Mr. Buck, a member from Vermont, mentioned that a person of the name of Whitney, who appears to have been an associate with Randall, had called upon him in the country with a proposal of this kind.
Mr. Madison said, that the person referred to had also called upon him, and told him of his having waited upon many members, and, among the rest, upon the Speaker. Mr. Madison said, that the conversation was rather short, owing, perhaps, to the coldness with which the advances of Mr. Randall were received. Mr. Madison had already learned, through his friend from Virginia (Mr. Giles,) the state in which the business was. He did not wish to alarm the person by too much abruptness, and, at the same time, he did not wish to give himself any unnecessary trouble about it, as he understood that it would be properly managed without his interference.
Tuesday, December 29.
Case of Randall and Whitney.
A return was made by Mr. Joseph Wheaton, Sergeant-at-Arms to the House of Representatives. Mr. Wheaton stated that, agreeably to the order from the Speaker, he had taken into custody the bodies of Robert Randall and Charles Whitney, and kept them at the disposal of the House.
Mr. W. Smith moved, that a Committee of Privileges, consisting of seven members, should be appointed, and instructed to consider and report with respect to the proper mode of proceeding in this case as to Robert Randall, and that the said committee shall have leave to sit immediately.
It was likewise moved that the name of Charles Whitney should be comprehended in the resolution, because he also was taken into custody. The resolution, as amended, was agreed to. Mr. Baldwin, Mr. W. Smith, Mr. Murray, Mr. Coit, Mr. Giles, Mr. Livingston, and Mr. Goodhue, were named for a committee.
Randall was now brought in, by Mr. Wheaton, Sergeant-at-Arms, and the City Marshal. That part of the journals which refers to his conduct was read to him.
The Speaker then interrogated the prisoner, whether these charges were true or false? Randall replied that he was not prepared to answer. He hoped that time would be given him. The Speaker asked what time he wanted? He could not positively tell; perhaps till the day after to-morrow.
Mr. W. Smith was disposed to give him the time required.