The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-29


order, for the reason that She effect would be TO
place the subject beyond Me control of the House.
| Mr. POTTER modified his proposition TO read
| ''the third day OF March next"
| Mr.. STRONG inquired whether the motion was
! debatable.
! The SPEAKER replied in the negative
| Mr.. VAN DYKE said that he was opposed to the
arrangement He was prepared to consider the
! Mr. ASHMUN moved TO amend the motion of
| the gentleman from Ohio to postpone the con-
sideration of the subject for two weeks.
Mr.. CASEY inquired whether if il should be
| postponed for two weeks, and special order inter
| vened, 1t would not go over; or whether this was
| not privileged question, to be called up at any
| time.
The SPEAKER said that it would take priority
! over the regular special ORDER and would come
| up at the end of two weeks in preference to any
| other business.
| After further proceedings, Mr. POTTER modified
| his motion, and the consideration OF the Pcpnsyl
vania contested election case postponed for two
| weeks.
| INTERFERENCE LEcrIoNs-wITNEssEs REFus-
ING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ASKED
MirTEE OF THE HOUSE.
| The House proceeded to the regular order of
! business-caling the committees for reports
| when
| Mr. STANLY made the following report, name
ly:
The committee appointed on May 9th, 1850, to
inquire and report TO the House of Representatives
&c what persons holding office under the ast admin
isration clerks in any Of the public Offices au-
dltors, heads Of bureaus Commissioner of Patents,
or Assistant Postmasters General correspond
ents OF newspapers, wrote Tor edited newspapers
their salaries and compensation for the same and
who In particular was the author of certain ESSAYS
signed Bundlecund, and what Office he then held;
and also whether during the last canvass for the
| Presidency any of the above named officers abb
sencd themselves from their Offices and official du-
ties to make speeches and public addresses against
| the election OF General Fay lor. Also whether the
above named officers, or any Of them, during said
canvass, were called upon to subscribe or pay mo-
Taylor, and at whose instance this done"--beg
leave to report in part that in discharge of the du
| ties imposed on them by order of the House, they
caused several witnesses to be brought before them
that among others, Thomas Richie, editor Of the
Union, and G. p Sengsack, late keeper of the pen
| itentiary in this District, were summoned and ap-
peared before the committee; that the said Richie
and Sengstack refused to questions put to
| them by the committee touching matters referred
| to the committee by the House.
The question was put to Thomas Richie, estate
| what you may know in relation to the different
subjects mentioned in the resolution Of the House
| appointing tins committee, and now before you'"
| To which he answered as follows: GAS to the CORE
| spondcnce OF the Union, the committee must ex-
cusc me from answering. | do conceive my
| self at liberty to betray the correspondents of my
! press" &c. &c.
| Richie, viz; 'Was the author of the communica-
ton i'll the Union Of September - ls4S, office
holder, embraced In the resolution Of the House ~
which question the said Richie declined to an
| swcr.
And the said Sengstack, on being asked what he
knew in relation to the matters referred to in the
resolution OF may 9th, 1850, said follows: GAS to
the officers named in the resolution being called up
required to subscribe pay money for an cleo
tioneering fund, against General Taylor. decline
to answer, unless can leo state what officers paid
money for an electioneering fund in favor of Gene
| raj Taylor.
Whereupon the committee adopted the following
resolution, viz
| Resolved, That the refusal of Thomas Richie and
C. p. Sengstack to answer questions propoundcd to
them by the committee, be reported to the House,
and its advice and order asked thereon, which
~ " 1880 ED7W. sTANLY, Chairman.
Mr.. sTANLY explained to the House the rea-
cons for making the report. The two witnesses
having refused to answer, the committee had
authority TO proceed further.
Mr.. HlBBARD said that the matters proposed to
be invest rated were totally irrelevant legisla-
ton, and that Congress has jurisdiction
officers under the last administration. MIR. Richie
he thought, very properly refused TO disclose the
names OF the authors of certain communications in
the Union. If clerks and others engaged in political
matters after office hours, and spent their own
money, IT was their own affair. This subject was
unworthy to occupy the time of the House; and he
concluded by moving to lay the report upon the
| table.
Mr.. STANLY asked for the yeas and nays which
were ordered; and, being taken, resulted yeas SIS,
nays los,
| So the report was not laid upon the table.
MIR. EVANS, of Maryland, obtained the floor,
and was proceeding with his remarks when
MIR. POTTER interrupted him by saying that
there was no motion before the House.
Mr.. MEADE said that he had an amendment
which would afford something 10 talk about 1t
was resolution declaring that the liberty of the
press and freedom of discussion should not be
abridgedj and that editors of newspapers should
not be required by the General Government, or
any branch thereof to surrender the of their
correspondents for political purposes.
MIR. sTANLY said that Sengstack was not con-
| nected with the newspaper press.
Mr.. MEADE only wished TO assert a great prin-
ciple, and was glad that Mr.. Richie refused 10 an
swer the questions propounded by the committee
Mr. EVANS was understood to speak of the gross
attacks and scurrlity OF the Union, and of the
in which he had been treated by the editor; and
he urged the propriety of compelling witnesses to
answer the questions of committees instituted by
MIR. STANLY offered a resolution, with pre-
amble, in substance that, whereas the select COM
mittee, acting under the authority of this House,
have reported that Thomas Richie and Charles p.
Sengstack have peremptorily refused TO give re-
sponses TO answers, in obedience to the summons;
therefore,
Resoioed, That the Speaker issue his warrant, di-
rectcd to the Sergeant alarms to take into custody
Thomas Richie and Cha rles p. Sengstack and that
they be brought to the bar of the House for alleged
contempt; and that they be allowed counsel, on APP
plication, il they should desire It,
Mr.. FITCH had obtained the floor, and was pro-
ceedng 20 address the House, when
MIR. STRONG, the morning hour having expired,
moved that the House proceed TO dispose of the bu
siness on the Speakers table.
Mr.. FITCH inquired whether the report was a
question of privilege?
The SPEAKER replied that he thought not
So the report OF the committee went over.
TERRITORIAL oovERNNEsT ron UTAH.
Several bills and Executive communicat on
the sPeakcr's table having been disposed of the bill
TO establish territorial government for Utah was
read by its title; aud, on motion of
MIR. BOYD, IL was referred to the Committee Of the
Whole the state Of the Union, and ordered 10 be
printed.
Mr.. CLING MAN inquired whether, If motion
to reconsider the vote just taken should prevail
II would relieve tho House from the necessity of re-
ferring the bill to the Committee of the Whole on
the state of the Union.
The SPEAKER thought not, as all bills contain
ing appropriations must fret be considered in
Committee Of the Whole on the state of the Union.
Mr.. SWEETSER moved that the House resolve
itself into committee for the purpose of taking up
the bill.
The SPEAKER replied that it was not in order
to move TO go into committee on any particular