to true verdicts give &C
cording to the evidence. The law arises out
of the fact, and until the fact be settled the
law cannot Apply. in tine case now under con-
sideration the fact is settled that William NJ
Robbins did advocate the passage of a certain
resolution in the Senate in behalf Of John W.
Stephens.
''The intentions of men are known only to
themselves and their God, and those who may
hereafter look over the record of the proceed
ings of the Senate upon this subject will
know nothing of the intentions of Senators,
but may judge of them only by their acts and
deeds.
ave are informed by the apostles of Divine
Truth that Judas went unto the Chief Priests
and inquired of them what they would give
him to deliver Jesus unto them. And they
covenanted with him for thirty pieces OF
silver We can only judge of the intentions
of Judas by the record of his acts. And those
who may read in future years the proceedings
of the present Senate relative to William NJ.
Robbins can only judge Of bis intentions by the
record of his acts.
whatever may be said of his intentions, the
truth is undeniable that he did receive money
from John W. Stephens, and that he did sd-
vocate the passage of q resolution in the Sem
ate TO pay Stephens for mileage and per diem
as Senator, when he had not served in the
Senate a single day.
'In January last Robbins stated to Stephens
that he did not want the transaction to be
known, and requested him to deny the charge,
but Stephens refused to deny 1t, and Robbins
soon afterward confessed it.
"While We are deeply sensible of our own
weakness and imperfections, and are ever
ready and willing to make all necessary and
proper allowances for the errors, vices, faults
and frailties of poor human nature, yet we are
reluctantly constrained to regard such pre-
varication and shutting as improper and wrong,
and utterly inconsistent with the fidelity and
virtue that should characterize member OF
the Senate, and we therefore enter our protest
against the decision of the Senate upoau
question, and against thaG -
bins, who - IN