Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1838-02-22

Spy IA asbingion," was reed 10 him and
The Chair enquired Of him whether he was the
author ct the letter. To which Mr. Da>
WIS responded, that he was then srraiune3
at the bar OF the House will out counsel: and
he asked 10 he permitted 20 state his own
case, he most respectfully asked that hon.
orable House 10 permit him 10 say why IN
his opinion, he ough, not 10 be required To-
answer that in,errogatory: and if permitted
10 do so, said that he would occupy bu, ,
very few moments OF the time of the uo,s,
Upon This request Of the Witness, MIR.
Bronson inierposed an objection, aud the
witness having withdrawn, the question
whether he he permitted to give his reasons
Tor not answering this interrogatory YVES
debated at great length by Messrs Bronson
wise, Lincoln, Foster, Parker, Patton
thompson, Haynes, Sibley, Boon, Glascock
MIR Howard followed MIR. Ilolsey, amidst
loud ndconstant cries Of question; and after
silence wDs obtained, said that he had risen
I" move the Previous Question: W icb motion
was sustained by vote OF lle ayes, noes not
counted
The main question, "Shall the witness
nave leave to State his reasons for not answer
ing the first inierrogatory :" was carried (the
yeas ard nays having been orlered) in .ba
aihrrnoi've-leas 1903, NAYS so.
MIR. Everett moved an adjournmen, Of the
Blouse. Lost.
Ihe witness was then brought in. and The
Chair informed him that the House had w.
TED To- permit him 10 give his reasons wby
the FIRST inlerrogatory should not be answer
ed
Mr., Davis (the wi,ness) returned his
lhanEs 10 That most respectable body for
their courtesy in giving him tina, permission
and said lhut, as the best evidence he rouId
give them OF his sincerity, he would occurv
but very few moments Of their time. He
protested solemniy against the mower of The
House OF Representatives 10 arraign him
partly as criminal, and partly in the at,i.
lude OF illness, Tor the purpose of crimi
mating himself The letter ia question was
written, as i, shows upon its face, by one
who was prepared, al proper time tn sus>
tain IT'S allegations; and the editor OF the pa-
per IN which II was contained had uccumna-
med lis publication with the assurance that
the writer was forthcoming. " lille, tier.
legal and proper mode OF obtaining inns
investigation was thus plainly pointed out.
he demanded why he was 10 he brought so
Ina, bar, and to be thus inlsrrogaled: He
would not consent IameIy, thus 10 be mr.
N'N'SN S'N NHSctlSbC'l L1c WUUiU moi set
precedent, &c he placed upon The Journals
of the House, which would hereafter heus.h
10 sanction similar abuses Of VIVA, lie con-
sidered to he the rights the citizen guar
anIied 10 him by the Constitution Of his
country; nor would he consent 10 20 forth 10
the world, 10 be pointed a. as HE poor tren,
bling coward, who knowing his rights, did
not dare, IN such situation as that in which
he was linen placed, 10 maintain them. Hs
ielt that he had rights and knew them 10 he
constitutional. But while he protested ia
ihIs manner against this arbitrary and iIie
gal action oil The House he would not haveany
gentleman within the sound Of his voice to
imagine that he was shrinking from respon.
sibili,y. There vas hut che way he said 10
proceed in this matter So 3, 10 elicit truth
Since he had left the Hall he had nrepareI
such rerly TO the interrogatary that had
been propounded 10 him, as il was his in,eo-
ton iogive, and he would send il in writing
10 the table, and ask leave To have il entered
upon the Journal Of the House.
Ii was as follows:
VI deny the right of the House to ask. anil
therefore l. decline 10 answer the question
whether am or am not the author OF the
Spy In W ashington, or the extract from tie
letter referred 10 in the interrogatory but
al the same tine, respectfully state that |
know the member of Congress to " HON
Tue Spy aiIudeS, and am prepared 10 name
him at the bar OF the House or elsewhere"
The second inIerTogatory being propoun-
ded TO the witness, viz.
Y DO you know who is alluded 10 or i. =
tended to be charged n The preceding letter:
Answer yea or nay, as the case may be with
out giving the name"
He replied 81 do"
& Fothe third interrogatory in these words;
" Is the person thus alluded 10 a member
OF the House Of Representatives? %
He responded mo-
The Chair then informed the witness, that
by The order adopted by the House he was
then discharged.
Whereupon the witness retired from the
bar Of The House.
And the House on motion, adjourned.
In the Senate. on Wednesday, Mr..
Benton submitted a resolution calling Oh
the Secretary Of War for copy of Col.
H. TayIor's official report concerning
the battle Of the 25th Dec. with the Flor
idalDdians His object was understood
to DC to yindicate the Missouri voinn-
tee:S from any imputalion OF cowardice.
Mr.. Criitenden said he had no objection
TO the call, but he felt bound in Justice
to say that he knew Col. Taylor, and
that there was not in the army, better
or Drawer officer, or more truthful gem
tleman. Mr.. Smith of Connecticut, adj.
dressed the House Tor several hours in
support Of the Sub-Treasury bill. In
the House, most Of the sitting was con-
sumed on motion of Mr.. Wise TO have