Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-04-24

r.,
the sales of the public lands, was adopted Mr.
King offered a resolution the subject OF public
lands, which was laid the table A resolution
was also iaid on the table by Mr.. FoRsYrm calling
on the Secretary OF the Treasury To communicate
the cSuScS of the expenses of the Judicial depart
mcnt. Tho SENATE then proceeded 10 the cunsnle
ration ot the General Appropriation Bill, on which
Il discussion arose on the question mace Yesterday
respecting an outfit in advance for Il new Minister
TO frIncc, anu vas continued, IN ANNA led man.
nCr until the Senate adjourned. The Senate adj
lournod tn Monday.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
MIR EI.IswoRTm, from the Committee on the
Judiciary, made report on the case of the Com.
| missioner of the General Land Office, the father
| consideration whereof was postponed till Monday
week and the report with its accompanying docu.
mcnts ordered to be printed.
The following resolution submitted by Mr.
| ADAMS lies one day for consideration:
| Resolrcd, That the Secretary of State he direct
cd To inform this House why the bienuial Reuistcr
directed by the resolution of Congress of 9th
April, lSl6, to be compiled and printed under his
direction; and copy OF which is directed to be d,
livercd to each member of this House, on the st
| Monday i'll jan, in each year, when a new Con-
grcss shall be assembled, has not been delivered
to tho members of this House, and that he cause
the said copies to he delivered as soon az he shall
find it practicable and convenient.
On motion of MIR. lNGEEsoLT. it was
ReS0!rcd, That the Committee Commerce
inquire into the cypcdicncy of permitting wharf
10 be quit near The site OF the light house STRAIT
ford Point, in the State of Connecticut.
The SPEAKER laid before the House a com,muni.
cation from the Secretary of the Treasury, trans
uniting an abstract of the official omouments and
expenses of the officers of the customs for the wear
Ill. Laid on the table.
The SPEAKER also laid before the House a COM
munication from the Postmaster General transmit
ting statement of the contracts made by the Post
Office Department for the year 1881. Laid the
table.
=
n proposition was made by Nh CLAY, of Alaba-
ma, the object of which was to regulate the furth
proceedings in the case of Gen. HousroN; which,
after debate, was laid on the table.
At the hour of IL, the Respondent was again
brought to the Bar. At the request of Mr. Stan.
Berry, his testimony of yesterday read over again
and he corrected two immateria passages, unless
1t nc deemed material to say that the Mr.. Armstrong;
whose name he mentioned having heard was "of
| tennessee" and ofcoursc not the member of this
House of that name.
Mr. SrANnERY then stated that when stopped in
his testimony yesterday, he had not finished all he
had to say to the assumptions contained in the cues
ton by the Defendants Counsel
Inc question depending upon the adjournment
ct yesterday being on the motion of Defendants
Counsel, for leave to withdraw the question to the
witness which yesterday caused the difficulty
stated, and decided in tho atiirmativc-Ayes Sc
Noes Is.
The question then REQUIRED on the motion of Mr..
ARCHER, (mnde yesterday that the question put
/ IN
swcrcd.
After some debate. MIR. VANCE rose and said
that NC thought his colleague, (Mr. STANBmRy,)
| had been misunderstood i'll his testimony Ills
| colleague never had said that he had no intention
| of impuing fraud to the Respondent He had
said that the words uttered by him in debate were
not intended TO imputc fraud in that individual
| But he had not exoncratcd him from that impu;a.
ton; aud If he was permitted TO go on, he would
explain what he wished TO have said.
Mr.. ARCHER then withdrew his Gar, l,o
present, understanding that it was the desire Of
the witness to add what he had said upon the first
member of the question proposed to him.
MIR. STANEERY then proceeded with his testi-
mony, and stated substantially that though in
making the remarks which had been quoted, he
had not intended TO impute fraud to Governor
lioUsroN, yet, if he called upon now to ex-
press an opinion whether he be guilty of fraud or
not
! When Mr.. STANDERY had gone thus far he was
interrupted by objection to the relevancy of the
testimony he about to give far as il consist
cd of the opinion of the witness.
! This gave rise to conversation which ended
1 in molten by Mr.. ALEXANDER of Va to recon-
slider the vote by which the House yesterday
agreed that the question should be put TO the wit
ness
After good deal of debate on this question, on
motion of Mr.. STEWART, the Previous Question was
demanded, and sustained by the House.
The question then was taken by Yeas aud Nays
on rc-cORSideriHg the vote ofycsterday and decided
The intcrrogatory propomded to the witness by
the Respondents Counsel, again read and
Mr. STANBERY (thc wtness) resumed his evidence
He went on to say in substance, that he did not
desire to be understood, by what lie had already
stated, of acquitting Governor Houston of partic-
patton in this fraud. llc was private citizen, and
he hadnO object in bringing his character in ques-
ton. But if called upon express an opinion upon
the subject, he would say that he did, at the time
of uttering the remarks which were the ground of
the mtcrrogatory, and that he did now, believe that
Gov. Houston did participate in the attempted
fraud He should state the evidence that he had of
his participating in it. Mr.. S. said he was a Mem
Der OF this House in $780, at the time the propo-
sails for making the contract for Indian rations
were published. lie informed that the object
OF the proposals was to invite contract
| AT this point Mr.. ). was interrupted by except
ions to the nature of the testimony irrelevant.
Sundry notions divers questions of order, and
numerous speeches were made, which occupied per-
haps two hours. At length
Mr. STANBERY resumed his testimony, stating
why, in 1880, he believed General Houston to be
concerned, &c. After which he produced, as the
evidence upon which he now believed the same
thing, deposition of Luther Blake
Here the Counsel for the Respondent objected to
this deposition being read evidence, because of
informaty and want of date, and for want of
proof that it was the best testimony which the
admitted of.
Finally, on motion of Member the deposition
was read at the Clerks table, that the Members
might know, well the Counsel, what was the
character of the paper.
The question then arose, whether this paper
should be received part of the witness's tcsimo
ny; and, hereupon, the question being considered a
and serious one, at forr o'clock the House post
poncd further hearing of the to II o'clock
tomorrow, And then
The House adjourned.
WAsHINoToN, April 81.
very pregnant and animated debate took place
in the Senate yesterday, touching the powers and