National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-02-05
SENATE SECRETS.
HOW THEY HAVE BEEN KEPT
In Days Gone BY" RichelieH - Tells About the Old
0ffenders-Daniel Websters Sensible Susges-
tiOn rs Chairman of Committee
John Sugent's Confinement.

| Speaking of the premature publication
oftreaties" said Hon ". E Robinson tRichelieul to
a REPU BLICAS representative the other day, was
an actor in a similar affair great many years
1 ago"
| "Whatwere the circumstances asked our man.
| "You are too young to remember the great ex-
element oecasioned by the disputed northwestern
boundary line between the United States and Great
Britain, SUPPOSE
YES" replied our intelligent infant, rather
young to remember it; but have read great deal
about it. That was the time, was it not, that the
expression of fiftyfour forty or SIGHT came into
useor
| "YeS, that was the line demanded by the Demo-
Gratis but they afterward receded from it, and ne
| gotiated a treaty much more favorable to Great
Britain and less advantageous tothe United states
1.-The question had become a party one, and
there intense interest manifested on all SIDES
as to the contents of the treaties. so when they
were finally sent TO the Senate it became an object
with all the newspaper men to get hold OF copy.
| As correspondent of the New York Tribune was.
of course on the alert like the rest, but had made
no Roadway and was somewhat discouraged when
chance threw me into the company of Senator
with whom was on very good terms. This gen.
tleman was somewhat under the influence OF
liquor and inclined to be communicative and at
the same time tantalizing:
Rob- said he, I've got something tonight that
you would like TO have
"'Wlat is it, I asked, knowing pretty well at the
same time what he meant
90 The Oregon boundary treaty, he replied
don't you wish you had it,
AZ replied that would and finally, after great
deal of bantering and goodEa:ured chatting, OBJ
tanned possession of the precious document, and, as
you may readily guess, lost no time in copying the
portion wanted and hustling it off in the mail
for New York. 1 remember that it was very
brief document and the portion that used did
not make more than three or four inches of space
in the TribHHe'S columns. The next morning the
Senator, having sobercd up came to realiz-
ing sense of the great indiscretion he had COM
mitted, came to my room in a terrible state of
mind and begged the return of the treaty and a
promise that 1 should not use any of the informa-
ton that had obtained. If published, he said it
would lead to an investigation, which might ruin
him and be damaging to me. If told him that it
was too late to remedy the damage had done. for
my letter was then hundred miles its way to
New York. assured him. however, that whatever
came to pass he should not be betrayed, and so
soOthed him."
1" And did an investigation RESULT"
Yes. As soon as the papers came back talk
in executive session, similar to that reported in
the Senate touching the publication of the Chinese
appointed to investigate the matter. Daniel Web
ster was made chairman of the committee, and the
most singular feature of the the appoint
ment of the very Senator from whom l had pro-
cured the treaty as one of the members of the COM
mittce"
who was the SENATOR
"Oh that l can't tell even now; but viii say it
wasn't Mr.. Webster
We'll, how did it come out?"
81 was hauled up before the committee and
asked how obtained possession of the treaty and,
of course refused to tell. Mr.. Webster was very
friendly TO me- and we were on quite familiar
terms.
Addressing him, as chairman, 1 said
in substance: You, sir, know that no one
entertains higher respect for the dignity Of the
Senate than /, but you must know that l, as an
honorable man, cannot betray the source Ofmy in
formation. You can of course imprison me, but as
the session is drawing to a close my punishment
could last but few days, for your power over me
will cease with the end of the session.. Mr.. Web
ster listened to my statement with gravity but the
twinkle in his eye showed me that he appreciated
the pOweressneSs of the committee and the humor
of the situation. think would better adjourn
was all he said and the committee, taking his adj
vice, dispersed without taking any action on my
case, and that was the end oft"
1t seems to be the fate of important treaties to
escape the sccresy of the Senate executive ses
sion" said THE REPUBLICAN.
Eyes" said Mr.. Robinson; it was nearly al
ways the case during my time. 1 remember that
John Nugeut, of the Hercid, published the Ash
burton treaty in the same way, and was placed in
custody of the Sergeant-atArms of the Senate and
kept in quasi confinement for weeks for refusing
to tell Senate committee how he got it,