Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-04-27
II passed in the Affirmative


leNpcct he has no other knowledge than that de
rived from third persons
Question by Mr. Bates Of Maine.--Did YOU, uso
Governor JiouSton's name in this House, in tho
same connection and languago i'll the printed re-
portl
tn$ncr-I believe did.
Question Jy tie COmmittec-Was any pcrsou
with you when YOU left your LODGINGS immediately
before the assault, when yop crossed the street or
when the assault nadrl
inSrer.-I had been sitting with the ycp,lcmcn
of the mess in the dining room, after sumner AZ
ter some time, LEFT my lodgings alone; and was
alone nj the time was attacked.
Question by Tie COmmitfec.--What has been
your acquaintance and intimacy with Mr. Ewing
before he took his scat in the Senate, and down to
the time that you made the speech heretofore allu
dcd to?
hnswcr.-Mr Ewing lives about - miles from
INC, i'll nogh5oring town. We have been init
matcy acquainted for IL years. We have pr,c,ised
at tho bar together, and have been intimate friends
ever since, and are now
Question by the Comnittec.-Werc YOU wound.
cd by the blows given, and to what cxtcntl
-lmswer.-lhc sevcrcst injury | received was on
the head. The violent blows on the head have pre-
vented me from coming to the House more than
other injuries | received. One bone of my left
hand Is iracurcd my left arm is also much bruised
received 4 severe blow the light arm at the cl
bow, and Il severe one the back of my right
hand, and have other marks of violence differ
cnt parts of my person, which do not give me much
convenience or pain.
Question by Mr.. Bates of Nainc.-You have
stated you were on your right side when you drew
your pistol; on which side was the pistol; and i'm
which hand did you hold it?
Ansrcr.-lt was in tho right pocket of nv pan
falcons, and drew it out with my right hand
Question by the accu.cd.--Was there or was
'hcrc not, some person with you near the door of
your boarding house just before the assault COM
planned of was committed; if SO, who was that
pcrsonl
A"sr'r.-No person that remember; as pass.
cd out Of my lodgings, saw nobody
The testimony of Mr. Stanbory being here
closed,
Mr.. McDuffie moved the following resolution,
viz:
Resolrsd, That the COMMITTEES heretofore APP
pointed To examine witnesses in the case of Samuel
Houston be authorized and instructed to investigate
the facts OF the said case, and report the evidence
to the House, with little delay as possihlc and
that the said Comntc be authorized to sit during
TIC sessions of this House, TO send fer persons and
papers, and to examine witnesses on oath.
And alter debate thereon, Mr.. McDunio withdro W
the said resolution.
Mr.. Joseph Vance n member of the House from
the State of Ohio, then sworn in his place, and
testified as follow:
Question, by the accused.-When and from
whom did you first hear of the affidavit of Luther
Blake and did you know before it given, that
he could prove the facts therein stated, and from
whom?
Amsner.-On last Monday morning, am not GER
tain whether before the House was called to order
or after, being In my seat, Mr.. PrcntsS touched
me on the shoulder and observed that he had an ac
tidavt, which lie handed to me, and | read IT,
did not know ofthe affidavit before; L do not know
MIR. Ike, whether he is able to prove the facts
set forth or mol. received the affidavit in my seat
and supposed the affidavit handed to me be.
cause had been the person who had instituted this
inquiry by motion in this House.
Question 6y the dccuScd.-Was the alfida Wit then
sworn to, and what hour on Monday morning did
you receive il?
inswer.-It was sworn to, tho hour I cannot
say precisely; the affidavit never out of nv
possession, except for a few moments to take q
copy OF it, until it was sent to my colleague after
the first interrogatory had been pro2cunded-
hearing which read requested the door-kccpef to
hand it to my colleague, believing it to be evidence
under the intcrrogatory,
Question by the accused-Do You know in whose
hand writing il is written?
.4nsmer.-I do not know the hand writing.
Question by the accused.-Did you understand
when you received the affidavit that said Blake had
left the city, and had you shown the affidavit to
your colleague before you sent it TO him, or inform
cd him of its contentsi
AnsDer.-I did not know at the time of recei
wing the affidavit that Mr.. Blake had left the CITY
i never showed the affidavit to nv COLLEAGUE Ar
stanbery, or ever told him any of the contents-
III he received any knowledge of it after its coming
into my hands, he must have got it from some OF
my messmates, to few of whom read it, or from
some other person, but not from me; | showed it
to no other person. think showed it to Gen.
Green, ain not certain; he asked to see it.
question by the accuSed.-Is the William Prem
tlss from whom you received the affidavit the same
person whose letter has been lately published in the
Telegraph?
Ansuer.-I understand il to be sol do not know
who handed the letter TO the Tclegraph-I do not
know that there are two Mr.. Premises.
Question by the accuSed.-Was, or was not the
knowledge of this affidavit intended to be kept from
the accused, and was, not such the request
OF said PrentiSs, when is was handed to youl
Ansncr.-Mr. Prcntiss made no such request to
me. lie did not say how, or in what way should
uso the left it entirely to my own discretion.
The testimony Of Mr.. Vance being here closed,
Mr. Care Johnson, of the mombcrs of the
House, from tho State Of Tennessee was sy orn in
his place. and testified as follows:
1t will, perhaps, be more satisfactory for me to
commence and give narrative of all the cir
cunstanccs of this affair, far as have been con-
ncctcd with them, if such narrative would suit
the purpose OF the Counsel in proposing this in
tcrrogatory. Gov Houston applied to me in the
lobby of the House, to present letter from him to
Mr. Stanbcry; the date of the letter which has been
given in evidence will show on what day. When
Gov. Houston applied TO me TO present this letter
having understood that some difficulty existed be-
tween him and Mr. Stanbery, | hcsitated about
taking the note lest shoulG be involved in its COR
and l intimatcd to Gov. Houston what
my approximations were that head, and was going
to apologize to him for not taking the letter. Gov
Houston, however, stopped me, by informing me
mat tho letter was not of the character that ap-
pretended. BE then opened the letter, and asked
me to read it; which 1 did, after having read tho
letter, and seeing the nature of it, Informed Gov.
Houston, that would carry the letter, but on
condition that | was to be no farther concerned
in any thing that might grow out Of that letter;
That thought IT my duly to deliver the letter as he
had asked it, but that desired not to be connected
with him as friend in any future transaction that
might grow out of it--with this understanding re-