Year: 1869

ters requiring attention A short time be.
fore that resolution came up, Mr.. Stephens
met me in the lobby and asked me what
Thought of his claim to mileage and per
diem. at once said I was in favor of it
and was going to vote for it. This accords
with NV recollection and his testimony
AS remember it, he then added, as you
are in favor of it, want to employ you as
mn la,cves. to advocate my claim, and as
Icompensation for your trouble l will pay
YOU a fee of twenty dollars. 7 think said
that's inst as you please, but 1 will do as
stance of what passed and words about
" la,cyers and 6" fee as a La,cyer I know
were used. The whole conversation did
not, in my opinion, occupy three minutes.
It was the only conversation I ever
had with him on the subject. Indeed, I
was barely acquainted with him personally,
and do not believe [ had ever spoken to
him twice before in my life. In an hour
or two afterwards, as I was hurryiDg out
of the Capitol, lie came to me and handed
me the fee without word.


Now I car only say that from absence of
mind, from the habits of thought of the
court room, from the smallness of the sum,
and the hurry / was in that day, this little
|
on me and awakened so little real attention
that the question of propriety or impropri-
ETY. did not present itself. Not only was
there no intention to do wrong-there was
no thought of wrong. No reasonable man
will think that I would have risked my
reputation in the hands of almost stran-
ger, and a political adversary, too, for
twenty dollars. This is what L must have
done if was then doing an act consciously
wrong or corrupt And he swears. too,
that said no word about concealment or
secresy.


| very soon forgot the incident entirely.
! During all the discussions on the resolu
tions, which I myself introduced, to in
quire into the rumOrs of bribery and cor
ruption, never once recollected 1t. Sub
sequently it flashed on my memory as if
! by accident Whilst thinking how pleas
ant it was to feel blameless and safe from
all danger, as the investigation was pre-
crossing, suddenly the thought that this
| little fee had been paid me came to my
memory; and as my attention was then
alive on such questions, it did not take
me an instant to pronounce my own men
tai verdict on its improperly, and to re-
| solve to undo it and restore that fee to the
giver.


By some means the rumor of this Incl
| uOuU ItdCuSu LlS CdlS W 1uOu. = odW t1o
once in what an embarrassing position l
was placed. I was to be charged with
bri5erY My name was to be in all mems
mouths, coupled with disgraceful impu-
tation about matter readily misconstrued
and not easily explained satisfactorily. l
saw that if I denied it my word and my
character might possibly overbear the sim
gle man who alone could contradict me,
and could perhaps trample down the entire
charge as a slander. The temptation was
strong. At first I staggered and hesitated.
! But to do this was wrong and God helped
me to do right. went voluntarily, before
any steps were taken to investigate it, and
stated the facts as have stated them here.
It required more than human strength to
enable me to do SO, and to endure the
storm which has followed. But a con-
sciousness of upright intentions has sus-
tanned me.


A resolution of censure has been passed.
| requested my friends to vote for the CEN
sure because I do not approve the act in
itself, and I wished proper precedent
established and principle vindicated. Some
have seemed careless of my feelings. Some
have appeared to delight in my humilia-
ton. Many have misunderstood me. A
few have sought my total ruin. [ forgive
them all. Those who have defended me
| WILL ACfCI 4U' = SAfsAh oAA%AA'


My own judgment is that accidental
circumstances have magnified very tri-
fling incident into great misfortune to me.
1t was mere inadvertence on my part,
without the least improper intent or mo-
tive. Such is the nearly unanimous opin-
ion of all the Senators, as they have freely
expressedit. Might they not have en-
bodied as much in public act and thus
| have done Justice to brother Senator p
What may be the ultimate influence of
this occurrence or my destiny is unforeseen.
leave that to my God.


I protest that am guilty of no bribery,
no corruption no dishonesty. I protest that
I am incapable of such things, and utterly
abhor them. And now [ place here this,
my protest and statement and leave my
cause to mems common sense and love of
justice. They will exonerate from every


VIM. NJ ROBBINS.
REPORT OF COMMITTEES.


Mr.. Osborne from the Committee on the
Judiciary, reported favorably on the bill
to establish board of Arbitrators for each
County. Ordered to be printed.
| A message was received from the House,
transmitting the following bills, &c, which
were referred to appropriate Committees,
| viz:


Resolution to raise Joint Committee to
Investigate the financial condition of the
Treasury. Placed on Calendar.


Resolution in favor of Messrs. Wiggins,
McAden and Harper.


Bill for the relief of j. A. Long, of Rich
mond county.


| INTRODUCTION OF BILLS.


By Mr.. Welker A bill to define and
punish bribery. Referred to the Commit
tee on the judiciary.


By Mr. Sweet A bill to protect the
State against a fraudulent sale of pro-
perty for the use of the Penitentiary.-
Referred to the Committee on the Judici-
ary.


By Mr.. Welker: A resolution proposing
to raise Joint Committee to sell the 5000
acre tract, and to report some plan for
carrying out the requirements Of the Con-
stitution in relation to the erection Of a
Penitentiary.


CALENDAR.


Bill to incorporate the GAINESVILLE and