The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-06-06
CONGRESSIONAL.
EXPLANATION OF SENATOR NAT.
THEWS.
He Calls for a Committee Of InyesIi-
gaIion-DeieRt of Ihe Iarih
BiII-The Senate Votes to
Restore the Frank
ing Pri iIeEe.
WASHINGTON, June >.
SENATE.

however unpleasant, cannot in justice
to either further pos .pOne or omit. The
newspapers published here and elsewhere
contain reports Of statements made un-
der oath in another place in reference to
myself, which are calculated to reflect
upon my character and standing as ;
member of this honorable body. These
statements appear to be designed to es-
tablsb. first, that ] was in some way
connected by participation or encourage
ment in the preparation OF the alleged
frauds in the Presidential election
n 1876, in Louisiana, at or about the
time Of the canvass and return thereof.
Second, that wss party or privy to
promises OF protection or reward 10 the
officers charged with the duties IN con-
nection with that election and tde re-
turns thereof, made in consideration Of
frauds and perjures committed, or TO be
committed by them Ia obedience thereto.
Third, that having subsequent knowl-
edge of such frauds and OF such prom
lSes for the purpose of con-
cealing the former by assisting in tho
execution of the latter. used
my personal and official influence to pro-
cure for James +. Anderson official en-
ployment in the Executive Department
of the government. To each of these
accusations, whether expressed or I'M
pied, reply by an emphatic denisl l
deny that | was connected in any way,
by participating or encouragement, by
knowledge, consent or COnniyanCe, with
any frauds, real or pretended, in the
Louisians election. ! deny that | was q
party or privy 10 any promises Of pro.
lection or reward 10 any one in consider
alton Of the commission by them OF frauds,
real or pretended, in that election. /
denv that l made efforts to
procure an CtliCia! appointment
for Anderson with tic knowledge
or belief on my part that he or any one
else had been guilty of any fraud IN cox
nec!ion with that election or in fulfill
mcnt Of any promise OF reward that had
been made him on or any other cOnsld-
Grafton whatever. On the contrary, l
assert upon my honor as Senator, which
Gm prepared TO MAINTAIN upon my
oath, that don't know and never have
believed LGat ruv -rcu ads were IN
fact ever cOmmutad; that | don't know
that any promise WAS ever nsIc to An
defson or any one else IN consideration Of
fraudulent services in connection with
the Presidential election Anderson, in
my little intercourse with him, all Of
which has taken place since March !,
1877, never asserted, expressly or by any
inueado, that Sherman or any one else
had ever promised hlm al office or any
thing else. either for doing wrong or
right; never asked anything from me or
through me by virtue Of any such prom
ise. On the contrary, Anderson eX-
pressly ard passlonately appealed to me
on the sole ground that be bad rendered
honest, honorable, lawful and efficient
service 20 the Republican cause in Lou
isians, al q sacrifice OF time and money
and peril to his lite, and that he had for
that cause incurred Odlum and hostility
from the political opponents. The only
wrong | understood or believed him to
be guilty of, was in having previously
untruIy pretended that he had been gull
ty Of things. He now again preLends TO
confess that wrong | had no information
of until after Lis appeal to mo, for rnY
aid had been responded 10 by an act o:
my good will in his behalf His dis3ios-
ure of it with delivery OF the false doc
uments which constituted it, l supposed
was intended by him and was regard
ed by me as an stOnemcnt for and
undoing OF it, upon that footing ouly |
received them. Ii never for moment
occurred TO me that the possession Of
them by me could be misconstrued into
an otfense, aad believing that the only
use which their publication could serve,
would be TO propagate mischleVous
and sCandslOus talsehoOd. The only
error, if there be one OF which | am coz
scious, is in having recommended to the
office q person who had meiitRied and
prepared wrong, but had IS it appeared
TO me, withdrawn from performing it, but
as there seems to be RI attempt to
magnify one ink iGto what rs alleged to
have constituted conspiracy, against
important pubic rights and ss the
coloring thus souLht 10 be given TO my
conduct affects my standing and char
aCter in this honorable body, | consider
it matter OF privilege tlat the Senate
should inquire into the suit jact AZ affecting
it no less than myself. l nave the honor
accordingly to submit the following reso-
luton;
Res9'rsd, That selcc. committee O
! Senators be appointed TO inquire into
and consider all things touching matters
stated and referred to by the Senator
from OHIO Matthews and the events
connected lnereunto, Ard particularly
what connection, if any, tina. Senstor bad
with any real or pretended frauds or
other wrongs committed 10 the conduct
and returns OF the election in the State
of Louisiana in 1876, and with auy prom
ise of protection or reward i sny, made
by any one TO james i. Anderson or
others in consideration Of or connection
with any offCisl conduC. hy Anderson or
others in relation to said election or rs-
tlrns. and into a.I circumstances O: ary
recommendation by SAID Senator c. sad
Anderson for appointment 70 office, sEI
that ssld Committee have power 10 send
for persons and papers, TO employ clerks
and s.eI0grsphers and have leave 70 sit
durirE recess. Agreed 10 uus1inousiy.
The Senate then resumed the consider
alton of the pos. route bill sud the dis
cusslon in regard to the Brazilian m:il
sub:ldV was confined. The bill having
been considered IN the Comui'.sa O. the
Whole, was reported to the Ssuote and
Mr.. Thurman called tor S separate vote
on the amendments in regard TO the
Brazilian subsidy. They we're concured
in by vote OF 70 10 Is.
Mr. Chri;tiaIcy submitted su amend
ment restoring the trsnking privilege to
the President srd Vice President OF the
United States, Senators and Representa-
tives in Congress, and the Secretary ot
the Senate and House OF Representatives
for slI public and private business and il
wss rejected by vote Of 20 to 20.
After some further discussion Mr..
Paddock renewed the amendment restor-
ing the franking privilege TO s.l those
named in the amendment OF Mr.. Chris