Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-04-20
Twemty-second Comgress.--Sess. I
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
SATURDAY. 4Dril IA

tor OF Wiscasset resumed and Mr. Jarvis
House in support OF the proposition refer the matter 10 the
Treasury Department
Mr. Plummer then rose, but the hour having expired
his remarks were deferred till Monday
BREACH OF PRIVILEGE.
The Speaker presented the following communication
from VIM. Stanberry, member Of this House, from the
State OF Ohio.
To the Hon. ANDREW STEVENSON,
Speaker Of the House Of Representatives.
"r-i was wpylad In the street, near to my boarding
house. last night about o'clock, and attacked knocked
down by budgeon and severely bruised and wounded
by Samuel Houston late of Tennessee, for words spoken
in my place in the House of by reason of
which am confined my bed and unable discharge my
duties in the House and attend the interests my
stituens.
communicate this information TO you, and request you
VIII lay it before the House
Very respectfully, yours,
VIM. STANBERRY,
Member OF the House OF Representative s from Ohio.
The letter having been read, silence OF some moments.
ensued in the House.
The Speaker inquired what disposition IL was the pea
sure of the House to make Of the communication.
Mr. Vance said that he had been previously informed
oil the circumstances stated in the letter. and he had in
consequence made some examination to the conduct
Inc House heretofore in where their privileges
were nlringed upon The only precedents which he had
iound oil cases that might be considered OF similar chaac
ter were two one was the OF Mr. Randall and Mr.
Whitfield, who had proposed, early period he be-
eved the year 1885, eral members of Congress
mat II they would assist with their influence and vote
me passage OF certain claim TO lands bordering Lakes
Huron and Michigan, they should be recompenscd with
interest, ether IN lands the yalue
worth OF the claim allowed.This offer, Mr.. Vance OBJ
served, brought upin their places the members whom
II mad been made, and resolution proposed similar
to that which he should submit directing the Speaker
10 issue his warrant Tor taking the offending parties into
custody.
The other 10 which he had referred was that Of
Mr.. Anderson. Ii of more recent occurrence and
many gentlemen who heard him would no doubt recollect
the particulars OF it, IL offer to member of that
House oil sum oil money TO aid in the passing of claim,
and the same had been adopted the House
aton TO IT, as had been pursued in that OF which he had
rst spoken Both had been considered breaches
the privilege OF the House, being offers OF brides to
corrupt its members and induce them to assist from per-
sonai and corrupt motives i'll passing claims through Con-
gross.
on the part of the House hal been taken in
member for words spoken in DEBATE he lad 5S r6iha
precedent OF this precise nature but believing he
did, that was an offence of equally grave character,
and great violation of the rights OF that House
saut member, TO offer bride to him, he felt it his
duty TO propose better principle Of action appeared
for them, TO follow the presidents which he had adduced
in the cases which he had quoted. He submitted to the
House the following resolution, grounded on the COM
plant made i'll the letter OF his friend and colleague
RESOLVED, That the Speaker do issue his warrant d.
rected to the Sergeanat Arms attending the House. com
mandng him TO take in custody wherevert be found the
body OF Samuel Houston, and the same in his custody
10 Keep subject to the further order and direction OF this
House.
Mr. Polk said, that occurred to him that such reso-
luton as this required consideration. On hearing
this morning, Just before he TO the House. of the
occurrence referred in the letter just laid before the
House by the Speaker; and hearing, also, that the
subject would probably in shape other, be brought
TO the notice OF The House this morning, he had supposed
that the utmost extent TO which any gentleman would
think OF going, under the circumstances would be pro-
pose an inquiry by committee. This resolution
ed the Tact, that contempt on the House had been
mtted aud that the House possessed the power punish
it. Every gentleman must be aware that great differ
ence of opinion always had existed, as TO the power
OF that House 10 punish contempt any which
did not interrupt impede the business of the House
what did this resolution propose 1t not only assert
ed the doctrine that the House might punish
committed III IFS presence, or nterrupng its proceedings
but 1t is proposed that, without further inquiry,
should deprive citizen OF his liberty and direct their
Sergeant and to bold him in custody MIR
T. did not admit that the House possessed any such pow
or; and he believed that great majority OF that House
upon deliberate and full examination of the question
would hold the sentiments with himself. He dis
not feel himself prepared 10 discuss the question:
the matter had but just TO his knowledge He had
had time however, to turn to precedents;
he would REGAL the recollection OF the House to one
them. lie alluded TO the assault which had been com.
United some three four years ago the private
ary of the President, when bearing official commune
cation from the Executive the Houses OF Congress
That assault committed in the rotundo of the Capitol
during the session OF the two Houses, and when the Sc
cretay on his way from this House TO the Senae
deliver the message with which he charged thai
body No letter had been received in that case from the
individual attacked; but the President of the United
States hade made il the subject of a message TO the
House, in which he expresSly stated these facts.
In consequence Of the assault he believed the Secretary
had been prevented from delivering the message with
which he charged though, this he was not certain
The attack made in the Capitol and during the hours
IN which the House In that case certainly
as aggravated as this, so lar the offence committed may
be regarded contempt to the House, the House had
gone no further than TO appoint committee. 1t had
deprived citizen of his liberty but had sent the subject TO
a select committee. The result divided report The
committee had been equally divided lis numbers
would admit three OF its members denying that the House
had power 10 punish, contempt, act which had
interrupted its business. The report of the minority had
been drawn TAP by Mr.. Philip p. Barbour, then dis
shed ,prr,har of fIa JisIiuo nisIc 4
Jurist, and now judge OF OF the courts of the
United States, in Virginia. lie would read paragraph
or two from that report in which, after recounng avare-
~ OF cases from the Parliamentary annals OF Great Br-
ain tho report proceeded TO argue that the doctrines
contained in those presidents OF the House OF Commons
utterly repugnant the spirit and genius our re-
publican institutions. MIR. p. said the English law OF
privilege and the power ofthe British Parliament TO pun
ish for contempt, underlined, unlimited and unknown
to the subject, except particular occurred in
which the Parliament, in their omnipoient discretion,
chose TO exercise IT, Mr.. r. here read from the report
follows Thus, it appears from the nature Of this Para-
mentary law, and these Parliamentary privileges, that
they incompatible with the principles of govern
ment, and against the dictates Of justice Nothing can,
without soeCism in language be called dtC, but some
rule OF action which is published to those who be
affected by III whilst il SEEM that the law Of Parliament
so mscaed,i is locked up in their bosoms and moth.
ing can be unjust than TO punish individual for
any offence against these privileges the nature and char
acter Of which, being indefinite, utterly unknown and
which only become known particular occur
thus making the nlicion Of punishment the first cvi.
dencc Of the existence Of the rule under which il IN
niced"
Mr. p. said he heartily subscribed to the sentiments
there laid down The report went on TO argue the case,