The New York herald., 1878-12-17
DEBATE ON A COLLATERAL ISSUE.
Struggle Of the Democrats for an
Open Investigation.
REPUBLICANS IN FAVOR OF SECRECY.
Star Chamber Proceedings Decided On
by the Majority. Y
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FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 16. 1873.
BLAINE's SECTIONAL AGITATION RESOLUTIONS
DEBATE IN THE SENATE.
The report that the Blaine resolutions would come
up further debate in the Senate to-day attracted
no special interest, and prolonged running fire of
discussion the subject listened to by half
to be dead even here.
Senator Wallace began the day with motion to lay
the resolutions on the table, which almost
unanimously voted down. Mr.. Bayard suggested
m amendment making the inquiry reach the mis-
conduct of federal well State officers, which
at once accepted. Mr.. Conkling asked that the in
qury be referred to special committee and not to
the Judiciary Committee, which agreed to. Mr..
Butler. of South Carolina moved that the committee
be required to sit with open doors. and this
sprang up debate which lasted tho greater part
Of the afternoon and in which the democrats
had undoubtedly tho best of the position, the
republicans imprudently committing themselves to
secret inquiry and the democrats taking the ground
that while they wanted all wrongs fully exposed and
punished, they wished the inquiry to be open, in
order that the truth should be fairly asccraincd and
made known.
Mr.. Blaine pretended that witnesses would
be intmidated. But Mr. Butler and Mr..
Eaistis replied that previous inquiries in South
States had been with open doors, and
had complained Of intimidation Of witnesses.
Mr.. Buffers amendment for open doors was voted
down by the republicans but presently Mr.. Davis OF
yyaok ;,,;o that <ha dna c1p Ho
opened the request of any member Of the
mittee.
SUMMARY OF DEBATE.
The republicans opposing this. also. Mr.. Bayard
forcibly said that il wrong had been done. was
alleged he hoped and desired full exposure. and
punishment to follow exposure. But he showed
that uudcr the constitution all judicial inquiries
public; showed why this is necessary
to the safety of character and person. and as this
inquiry proposed to try whole, communities vague
and general charges, he trusted the senstc would
unanimously for publicity and against all secret
and Star Chamber proceedings. He showed that
many previous Investigations OF this kind had been
with open doors. and pointed out that in
secret hearings cross-examination Of wit
ncsses possible, and NO way existed of
testing the spot the character Of witness the
crcdibility of his testimony. He hoped that this
would not be made party question. and declared
that il the votes he had given he had acted without
party views. This inquiry. he said is not for par
tisan ends 1t is. ought to be- for justice only.
md nothing bad wicked has beeh charged that If
it be proved shall be glad brought to light
and punished.
MIR. Howe made few remarks, in which he some
what lnmely insinuated intimidation and that secret
inquiry necessary to prevent the murder Of wit
ncsses.
MR. KRINAN's ARGUMENT.
Mr.. Herman in few words clearly stated the ques-
ton, which to prevent a secret inquiry on the
objection of a single member. He had himself been
member of snch committee. which sat with open
doors. and had there the extreme iln-
portance of publicity in testiag the credibility
of witnesses and the spot correcting exaggcra-
lions and misunderstanding. He desired the in
qnry to be fnll and fair and open that whatever
wrong had been done should be exposed aud pun
ished and that the report of tho committee should
have moral weight with the country. He counte-
nanccd wrong and would conceal none nor
shield wrongdoers from punishment. but. on the
contrary. desired exposure and punishment.
Mr.. Merrimon. of North Carolina. said he had
seen. . member Of previous committees Of this
kind. that secrecy was simply an opening for per-
jury. Open doors check perjury AMI en-
ablcd the committee to test tho value of testimony
Mr.. Howe said in Louisiana numbers OF men had
come to him in secret and told him things which, ii
they had been willing to to the stand would
have produced profound effect This remark caused
smile in the Senate, and Senator remarked in
whisper to another that, IL Mr. Howcs law practice
were large enough, he must have met good many
Of this kind outside of Louisians.
Mr.. Salisbury said that If this committee were to
sit grand jury to nnd indictment to be after
ward tried in a court Of justice. then secrecy was
right and proper: but If the committee. was the
IN fnctc ;fu 3udo
ate. their publicity necessary. secret inquiry
attacks and puts risk character and reputation and
leaves them defencclcss.
Mr.. Blaine recalled Mr.. Humans remark the
other day that intelligence and property wonld
necessarily have prcpondernting influence in q
munty and charged that besides all their other ad-
vantagcs they sought another to intimida.c the
witnesses OF the poor. Mr.. Herman replied that in
all trials between the poorest and wealthiest publicity
the rule. aud that star chamber secret inquiries
were not fit for free country.
RRITsTEp.
Mr.. Blaine at this point in the discussion began to
get little warm and wandered into generalites He
exclaimed that free election known in
the South passed from the inquiry into the period
before the and said that Southern man had
been allowed to vote for James G.. Birney or for
Abraham Lincoln. There never q free election in
the South, he repeated.
Mr. Herman remarked this that IL the evils which
Mr.. Blaine charged really existed he wished them
rcccd. but these matters could not be discussed
because neither side knew the facts The inquiry is
made ascertain these and according to tho policy
of all free nations men accused have the right to be
present at the examination of their accuscrs. and TO
suggest cross-cxamnation that the truth may bo
stcd out and 10 test the witness at the very time he
makes his charges. There Is no politics in this. he
said, but justice and principle. We want the evi-
dcncc here before wc begin TO discuss the merits OF
the question.
MR.. RASsoNs APPEAL.
Mr.. Ransom made an earnest appeal for harmony
and good fccling but as ho wandered from the point
ut Issue Mr.. Blaine seized the opportunity thus
offered and came in with a fcw adroit and telling