Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-01-20


rf { .ain.s was overwhelmed With business, my
in reference 10 legislative pro-
ctedlncs Induced NE 10 suppose that 10 insure
Il. Slr,ici, 1 might without improTiety APP
prUach the chairman Of that committee with
proposal 10 compensate him tor :" extra trou-
bic That u have erred, grossly erred. 4 ari
convinced, aud my oniy coiisoiai,oiiiS, that En-
ror Is no crime, whcu 1t IS OF the head not oi
tile heart. Had acted with less precirita-
ton. and consulted the views OF Others. ShOulI
not at ihis time find myself in the di>agreeabe
dilemma that am. should have acted more
consistent with myself: Whate,er SeuiLiauce
iuy request of scrrcSy may assume, can with
truth aver that its basis in my mind was de-
sire That those Tor " hom act should have 10
acknowledge their increased gratitude for ti,r
oIOmpti,ude with which ;he.r claims SHOULD
have been actet upon.
II cannot be denied, that, after being assur-
ed that my own claims would be allowed, had
less cause to think of obtaining by corruption
the payment of claims which almost knew
the justice of congress copid not refuse i'm the
sequel dispatch, then, was all / wished for,
all could gain aud think that the world
and this honorable body. will admit that the
benefit of tile relief weuld be in proportion to
the time which should ciapse inaifor,,ing il
al least, that III this view il would be apDreci
sted by thuSe who have yet fresh III their recoi-
lection that IA husband, Il wife a father "A child
a brother, or sister. was tonabawked, shot, or
burnt alive by the savage enemy their hearts
inlumanly torn from their bodies and whilst
yet smoking with the vital heat were trium-
pbantly exhibited 10 their wee ping ewes LET
il be recoilected that they have witnessed.
whilst wandering without shelter aud almost
uDclothed, the heart-rendins scene dead DO.
dies exposed TO the voracious appetites of the
swine, and these animals eagerly contendihy
for a leg or an arm. Lest this picture may be
supposed TO be exaggerated, L annex the cor
respondence which took place between the
hon. a. b. Woodward and General Proctor. i'm
the year 1873, and shortly after the event oc-
"a l,aL ,t.,, hat, -
the articles they could collect from the ruins
of their houses, were generously, most rene
rously, appropriated in the purchase of prison
ers of war, for the purpose of screening then:
from the bloody t0mahawk that these purcha.
ses were made under such circumstances as
not TO entitie them to reimbursement under
the" Act relating to the ransom of American
captives of the late war;" and let il also be
known that such are the sufferers, such the
merits OF the claimants 1 represent-and feel
confident that the clouds of Indignation which,
for moment, threatened to burst over INV
frosty head, will be dispelled by the benign in-
finence OF phIlantbropy-an influence which
has ever, and trust ever will, characterize my
conduct.
That should be anxious TO afford prompt
solace tn the suiierings of my fellow citizens
will not be wondered at, when il is known that
theycxtende9 every kindness and protection TO
my family, from when was separated during.
most of the war; and at time when The In
dams were accustomed 10 dance before the
door of my house, calling upon my wife 10 come
out and select her husbands scalp.
Relying upon the maxim, that . 10 err his hui
man, TO forgive divine, | throw myself upon
the indulgence of this honorable body, and the
magEanmity OF the honorable gentleman whose
feelings have had the misfortune TO wound
lfmy services form no claim to indulgence per-
haps my sufterlngs and those of my family NAV
stand here prepared to meet all the consepuen-
ces OF an error committed without any sinister
intention.
In conclusion, must be permitted to remark
that, during confinement, from which | have
forborne toadoptauyegai measures to extricate
myself, the only feelings ofpain which have had
access TO my breast, were those produced by
the knowledge that an opinion was prevalent
that, Dersumng on the mISfOrtunes of my fellow
sufferers, ] had bought mp their claims at a very
reduced price. If this honorable body would
permit, I would, under the solemnitv of an
oath call upon God To bear testimony that this
opinion is without basis.
JOHN ANDERSON"
Jan. 1918.
The prisoner, being asked if he had any
thing further 10 say, and answering in
the negative, was taken from the bar and
| the house proceeded TO deliberate on the
course now proper TO be pursued.
| Mr.. Forsyth offered for consideration a
motion in substance like that which was
ultimately adopted, but which proposed
Wednesday next as the day OH which John
| Anderson should be brought to the bar.
| A variety of propositions, suggestions.
| and remarks, were made on this occasion,
which it would be difficult if it were i'm
ponant, accurately TO report.
! One motion OH which the yeas and nays
were taken, is worthy Of particular no
tice. 1t was made by MIR. POinderter, to
| strike out Of that passage which charged
John Anderson Of being guilty of a con
tempt against the privileges of the House,
the words " the privileges OF" thus deny.
ing the house to have any privileges no;
conferred on them by the constitution
This motion was r.egafived, IOS to 81.
The will of the house was ultimately
contaminated. by the passage of IA resolu
lion III the following words
Resolced, That john Anderson has been gniI
| ~ of d contempt and violation of the priv
leges of the house, and that he be brought t
| the bar OF the house this day, and be there re
! pTimanded ny the SPEAKER for the outrage hC
| has committed, and then discharged from til,
| custody of the sergeant at arms.
Whereupon John Anderson was brough
10 the Bar of the House, and addressed by
the Speaker as follows:
| {" John Anderson: Yon have beer
brought before this House upona charge
OF having committed breach of its pr
yilegcS III attempting TO brlbe one of it
Members filling high and responsible
situation. The House has patientl,
heard you in your defence, and, in pro
| portion TO the pleasure which it has de
rived 'front.' the concurrent testimonies il
support of your character and good con
duet heretofore, is. its deep regret tia
yon have deliberately attempted TO com
init a crime so entirely incompatible will
the high standing yon have hereioior
maintained. You have the less apolog,
for The attempt which you made, becaus,
I,n1 ,.rllrsnlI