The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-01

seriously. Therefore he went from Pckln
to Shanghai TO see him. and offered, II he
would stop the Investigation, to resign the
mission and to have WELLS appointed in
his stead. To the credit " WELLS be 1t
said, he spurned the bride and preserved
his integrity. All this and more appears in
the testimony; and it is capable Of proof
also that at the meeting between WELLS
and SEWARD the latter was snicitOus to
know how long The statute of limitation APP
piled to embczzlcmcnt, and that when told it
was two years, he ioyfully answered: That
lets me out"
On the 9Th Of February, 1873 memorial
from JoHS c. MYERS. in regard TO the oill
cial conduct Of SEWARD. was referred to the
Committee on Expenditures in the State De-
partmcnt Of which the Hon W. NJ. SPRINGER
is Chairman. The investigation went on
till the point was reached whore Stewards
counsel asked for q postpOnement. TO en-
able their client to be present so as to
assist the defence by his personal advice.
The Committee yielded to this request upon
two conditions first that he should be uoti-
fled by telegraph; and secondly. that "he be
required to bring with him dU books, vOuch-
ers, ana papers relating to the business Of
the Cunsulatc-Gencral at Shanghai during
his incumbcncy Of the Office there, and
which were, as is alleged removed by him
to Pckin."
SEWARD was notified by telegraph OF
leave Of abs nee, and was instructed to bring
the books. When the Committee resumed the
investigation. SEWARD being present IL was
found that six blotters or rough books,
two cash books. two ledgcrs, and two jour
mails. which contained original entries Of
foes received at the Consulate from 1868 to
1871. had not been transmitted to the de-
purtmrnt." OF course they were purposely
withheld. because their production would
have convicted SEWARD. by his own hand. 81
cubr2zling public money. When questioned
in regard 10 these books after sBbpunu
dHces tcc,m had boon served upon him, lac
stood mute and his counsel pleaded that he
should not be required to answer, but
claimed tho protection of the guarantee
contained in the nth article Of the amend
mcnts Of the Constitution of the United
States, that :" no person shall be compelled
in any criminal case to be witness against
himself"
This plea is substantially confession of
guilt, aud was ntcadcd to save SEWARD
from impeachment. But an investigation is
not case in court, and the attempt to con
vert it into criminal proceeding at law in
order to give the person charged with
offences a chance Of escape. shows the dos
perate straits 20 which SEWARD is driven.
The Republican minority OF the Committee,
consistent in their support OF corruption, de-
Tended SEWARD. as they had defended ROBE
son, Boss SHEPHERD, BADcocK. WILLIAMS.
and the whole tribe of GRANTS plundcrcrs.
Mr.. EvARTs appears in the original role
OF civil service reioriuer who takes
criminal ont Of the jurisdiction " the court
that tried him, and removes two Consuls
because they had the temcrity to expose the
rascalites that had long dissraccd the Office
NJ Shanghai, by which the Treasury was
robbed and the service dlshonored. And
finally, to suppress the zeal OF any new in
cumbent. he recently transferred to Shang-
hai DAVID II. BAILEY. who had been for
years Consul ut Hong Kong. and was known
to be q friend Of SEwARDs. and sent Gucr-
riliG MosBY 10 Hong Kong.
GEORGE +. SEWARD struttcd to the bar Of
the House yesterday. and there renewed his
refusal to produce the books and papers
distracted by him from the Consulate-Gen-
cral at Shanghai III Justification Of this
refusal he read Il long legal argument. In
stoad Of ordering him to jail, a majority Of
the House seven Democrats voting with the
epublicans-decided 10 refer the matter TO
the Judiciary Committee. Then SEWARD
struttcd out.