Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1838-03-13
- R.nr- RANK. 40 % On ~ 90

Pb;e n,ornihr. iulIncdlafely o1seI tle
;.-n.I. ,.,o-s read. Mr.. Wise rose in his
ris l,,', and read paragraph from the New.
~, Dsilv Advertiser. in relation to tie
case of alleged corruption in aI1enber o.
CONGRESS PENDING before the House, ~
~Sieh paragraph the editor states, that the
Iacts are all known to him, that the CHEF
switness referred to, is = respectable ellls
.zen ofthis city, and the member Of 's
.gress a Senator ofthe United States now
IN his place"
The pending resolution before the House,
with liz proposed amendments was to
take where1pon dc be ensued. X.
ter some time the pre7 question was or.
dered, and being taken, pissed 10 the 3,
native. That resolution Was--ihat Mat.
thew L. Davis be fortg brought to the
bar Of the House fof hiuation. lie
Speaker then issued 81 writ or warrant,
and directed the Ser sant at Arms to exc
cute it. The Sergeant then proceeded to
the Gallery of tie House, where Mr.. Davis
was, and brought him to the Speakers chair.
TIE Speaker ten presented to Mr.. DAVIS
tie bible to be sworn.
Mr.. Davis-Before can proceed, re-
quest that the proposed oath may. be read,
to me, that | may Judge whether ] can take
It.
Mr.. Speaker win read you the oath
that am about to administer. The Speak,
er than read general oath, that the evi.
dence which the witness should give, should
be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth.
> Mr.. Davis. am willing to take that
oath; and he was accordingly sworn. He
was then taken from the Speakers chair "a
the bar Of the House, and chair rendered
him by the sergeant at arms; but he declin.
ed to st down.
Some discussion having arisen as to the
form, &c, in which the question should be
propounded, the sergeant was directed to
remove Mr.. Davis from tie bar, which was
done, and he remained in custody, nearly
two hours, when he was again brought to
1t.
After short pause the clerk oflhe house
read to the witness the resolution uf the
house, containing the extract from the Spy,
making the charge of corruption against
member Of Congress.
The speaker, addressing Mr.. Davis. then
said, the house have made it my duty to
PROFOUND to you the following interrogga.
tory-are you the author of the letter from
which an extract has been read to YOU,
signed "TGe Spy in Washington"
Mr.. Davis.--Mr. Speaker, / am here
without counsel, and most respectfully ask
Of this house, permission to state my rca.
sons, if any have, why ought to decline
answering that question.
Mr.. Speaker.-I will slate the appl:ca.
ton to the house. Gentlemen, the witness
declines to answer the interrogatory, and
asks permission to assign his reasons.
Mr.. Davis.-No, Sir; / do not decline.
/ ask to be heard, before | decide whether
will or will not answer. Alter stating nv
objections, may consent to answer.
Here debate arose, and the sergeat It
arms was directed again to remove TIE wit.
ness. and again he was taken into custody,
for another hour, and then recalled, and a
chair rendered him as before, which he de-.
chncd to occupy.
The speaker addressing Mr.. Davis, said
the house have decided to hear your rea.
cons for declining to answer the nterrog-
atoFies propounded to you.
Mr.. Dav:s--Mr. Speaker, tender my
acknowledgements to this honorable body
for their courtesy; and the best evidences
that lean give them Of my sincariiy. & "a
occupy as little Of their time as possible.
Sin, deny the right Of this house Is make
the enquiry of me, whetherI am or an
not the author Of the letters signed Ia,
Spy IN Washington. / am arraigned q
the bar, as eulprit, and then called lpor
TO- find evidence against myself. If th,
house wishes to know who is the author 8
these letters, there is a legal mode pointe,
out, by which they can obtain that infofma
ton. The proprietor Of the Courier a. En
qulrer, has announced to the world, tha
the Spy is known TO him, and he pledges
himself, that the writer Of these letters shal
be forthcoming when required. Let til
house pursue the enquiry legally.
But what ia now proposedl Il is as
sumed that ! am the author, and then I al
called upon as witness 10 cfiminate nv
self. This, sir, is a gross violation of Il,
rOgANgAbNti0A eAAAS laws Oh stl4c sAtktts IN
Constitution provides, that no man shan 8
called upon to eliminate himself. II IS n
right, it is my duty to resist the enquiry
i IS the right Of every citizen ef the Tn
ted States-''a right inestinlable to freeme
and formidable to tyfants only.
Sirs 7 IS not on my own account thai
decline to answerand while doing So. Il
itnot be imagined that shrink nom re
sponsibility. ! have no appre ension {
consequences in answering here Or else
where's IS to any act Of my life; but / ~
not consent to recorl on your journal:
that ! have been brought to your bar. 81
trembllngly surrendered my rights, ana 81
rights Of those that are to follow me. s,
submitting to an examination aud answer
ing questions Illegally proposed. No, ST
! will form no such precedent; and 1 al
therefore, most solemnly protest aeains
the right Of this house "a ofce from nc Il
answer to any such question.
Since returning from This bari haYo Is
queed my answer to writing, and will nov
read Il, and request that it may Be cntere
On the Journal IN my own language ~
6wer. 4
deny the right Of this house 70 al
ana shereiore, decline TO answer. wlletbe
am Or am not the authof 81 ne pu 8,
WaskingtqR, or Of the ar ron3 II,
49, 4