Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1876-03-08


5DNEsDAY MORNING
lore the Judge Of any court of record
in the county and state III which the
lands are situated. After discussion
1.-THE bill passed.
/ Mr.. Crounse, from tie same com
mittee, reported u bill declaring sub
jectto.taxation lands heretoforc gran
ted to the Pacific II. r. companies
After debate the bill was amended 81
as to make it applicable TO all Ian,
grant companies and was passed.
Mr.. Clymer rose to question O
privilege and said he had been sub
poenaed by the District of Columbia
eri,ninal court TO appear With all doc
juments and ,estiiyiln regard to charg
es against secretary Belkhap. Black
burn and Robbins also had been sub
poenead. He had appeared at the
bar and stated he believed. it would
be prejudiciul to the interests of the
country for him to- reveal The secrets
tof the committee room, and that he
had protested against being examined
ard would only consent to it upon
the special order of the court. He
felt it his duty TO bring the matter TO
the attention. of the house in order
that the house might take proper ac.
tion.
Mr.. Blaine asked whether the court
had desired information not already
published and on record. He. could
easily understand that Clymer would
be unwilling to divulge what was still
"A committee secret, bu, could not see
what point Of deIicacy could arise
concerning the matters of common
history.
Mr.. Clymcr said the questions were
TO be asked blythe grand jury whose
proceedings were necessarily secret.
If he aud colleagues were TO go be.
fore them it would strike terror
throughoutthe land and would close
all avenues of testimony to the house
and committee.
Mr. Blaine reminded Clymcr that
as member he was no, obliged to
testify.
Mr.. Clymer said ne had told the
court he did not intend TO plead his
privilege. .7---------'---------
Mr.. Robbins made like statement
and said he believed the effect If not
design, was to- intimidate witnesses
and throttle investigations.
Mr.. Danlorth said he was suhpeo-
-,,-aa- bat--w we+,..a- -!!kela haze the chair.
man say whether any additional tes-
rImeHy had been taken before the
=eomlnlttee.
MIR. Lunar Obj ctcd.
Mr.. Ciymcr sald there had been.
7llUIIe.
(. Mr.. Blaine made.an appeal for uni
ty III the house for the prosecution Of
criminals.
Mr.Clymer: 81 have stated the
facts oflhe case the house, and the
necessary imputatioL arises that some
one in this district wishes TO close
the avenues of evidence all over the
country. 1t is'not WHO makes the
charge, but the facts ofthc case.
Mr.. Blaine: '.rhc gentlemen clo-
yses the avenues himself.
.Mr. Clymer: 81 will not permit
the gentleman from Maine to iInpute
TO me motives which | don't under
stand, or to put inslnuations in my
mouth, which | have not uttered.
Mr.. Blackburn, another member Of
the committee said he was not sur
prised at the delicacy and nervousness
Of Mr. Blaine. He did not intend tc
charge that twas the. purpose Of the
executive to intimidate witnesses, te
throttle Investigation, and 10 afford
Immunity to criminafs;T did say
that unless this bad process was stop
pedNthe country would believe that
that was the purpose, and he would
believe it<too.
Applause on the Democratic side.
Mr.. Blainev"What bad proccss?"
blackburn dcmed that the commit
mittee had conniyed at the absence Of
any important Witness against tie
protest of the republican members
1t would be impossible 10 convict the
late secretary Of war oMany other
cabinet officer except by testimony
Of accomplices, and yet the house was
now to be told. that an accomplicc
should not testify before committee
except at his own peril. It wal
against that shat he protested, Iii
said the praise, ''Let no guilty mar
escape" would be construed by tn
country "Lct no man escape VINO dare
tell on those who are. in authority.
/. He warned the house that the yolum
mus Investigations that were nor
progressing would be stopped and
that it would be utterly impossible t.
carry them further successfully unles