Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-16
BE COURTS INQUIRY.
1nlal9 nala6la Wiling iof Hk Char
ael0 10 10 lnIstiSlted.
Amer neera.s Maay Speeches the
neuss Disnsssea the Resolution
Rssssys.s Tai. Meas.rs-A.osAsr
) 1slessio. syssem.y


---@~
The only matter of lively nature II
ne senate yesterday Was an impassione'
1peech made by MIR. Flanagan. refutnl
charges. or rather insinuations. made b.
Hon. George D. Wise Tuesday pefor'
ihe Committee on Privileges and Elections
- to his Ulanagan'S reputation In I'M
county Of Powhatan.
the Senate was called to order at tn'
usual hour by Mr. Lovenstein. Aite'
REPORTS had been received from the severa
oommittces Mr.. Flanagan arose TO y
opposition Of personal privilese. and read
the following newspaper extract: LOOK
inr Mr.. Flanagan sQuarely In the face
ana with increasing emotions. Mr.. Wise
nave utterance to these words: VII
aay 20 you, sir. that there are as many
lnsInuations In the county OF Powhatan
against you as there are against Farris'
They are just as serious. and you cannon
deny IT."
Mr.. Flanagan then said:
ssMr. President,-I regret very much the
necessity which forces me for the second
time to avail myself of the rule OF the
senate which enables me to appear before
YOU to-day. would refrain from do
inr 80. but for the fact that ! am as
uured that the rule in question Is INTENDED
net only for the protection Of the in
diyidual member OF the Senate. but also
Tor the purpose of preserving the dignity
Of this body. In this respect resare
the rule q wise and just one. Tor 'ook
uron the Senate OF Virginia as one OIL tne
hirhest bodies that assemblies within the
limits Of our nation, and no unworthy
man should be allowed to remain mere
AS TO THE INSULATION.
II observe that the word insinuation'
a selected by Mr.. Wise, but j am no'
prepared to say what kind OF insinuation
could have been made or has been against
me- In Povhatan or elsewhere. and Mr..
Wise does not inform the committee. !
desire. however, to say 10 the senators
that I stand prepared to meet any charge
which any man can make. or has been
made against my private character.
when / began my contest for seat
IN this body i was careful and fearless
then as 1 am now to fling my personal
character TO the breeze, and court the
most perfect investigation and inquiry
into II. From the language OF Captain
wise and facts that have come to me
otherwise since, / have been occupying a
seat in this body / am forced to believe
that the insinuation made by him hao
reference to q proceeding which occurred
In the county Of Powhatan In the early
years OF my manhood, and In the com
msncement of my humble political career
- 1x. NJ mo n
county that had defrauded the Common
wealth of virginia out of the sum of $50
That charge was investigated by a jury
OF my peers, composed, ] was about to
say entirely. of Democrats. and men op.
posed to me politically. The result OF
that investigation was the finding OF me
not guilty Of the charge. 1t Is but just
for me to say In connection with that
trial that ] was seized by the people
Immediately upon the rendering OF the
verdict. and was borne out with a yell
upon the shoulders Of a multitude, and
was not permitted to touch the ground
until reached my hotel.
OFFERED HIS SERVICES.
ut is also just to myself to say that In
that case no less parsonage than MT
wise stood by my side and voluntarily
offered to give me his valuable services
without fee or reward. 1t Is also true
that the Hon. Samuel F. Coleman, now
the Judge of the Third Judicial Circuit
OF Virginia, did likewise, and gave me
the benefit Of his splendid abilities with
out fee or reward. 1t Is also true that
Mr.. Willis Il. Smith, now distinguished
member Of the Richmond Bar. volunteer
ed his services in that case. and when
the argument was proceeding he arose
a m m
clared that the prosecution against me
was an outrage upon an innocent man.
and gave this fact as an explanation OF
his course. Immediately after that in
vestigation the people Of my county elect
Cd me to the Office OF Commonwealth
Attorney. Instead of my leaving the
county wherein j appeared voluntarily
for trial, / was elected Commonwealth
Attorney at the next election, was again
reelected. and again reelected, and In
the last election, when l ran for a seat
In this Senate, l received from those peo'
pie twice as much majority as my oppo-
nent received votes.
II assert and reiterate the challenge foi
the Hon. George D. Wise or anybody else
70 make good against my private charac-
ter any charge or insinuation that may
be made. and say that l challenge the
Senate Of Virginia, and each one OF Its
individual members. to the closest scru'
tiny into all OF my actions. II the Sen.
Ate Is not satisfied with the statement
that make In this regard invite and
challenge every individual member
30 ascertain by the adoption OF
Z proper resolution allowing the
comfnIffee before which that state.
uuiry they may see IT. and let them in
vestigate and report as to whether or not
I am worthy of seat IN this honorable
body"
THE VOTE RECONSTRUCTED.
Upon motion of Mr.. f. H. jackson. the
ypto on the House bill In regard
d having civil government taught In the
0ubiic schools was reconsidered, and the
6ill recommitted. MIR. Keezell, In speak
fne In favor Of the motion. said that the
patron of the bill. Mr.. Parks. desired Il
appear before the committee, and thai
therefore he thought. as a matter Of
co,srtesy. the Senate should grant hin
the privilege.
TO REPEAL THE CHARTER.
Mr.. Clayton introduced a bill to repea
ne charter Of the Roanoke Underwriters
Agency. which was granted by judge
John W. Woods on the 18th Of April. 1886
obon application of William II. Tinsley
A 3. A. Rogers. James d. Pickard. Her
bert L. Smith. and Kenneth Mccoy
Mr.. Kane introduced bill to tncorpo
, rate the Interstate Railroad Company
authorizing II to operate and maintain
1oilroad line from some point near Moo
cne1n Gap. In Scott county. and r'lI
through Lee and Wise counties to poin
an the State line between Kentucky ant
Virginia.
HILLS PRESENTED AND REFERREi
Nv Mr.. Echois: TO Incorporate tn
m,r<e fsifu Rr1d0esafer. and Ptedmon