Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1837-02-16

m.noo upon. May this dark cloud
winch now threatens our eountrv b
soon dispersed!
The letter addressed by the pr..;ds,,
to Mr.. Calhoun has added 10 IN. ,.-
muituous excitement produced bv
other incidents. I intended to ,e,a
you an abstract. but ~ learn that i, will
appear m the papers Of tomorrow II 10
unnecessary for me TO do SO. II will
afford fruitful theme Of remark here.
alter No language 10 too strong 10
charaoterize the atrociiy o! this outrage
on the privilege OF distinguished Sen
aior. Well did Mr.. Calhoun cay that
the terms addressed to him were not
such as could be tolerated in :he inter-
eouse OF gentlemen. and were oaly
suited IN the purlieus Of Billingsg,te
Not man IN the majority OF The Senate
had The front to stand up and gainsay
hr. Caihoun's remarks. Not one ut
tered word in excuse. justification, or
extenuahon. Not one attempted to
vindicate the honor and indepe ndeneo
OF the body-or to assert the rights of
the members Is men. The majority
there are PROSTATE at the footstool Of
Executive Power
rejoice 10 say. however, that the
House has this day resolved to assert
It's right, in the case OF the contempt
passed upon il by the superciliou, and
contumacious witness before the select
committee. who has lately figured so
much. The party have made tho
most desperate efforts 10 screen him.
But IN vain! The Sergean,-st-Arms
has been directed 10 bring to the bar Of
the House tomorrow, no less q person
than Mr.. Reuben NJ. Whitney.
informed you last evening that Mr..
Wise had at the close Of the sitting.
reported from the Committee of Inyes.
hgation. OF which he is Chairman, a
resolution that as Reuben 81. Whiiney.
had Peremptorily refused to obey their
summons TO appear and give evidence,
the TACT be communicated 10 the House.
30 that such order might be taken there
on as comported with the dignity and
horci Of that body. The hour being
ate the subject was postponed until TO-
day, when IT came up as the unfnish.
cd business. The resolution Of the
Committee. and the letter Of whitney
TO which u refers, were read.
Mr.. Lincoln Of Massachusetts, \
member OF the Committee. then rose.
and offered three resolutions, the frat
OF which declared that Whitney, in re-
iusing to appear before the Committee
as witness, after being duly sum-
moned thereto. had been guilty of
contempt OF the Com mit,ec and the
House. The second declares that
Whitney's letter expressing bis deter
mina,ion Peremptorily 70 decline 10 an.
pear before any Committee, constitut-
ed IN such manner and Of such person,
as the House shall designate. until tho
House. as a Condition precedent shall
redress his alleged wrongs. is both in
the manner and style of commune alton
oon'nmacIous. arrogant, utterly sub
vers,ve Of the righ,ful authority. Tho
third resolution was in the following
words:
"R'-ir'd, That the Speaker Of the uou..
issue hi' warrant, directing the Sergeant-at-
Arms To take into his eu,tody IN. n.r,on ~
" the sad Reuben VI whitney th.i \, ~
he Drought o. the bar The IIous.. 10 an,usr
" Tor The Contempt aforesaid"
MIR. Lincoln supported these resoiu.
hons IN speech distinguished for clear
ness and force. MIR. Parks Of Maine
opposed them. because they declared
Wh'tney had committed contempt. be-
lore an opportunity was given him to
speak for himself
MI Mercer suggested the proprietV
OF substituting for the two first resol1.
hons' n preamble reciting tie eiroum-
stances as reported BY the committee.
and concluding with the last re solution.
MIR. Briggs offered, as a substitute
such a preamble and resolution, and
they were accepted by Mr.. Lincoln in
lieu of his own
Mr.. P"arce. Of Rhode Island. on.
posed the resolution in this form and
eontended that before the House should
declare that contempt had been COM
united, they ought to 60 into q oonsid-
erahon OF the reasons given by Whit
ney Tor declining 10 obey the summon,
OF the committee. This view Uas
strongly opposed by Mr.. Hardin. Of
hentucky, who made n most vigorous
and effective speech IN support OF the
resolutions.
a most animated debate arose IN
which Messrs. Wise, Robertson. Bond
tanderPoel, Graves. Ashley. Calhoon
and Bell supported the resolutions. and
MessT'. Parks, Boon, Thompson Of
ONO. Gholsou. Glaseook, and Jarvis.
opposed them.
Messrs. Parks. Glascock. and Jsr,i,
attempted At different times 10 b,va
me revolutions modified; but their mo-
ions we're all promptly voted down.
Mr.. Patton, OF Virgins, then arose.
and alter commenting in severe terms
on the letter Of Whitney. and cbar,e.
'ersing bis preience Of being afraid 70
appear before any committee Of which
Mr.. Wise - chairman. as a mi,enhIa
'ub'ehuge. he proceeded TO point ous
we u'ele,sness Of any proceeding
against Whitney of the kind eoptsms
pla'ed'-aod concluded BY moving 20
lay the whole subject on the table
ih'' vas negaiived. The question
vas then taken on the adoption Of tbe