The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-01-24

Resoced, That Speaker PROFOUND Joseph
appearing before the select committee of the House.
Are you now ready 70 appear before said COMMITTEES and
TO such proper questions as shall be put to by
| said committee 2"
Mr. PHELPS, of Missouri called the previous question
| on the adoption Of the resolution.
The previous question seconded, and under the OPP
| Grafton thereof the resolution was adopted
Mr. LETCHER of Virginia, remarked that in order 70
avoid the difficulties which occurred the other day under
similar circumstances he proposed that the witness be
quired to write out his answers qualify to them under
| cath, and report them to the House.
Mr. PHELPS suggested that the questions should be cat
egorcay answered and that if this witness should at
tempt to abuse the privilege they could punish him, and
Mr.. LETCHER understood that when witness was
brought forward for contempt he TO for that
contempt under oath Now 1t was proposed to bring for
ward witness in contempt without putting him under
oath at all He wanted to this thing done in legal
way He wanted him TO prepare his deliberately
qualify to them, and present them TO the House He did
not desire reenacted to-day the of day
two ago When questions were propounded by the Chair
witness appeared in the aisle of the House and instead
of responding, undertook to deliver lecture to the
beers Of the body rejecting upon each and all.
Mr.. GROW of Pennsylvania opposed to the motion
of the gentleman from Virginia and not of any
court that required person. brought before that court to
ascertain whether he was in contempt not to answer
under oath.
Mr.. STEWART, of Maryland thought that the whole
difficulty might be obviated by requiring the party TO an
such questions should be propounded to him by
the House his Uoir dire and that it perfectly proper
mitted by his friend from Virginia Mr. LEroHKR should
be carried out 1t not necessary however, that the
party should answer in writing.
Mr.. KELSEY submitted point of order that the House
had already passed the resolution requiring the Speaker to
put these questions to the Witness and until that
done, no other legislation pertinent
The SPEAKER stated that il competent for the
chair to say whether he should be heard orally or in
writing.
Mr.. BROOM of Pennsylvania remarked that he was
quesed TO state that the party interested preferred
ing in the way suggested by the gentleman from Virginia
Mr.. TODD, of Pennsylvania, opposed to the motion
the gentleman from Virginia because he conceived it TO
an innovation upon the principles established 10 analo
| Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois, asked whether the gem
tleman from Pennsylvania not in error2
Mr. TODD replied that the rule in all the courts
in his State and he believed it to be the practice in
Mr. STEPHENS, of Georgia remarked that this party
before the House to show why he should
not be proceeded against for contempt The motion of
the gentleman from Virginia Mr. LErCHER] that the
cause when shown should be in writing and under oath
He thought the motion one and he very
much surprised to hear the gentleman from
the practice of the Of his State He thought he
might say that it almost universal in the of
States with which he acquainted to require such state
men in writing and under OATH There exceptions
But this was the way the party to purge himself Of
contempt In conclusion, Mr. s. called the previous ques
ton.
The previous question having been seconded under the
operation thereof the question taken the motion of
Mr. LEToHER, and it was agreed oayes lo5, noes not
counted.
Mr. WADE, of Ohio at the request Of the select COM
mittee, offered the following resolution:
esope That Joseph L. Chester be discharged from the
ed before the select committee and fully answered all
questions put to him by the said committee.
| Mr.. STEPHENS objected.
| PRIVATE BILLS
The SPEAKER stated that the reception of reports of
private nature from the various standing committees was
in order when VIZ
Mr.. BISHOP, of New Jersey from the Committee of
Claims reported Senate resolution for the relief of Hall
Neilsonj and 1T was committed. - .t4.a
Also from the same committee resolution for the re-
lief of James Young; which was read twice and commit
Mr.. FLAGLER, of New York, from the Committee on
the Post Office and Post Roads, reported joint resolution
for the relief of W. w WINNER postmaster West Zanes
vile, Ohio and bill for the relief of John H. Shepherd
and Walter K Caldwell of Pike county, Missouri which
were read twice and committed. samE
Mr. BARBOUR of Indiana, from the Committee on the
Judiciary reported, with amendment Senate bill author
zng the Secretary of the Interior approve the
OF the marshal for the district of Missouri for furniture
provided for the Of the circuit of the United
States for said district at the April term of said court
at ST. Louis in 1854.
third time and passed and the bill amend I'd by add
ing thereto the words and for the allowance and
to the marshal of the district of Indiana of the
furniture for the office of the clerk of the district court
the district of Indiana. s,-r .r.t ..s-t. #....
Mr.. TAPPAN, of New Hampshire, from the same COM
mittee reported bill for the relief of the surees of
Charles W. Cutter navy agent at Portsmouth, New Iamp
shire; which was read twice and commtted
Mr.. SIMMONS, Of New YORK, nom the same committee,
faio which was read twice and committed.
Also, from the committee, reported bill to enable
parties to obtain testimony before commissioners in the
District of Columbia which read twice and committed
Mr.. H. MARSHALL, of Kentucky from the same COM
mttee reported Senate bill for the relief of Adam D. Stew
art which committed. ,a#
On motion by Mr. ALLEN OF Illinois the Committee on
Revolutionary Claims discharged from the further
consideration of the memorials of the heirs Sarah
Sarah Ann Dye Colonel VIM. G. Mumfords Captain John
McAdams, Thos Shwcatt VIM Royel, and Mary b. Davis
and they referred to the Cpurt Of Claims
Mr.. CLAWSQN, Of New Jersey, from the Committee on
Revolutionary Claims reported bill for the relief of the
legal heirs of Moses Elmer deceased which read twice
and committed
Mr.. LETTER, Of Ohio from the Committee on Indian
Affairs reported bill for the relief of Arson Darl which
read twice and committed.
Mr. QUlTMAN, of Mississippi from the Committee on
Military Affairs reported Senate bills for the relief of
in the United States army and they committed
Mr. SAPP, of Ohio, from the same committee reported
bills to increase the pension Of William Nash for the relief
of the heirs of James Csn deceased for the relief of
the officers and soldiers of the army who stationed
at Fort kearney Nebraska Territory previous the
of March, 1853; and they committed.
Also from the same committee made adverse reports on
the petition of William Bishop other operatives in the
ordnance department for bounty land and ALSO on that
Of Urbano Peretz 'r'4
Mr. WILLIAMS, of New York, from the same commit
tee made adverse reports on the petitions of Brevet Major
John Jones, Of William Bechike, and of Jonathan Frye
and David Alden.
Mr. CLARK Of New York, from the same committee
made adverse reports in the of Robert johnson and
Capt. William Blacks company of volunteers.