State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-02-09
MASONIC INVESTIGATION.
HARRIsBuRGH, Penn. Jan. 81.

MASONIC INVESTIGATION.
HARRIsBURGH, Penn. Jan. 81.
Nothing was done in the Senate today.
II only met to adjourn, in consequence of
the proceedings in the House of Repre-
sentatves In the House, several petitions,
mostly on local subjects, and such as have .
been repeatedly petitioned for, were pre-
scented and referred to the appropriate COM
mittee.
The Sergeant at Arms then brought to
the bar of the House, George WOLF
George nj. Dallas, Rev. Mr. Sprole, J.
Randall, J. r. Chandler, and several other
gentlemen who had refused to testify on
the subject of Freemasonry, before the
Investigating Committee. MIR Stevens Of
fered a resolution that the recusants should
he called upon to answer for their con
tempt.
Several amendments were then proposed,
and voted down, dischnrging the witnesses.
Each one was separately called, and rcius-
ed to testify, and referred the House to
written statements which had been handed
to the committee. Mr. Stevens then moved
a resolution, declaring their refusal a
contempt of the authority of the House,
and delivered them over to the Sergeant
alarms, until they should comply with the
requirement of the House.
MIR Spackman moved an amendment,
asserting the right of the House TO compel
Witnesses TO testify, but declaring it mex
pedient in the present cUse 10 punish, and
that the Witnesses be forthwith discharged.
Several amendments to this were offered,
discussed, and rejected, until after one
o'clock, when the House adjourned until 3
o'clock.
When The hour Tor meeting in the after
noon arrived, the galleries, aisle, and floor
of the Hall were filled to overlooking. So
much curiosity and excitement | have
never Witnessed in the Halls of Legisla-
ture any where. The recusant Witnesses
were arranged in seats in the space
between the Speakers chair and the mem
bers. A resolution having passed giving
the authority, the Speaker gave notice to
the witnesses that they could be heard by
themselves or counsel. Mr. Dallas arose,
and spoke in defence of all in very mild
manner and referred to the written reasons
which had been given to the committee.
iIr Mcclure then moved to have the docu-
monts read. The reasons Of Francis r.
Skunk were read. A motion was made
to discharge the Witnesses, forthwith, in
consequence Of want of power, on the part
Of the House, to compel men to testify.
/ This motion was lost.
This brought on an animated discussion,
aud amendments without number were
offered to the resolution. One from a
fmemberfom Allegheny county Mr. Kern,
was, that the Speaker of The House be
instructed to apologize to the prisoners at
the bar, for the crime OF having called
them there And for a time it was uncer-
tain whether the prisoners would be COM
mittcd, or the House apologize to them.
Another amendment offered, was-1st. that
the House had right to institute inquiries,
&c. &c-2dly, that the prisoners were gull
ty of contempt to the House, in refusing to
take oath and that they be brought to the
bar of the House, and be reprimanded
therefor by the Speaker. The first part Of
the amendment was carried but the other
was lost by vote of 40 to so. The House
adjourned between 5 and 6 o'clock,
without deciding on the fate of the prison.
crs.
Mr. Reed then offered two resolutions as
substitutes for Mr. Spackman's amendment.
The first declared the right Of the Legisa.
ture to institute inquiries on this or any
other subject which the people deemed
important, and the power 10 punish or
refusal TO testify. The other resolution
directed the Speaker to reprmand the
Witnesses at the bar. The first resolution
was adopted by two orthree majority, but
the second was lost by twelve majority A
long debate then ensued on another
amendment, having for its object 10 restore
the resolution of Mr. Spackman, and
continued until sometime after the candles
were lighted in the Hall, when the House
adjourned. So we shall probably have
another days debate on this subject
" HarisJurgh jan. 90, 1896.
"The question is settled. The House
has just decided to discharge the recusant
M asonc witnesses, by vote OF AZ 10 Al.
The previous vote decided the questinn.
1t was an amendment by Mr. Spackman
changing 'the custody of the Sergeant-at-
Arms" to Il "discharge," which was carried
by "a vote of ~ to A. The question has
been discussed all day until candle light
the witnesses sitting before the speakers
chair. Mr. Stevens made powerful and
mastery speech in favor of delivering the
recusant witnesses over into custody until
they answered"
! The nature of the mediation proposed
by England, may, perhaps, be judged of by
( the following extract from the London