New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-05-10
AN INCIDENT IN THE SENATE IN 1871.

AN INCIDENT IN HE SENATE IN lS|l.
APROPos OF MIR. CoNKLNG's CANDIDACY FOR THE
PREsIDENCY-THE SENATOR CoN1RADICfED IN
EXPECTEDLY.
IRON THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRTBUSE. !
WASHINGTON, May 9.-Wmle Senator Conk-
ngs friends are urging him upon his party so strongly
as n candidate for the Presidency, little incident which
occurred in the Senate about five years may be in
erestng reading to them. The subject under discussion
the invcsg tion which followed the publication OF
the Treaty of Washington in THE NEw-foRK TRIBUNE.
The investigation had very unpopular, and both
Mr. Conkling and Mr.. Carpenter were sInarting under
the criticisms of the press all the country for the
part they had taken in bringing it about Both Of them
were known as the jaiers, and IT was In re-
gard these criticisms that Mr.. Conkng spoke on the
25th of May 1871, as follows:
Mr. President the matter before the Senate, as seen
by the public has been Drcloudcd ana ncnbcred with
allegations unfOundei To merit correction Soc
OF THESE inventions relate TO me- ana were ley Whoy
personal in their effect notice OF them would be ap
propriate They relate however To acts done, II ~ AL
III my representative character anu h1thhS ~ paIC'
than the duty OF Representative To hold himself esp1n
sIbc AT all times tn his constituents To answer tnein Tor
bending inquiry, meaning and wishing TO take the Whole
1SrOiigation was not suggested or originated by
nor by the senator from Wisconsin, 1t originated IN
executive session. and therefore under the rules oi the
senate am at liberty only to SAY That the bcray OF
the treaty aud need OF an investigation was mol DrOeh
IL the notice Of the Senate by tine senator from Wisconsin
nor by me-"
When Mr.. Conkling made this statement many sena-
tors who present in the Senate when the nyesga-
on was ordered looked knowingly at each other; but,
of course proceedings took place in executive ses-
sion no one was at liberty TO remark what Senator
Conking had said. Shortly after and during The same
afternoon Senator Henry Wilson. who had not been
present when Mr. COnkling made this speech, and was
not aware of the DENIAL be had made said eve have had
an investigations The honorable Senator from New
York (Mr COnkng prepared the resolntion 1t was i'll
roduced by the honorable Senator from Wisconsin (Ir
Carpenter)."
For making this statement Senator Carpenter called
Senator Wilson to order after Mr. Conkling came
Nj wilson to repeat what he had said Mr. Wilson did
repeat il as follows My statement was this precisely
that the resolution asking for the appointment of a
committee prepared by the Senator from Ne"-iofK
and presented by the Senator from Wisconsin,
Mr.. C0nkng followed with q very exciting speech IN
which he explained that the dedication of the treaty
WAS announced to the Senate by Mr. Sherman and that
after some discussion, in which an investigation by
several standing committees suggested special
committee was mentioned "This suggestion" he said,
"met with general favor, and then 1t was and not TIL
then that having paper before and i'll the midst III
writing letter reduced the resolution To writing AT
the suggestion OF several Senator's Sitting here at my
desk penciled the form OF the resolution and IL was
taken by another Senator not think, the Senator from
Wisconsin at flrst'
Mr. Conkng able to convince those VINO lls-
tened to the debate that the effect of his original state
ment had 1t been allowed 90 uncOrrcced and uneN-
uained would have been convey to the country false
impression of his connection with the investigation