Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-01-24
CONGRESS-

THURSDAY. Jan. %.
sENATE.-The Atlantic Telegraph bill was
taken up.
Mr.. Pugh of Ohio moved to amend by
provlso that no money shall be paid under the
authority of this act until convention shall
have been concluded between the United
States and Great Britain, whereby such Dor.
tons of the British possessions in North
America as command the western terminus of
the telegraph, shall have been subjected to
the principle of naturalization as adopted in
the Central American treaty of 1850.
Mr.. Seward said the discretion was lodged
in the President, and if he deemed the inter
ests of the country required such a treaty he
would doubtless take proper measures for
that object.
After further debate, the bill passed, 90 to
is.
Mr.. Wilson of Mass, introduced a bill to
procure bust in marble of the late chief Jus
tlce William Cushing of Mass
The House bill to enforce attendance of wit
nesses was then read and referred to the Judi
ciary committee, who forthwith met and in
five minutes reported it without amendment
and asked its immediate consideration.
Mr.. Wilson objected, when the Senate ad-
journed.
HoUsE.-The pending question was on the
motion to reconsider the vote by which was
passed the resolution directing the sergeant
alarms to keep Mr.. Simonton in close con-
hnement, and to lay that motion on the table.
Humphrey Marshall of KY, asked where
Mr.. Simonton was, whether he was now in
custody, and if so, by what authority.
The speaker replied that was question not
properly before the House.
Mr.. Marshall maintained that it was peril
nent to know the facts
Mr.. Orr of S. c., said Mr.. Smonton could
not be confined until final disposition be made
of the resolution.
Humphrey Marshall, before the House
voted, wanted the prisoner brought to the
bar.
The speaker remarked that the sergeant
at had informed him that Mr.. Slmonton
was in custody, aud was present. "a dice,
Where is he? and response, 50 There he is
at his desk
The pending question was decided in the
affirmative, by 1l6 against 70.
The House resumed its consideration of the
bill referred from the select committee, M ore
etfectually to enforce the attendance of wit
nesses on the summons of either house of
Congress, and compel them to discover testi-
mony.
MI. Davis of Md, from the select commit
pains and penalties. He explained that it
contemplated definite and efficient punish
ment. No witness was to be allowed here.
after wilfully to refuse to give testimony or
produce any papers, and if he do SO he shall
be liable to indictment for misdemeanor, and
on conviction shall pay fine of not more
THAI $1,000 nor less than $780, and be i'm
prisoned not more than twelve months nor
less than one The witness was to be protect
ed from criminal prosecution, but not relieved
from prosecution tor perjury.
Mr.. Washburne of Me-, wanted some effec-
tive bill to compel witnesses to give testimony
The purity of Congress demanded it. But
the committee on the judiciary should exam
inc the bill to ascertain whether its provis
sions were not inconsistent with the rights of
the citizen as secured by the Constitution.
Mr.. Humphrey Marshall Of KY, said the
bill was not sufficiently guarded; its extent
was too wide. Distinctions should be made
as to cases in which witnesses refuse to testi-
fy before visiting them with punishment.
The matter was further debated by Messrs
Dunn OF Ind, Orr of s. c., the bill passed
by yeas lob, nays H. Adjourned.