New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-06-08
THE FIERY SCENE IN COMMITTEE.
Inv TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

WASHINGTON. June 1.-THE scene in the House
Judiciary Committee this morning was without
narae in the history of Investigations. The judi
eiarv Committee has had Mr.. Blaine under investi-
ration for some weeks. Mr.. Blaine this morning
took the investigation out of the hands OF
the Committee aud arraigned the Committee
on the charge of unfainess and the deliberate
suppression Of information claimed to be favorable
In him. Mr. Blaine forced a consideration OF the cir
cunstances connected with the suppressed telegram
from Josiah Caldwell in London, and compelled
the committeeman to make important disclosures
az 70 the methods Of this suppression. hlr. Blame
hes again demonstrated that he is a most skIl1hi
and successful exponent of the policy of audacity
His first charge upon the Committee was that the
ub-Committee to invest gate him, composed of two
ex-Confederate Generals, specifically appointed
TO try him in revenge for his aggressive course Ill
the amnesty debate. To prove this he appealed to
the Committee for the evidence in their record book
The Committee declined to produce the 0ooK'
stating that they had no authority to show It, Mr.
Blame then assumed for himself the authority
which the Committee was impOtent to give,
went 10 the clerks table, took the book,
tuned TO the record, and, to the evl-
dent amazement of the subcommittee, proceeded
publicly to examine the record and to discuss H. Mt
Blaine said there was question of yeraclty between
Mr. Knott and himself rs TO the date of the appoint
ment of this b-Committee. Mir. Blaine said that
Mr. Knott bad said that the Sub omlnittee was APP
pointed under the Luttrell resolution and not under
the Tarbox resolution. Mr. Blaine showed from the
Committee records that the Luttrell resolution was
adopted JAM 81, 1876. and that the Tarbox resolu-
ton was passed May 2. The Committee records
show that the Subcommittee on which were the
two Confederate Generals was designated May s.
Mr.. Blaine made the point, therefore, that MT
Knotts statement in the House was incorrect, and
that the two Confederate Generals were appointed
10 try him after the TaybOx resolution.
Mr.. Blane's marvellous audacity startled the Con-
federate Subcommittee as much as his speech OF
Monday did the House. He insisted that the Com
mittee was appointed after the Tarbox resolution
and asked the Committee if this was not the Fact
Mr.. Ashe of the Committee became angry, and rose
hastily from his seat and said he did not propose to
be placed upon the stand to be examined by Mr.
Rlaine Proctor Knott soon returned to the room
and interrupted the examination to make state
ment in reply to the issue of vefacity winch MI
Blaine had raised Mr.. Knott maintained that the
subcommittee was appointed under the Luttreh
resolution which was passed Jan. 81. Mr. Knott
clearly proved his point by the concurrent testi-
mOny of nearly all the members OF the Judcl-
airy Committee. 1t appears, however, that the
appointment of the Sub Committee was not entered
in the record of the Committee until May B. which
happened to be the day succeeding the adoption OF
the TarbOx resolution. Mr.. Blaine charged, how
ever in rebuttal that the Committee had permitted
the Luttre resolution to lie dormant for % days,
and then had assumed to investigate him under
both. Mr. Frye of Name gave as his excuse for not
accepting position on the Subcommittee that the
Democrats were engaged in a great deal OF dirty
L. ..1~, fhpY,,i IN,
Another charge upon which he arraigued the Com
mttee was the suppression Of the telegram from
Josiah Caldwell The very exciting colloquy which
followed is without precedent in recent parliament
airy Investigations There threatened at one time
to be personal encounter in the committeeman.
Proctor Knott surrendered his dignity to his passion
He had been terribly exasperated by the assaults of
Mr.. Blaine upon HIM in the House on Monday. That
evaporation was increased by the fact that Mr..
Blaine openly to his face in the commttec-rOOm
raised an issue Of veracty, and mad charged Mr..
Knott with suppressng the Caldwell dispatch. Mr..
Knott became greatly excited. His white mustache
grew a shade paler, his fiery checks took
on deeper glow. lie cutched his oaLen
stick with a frmer grasp and advanced threat
eningly toward Mr.. Blaine, who sat in
aehair three feet from him, watching every move
ment with unfnching eye. Mr. Knott raised his
dimnutive form, and you could hear in the silence
Of that committee-room the exasperating inquiry
which being interpreted meant:
Who dares this pair of boots displace,
Must meet BOmbastes face 10 face.
Mr.. Knott stated supposititIous about tele
gram from Mr.. Caldwell which might have said that
Mr. Blaine was guilty. Mr. Blaine calmly inter
rupted Mr.. Knott and said. you will permit me TO
believe that it would have gone out very SOON" Mr.
Knott approached Mr. Blaine in a threatening man
ner and said, "What do you mean, Siri What do
you Sayi Do you insinuate that would do YOU
injustice in that manner" Mr. Blame replied, 81
mean to say that don't think you would have kept
back dispatch that would hurt me.n
The friends of Mr.. Blaine unconsciously gathered
around him, and had Chairman Knott, in his heated
chiyalry. made another step toward Mr.. Blaine,
there would have been personal encounter. Gen.
HuntOn, who is a man OF remarkable composure
succeeded in enforcing quiet.
The EpeRiag Star describes the scene which fol-
lowed later in these words:
When the subcommittee on the Judiciary adiourneA
tnis morning. and before the cleared Chairman
Knott passed to Mr. Frye and IN tone loud enough
10 be heard SAID Frye, your Trend Blaine s the d-st
scoqndrel in America Mr. Knott formed the Commit.
e investigating Mr. Blaine and claims 70 be impair
ai huge In the ease. Al this time further comment
would seem 70 be unnecessary.
Whatever may be thought of the character Of the
telegram from Mr.. Caldwell as evidence, the leading
Democrats themselves tonight denounce Proctor
Mott for not having presented it Immediately TO the
COMMITTEE. Mr. Blaine showed that the superstition
mat tie telegram was fictitious was specious one.
Inc telegraph III London is under Government con-
MOL Had the Chairman of Congressional CON-
mi'tee intmated to the telegraph manager IN Lon
oon that tho American Congress had been triAed