The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-06

of the Chair.
MIR. BURT desired to know whether the letter
was written by reporter or letter writer enjoying
the privilege Of the hall.
| The SPEAKER replied that il was not in order
TO make remarks on the subject
| The House, by a vote of-ayes 5S, noes 80, re-
| fused to second the demand for the previous ques-
| ton.
MIR. HARRIS, of Illinois said that the question
before the House involved the character Of this body
II the member 10 guilty, charged it ought to be
known; and 1t Was no part OF the Speaker to say
what involves the character or honor Of the body;
but il was for the House to determine the question
| Mr. VAN DYKE moved TO lay the appeal on the
table.
| MIR. BAKER asked the unanimous consent of the
House to enable Mr.. CiDpINGs TO make an explana-
| ton.
| Objection made in several parts of the hall.
| The SPEAKER stated the ground Of his decision
when the question taken, and the appeal Of Mr..
| TooABs was laid upon the tablo-ayes 1902, noes not
| counted.
| Mr.. ALLEN contcnded that the House have the
power to investigate this matter. The charge came
from papers Of influence, printed in Boston and
out the country. II reflected on the House, which
should vindicate their own dignity.
| MIR. McCLERNAND in favor Of investi-
CATION, and therefore he should vote that the matter
presented was question Of privilege
Mr. MORSE maintained that no breach of priv
| lege had been committed.
MIR. SWEETSER was in favor of an vesigation.
HE colleague should have opportunity for vim
dication. If he guilty, lie was not fit to asso
ciate here with gentlemen.
Mr.; WOODWARD argued from the position
that the House have no privileges except what are
| defined by the Constitution or by law.
MIR. ROOT said il had been acquiesced in by this
House that member charged with offence, or
| sometimes no moro than reflection his official
conduct, has a right to call the attention of the
| Housc to il. The Chair bound to present it,
| and the House to say what they will do. If his
colleague was guilty of the charge, he ought to be
expelled. II not, he was entitled to an investiga-
| ton.
Mr.. GIDDINGs said it was due that the House
should purge itself of the scandal, and with this
| view he had introduced the subject II was ques
ton solely OF duty to the House to determine whe
| Their they will be contaminated with this wrong,
as charged, which. if true should subject the
her committing it to expulsion. He had hoped that
| some friend would bring forward a resolution ask
| ing for a committee Of investigation.
Mr.. PRESTON KING Ohe gentleman giving
way) moved that a select committee be appointed
to investigate the truth faschood of the charge.
| The SPEAKER remarked that this would pre-
sent the question in more tangible form and the
question was, whether the motion of the gentleman
| was question OF privilege. If the House deter
| mine this to be a question of privilege, then the
question would occur on agreeing to the motion of
| the gentleman from New York
Mr.. KING sad that he should have made the
motion earlier, but he had hoped that some other
| gentleman would make it.
Mr.. STEPHENS, of Georgia, raised the question
| that the motion WAS not in order. The motion
could be made until the House say that all other
| business shall stop for it.
The SPEAKER remarked that the question could
| not be affected by the motion.
| MIR. STEPHENS said that he should object 10 the
| motion until the question was settled.
MIR. STRONG said that the House must first de-
| terminc whether they will take the matter into
consideration II they determine, he would offer
n resoluton-providing for the appointment of IA
select committee of five members to investi gate
the charges against JOSHUA r. GIDDINGs, contained
| in the Boston 4Atias, signed "L' Occident," and to
report as to the truth iasehood thereof, and that
they be empowered to send for persons and pa
| per5.
MIR. INGE Does the gentleman now offer the
! resolution?
Mr.. STRONG. twas read for information.
| Mr. INGE. Under the decision Of the Chair,
| you can offer the resolution.
| Mr.. STRONG. Then offer it,
MIR. INGE. The Chair has decided that il is not
for him TO determine whether this is a question of
privilege, but for the House. II the House adopt
the resolution, they say it is question of privi-
lege. Therefore, he hoped that the gentleman would
submit his resolution at this time.
After conversation between the SPEAKER and
N1cssrs. JOINS and STEPHENS, of Georgia. on a
point of order,
Mr.. HARRISON expressed his views against an
investigation into the truth of the charges of an
anonymous writer.
| The SPEAKER said that the question now was
on agreeing 10 the proposition Does the subject
matter brought before the House involve question
| Of privilege?
The House, by avotc OF yeas a. nays 50, decided
| the question in the negative
Mr.. GIDDINGS. What is the effect of the vote !?
| The SPEAKER. The effect Is, that there is
thing connected with the subject before the House
Mr.. GlDDINGS (unaninous consent being
given) proceeded to make a statement with refer
ence TO the matter. The day before the adjourn
nent of the last Congress- he said, he received a
letter from the brother of the applicant for the post
Office at Obcrlin, MIR. Stcvens,) requesting him To
| recommend his appointment. In the hurry OF the
moment he did not answer the letter. lie took 1t
with him to Pittsburg, and there answered il, say
ing that he never recommended Office
out Of his own district; but he gave testimonial
saying that the applicant was, so far he knew,
OF good character, and qualified for the station lie
never saw the papers connected with his appoint
inent and subsequent REMOVAL he did not know of
a single name attached To them, from that time 20
this. He never called on the Asst p. NJ. General 10
examine any papers but twice, and they related to
post oces his district; and he declared before
the country and Him who knoweth all things, that
! he never called on Colonel Warren for any other
/ papers. He had, one occasion, a conference
with Mr.. Collamer in relation 10 poet office in the
county in which he Mr.. G. resided. He repeated,
that in had he called for any papers, nor
asked any explanation on any other appointments
than TO three post Offices two OF which came under
his suporintendence. So far as the article in the
/ dfias charged him with calling for explanations
with regard TO the post office in Oberlin IL en-.
| trely unfoundcd. There was nota shadow Of truth
/ in the charge. Colonel Warren had said TO him,
| that he had recommended the postmaster at Ober-
| linz but he Mr.. G. replied that he did not, and
that he had never gone farther than say that the
| applicant was a iuau OF competent talent Inns
was the only conversation he had ever had with Co
| lionel Warren. No further nlluson 70 the matter
! ever occurred between them.
! Mr.. BAKER. Have you any reason TO believe
that these imputatons came from the Post Office
! Department
Mr. GIDDTNGs could not say where they came
| from. On Wednesday last, after the House adj
journed, in taking Of his papers, he found an
envelope enclosing the New York Day Book, con-
| tanning extract from the New York Courier and
Enquirer in relation to the Obcrlin post office. He
placed this in a letter TO Col. Warren, asking him
whether he authorized the publication. That was
| the first intimation he had Of the charge. He had
not yet received an answer. Yesterday he received
tho Boston Anns, and on seeing there the article
which had been read TO the House, he wrote TO the
editor, demanding the name Of the correspondent.
He had not, OF course, yet received an answer He
had now stated all that he knew upon the subject
| lie knew no more about the names connected with
the papers than the child unborn; and il was in
comprehensive 10 him why the imputation should
be made.
| Mr.. OLDS said he understood that his colleague
charged with ranking the letters sent to obcr-
| lin.
| Mr.. GIDDINGS replied, that so far as his know
ledge and belief extended, he never permitted his