Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-12-17
FtlRTY.FIFTH CONGRESS-.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, December Is.

WASHINGTON, December Is.
Butler of South Carolina offered resolution
looking to an investigation of the charge that he
promised Patterson anything.
After deciding that it would be a violation of
the agreement to act on Butlers resolution, Thur
man said there was matter which he was au-
thorzed to state would he brought to the atten-
ton of the Senate, he therefore moved that the
doors be closed, under the Gath rule.
When the doors were reopenei the following
was made public.
During the secret session Ham!in offered the
following which was unanimously agreed to:
Whereas, misunderstanding having arisen be-
tween Hon. Roscoe Conkling aud Hon. John b.
Gordon, in the course of the executive proceed
ngs of yesterday, and a mutual understa ndng
thereon having been arrived at as set out III the
following paper,
1t is Ordered, That sad paper be entered at
large on the legislative journal Of the Senate.
During an executive session of the Senate held
yesterday, words were uttered both by Senator
| Gordon of Georgia aud by Senator C0nkling OF
New York, which were mutually felt 10 be unkind
and offensive. Reports of the incident appeared
in the papers of this morning, which are inaecur-
ate and unjust to both speakers.
Upon "a careful inquiry as 10 what was said by
each speaker, and what was understood to be said
by the other it is certain that the frst)offensive
words were inspired by an honest misunderstand-
ing of what had been innocently said by the other
speaker. One harsh remark provoked another as
the outgrowth of misapprehension.
Since this was the fact, who are mutual
friends of both senators, of the opinion that it
is due alike to the Senate and the speakers, that
whatever was felt to be unkind or offensive in the
remarks of either should be treated as ii never
uttered, and we are now authorized to state are
mutually and simultaneously Withdrawn.
(Signed) ii. HAMIN
NJ. W RAusoN,
TIMOTHY HOWE,
Il T NrnaNArn
December Is, 1877.
This settlement was the unanimous conclusion
of the gentlemen who signed it, and was approx
ed cordially by the friends Of both senators.
1t was read in the Senate in the presence of all
the witnesses to the Transaction, and met so COM
petely the appreciation of all the senators that il
was ordered unanimously to be entered upon the
records Of the Senate.
This is the first entry of the kind since like
action in regard to affair between Senat
Poindexter and Forsyth, which was similarly ar
ranged By the agency Of ilenry Clay, over forty
years ago
Senators Conkling and Gordon ever since the
difficulty occurred have declined to converse
the subject. No communication, either verbally
or in wrttigg, has passed between them.
Certain senators Immediately after the event,
commenced the business of adjustment, among
them prominently Senators lIamln and hanson,
who were especially judcious and effective in
ging the matter satisfactorily to both sides.
! Senators Gordon and Conklng were not in the
Senate when the settlement reported.
| 1t was agreed by unanimous consent during the
| secret session to consider the nomination Of Me-
| Cormick to be commissioner general to the Paris
! Exposition, aud he confirmed.
| At 3l5 p NJ, the Senate adjourned until
Thursday, January 10, 1878.
| House.
| The democratic side of the House, under the
| lead of Wood of New York, has been endesvor-
ing all day to force resolution for wholesale in
yestigstion while the republicsusi side has shown
an equal amount of determination not to allow
vote upon 1t.
The resolution was defeated, and the House ad-
journed to January 10th, 1873.