American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-02-07

v /.
Herbert Of California, Jewett of Ky.
Jones of Tenn. Keitt, of S. C. Kelly,
of N. G. Quitman of Miss. Walker, of
Ala. and Wright of Miss.
The House now proceeded to con-
slider the bill reported by tho commit
tee.
NIessrs. Richie and Cobb of Geor.
offered amendmnts generalizing the bill
still more.
The Speaker said the bill pending
was general one, and suggested whe-
Their legislation at the present time
ought not to be confined to this parti-
cular case.
Mr.. Orr,replied that the committee
may not be able to proceed in their in
vestigation SO as to report the facts to
the House, unless such bill be passed
with view to inhict greater punish
ment on recusant witnesses than the
committee suppose the House has now
power to inflict.
Mr.. Kennel proposed that the bill
be sent to the committee on the Judi
ciary, with instructions to report it
forthwith. a'
Mr.. Orr replied thatifthe committee
cannot compel an answer to that extent
the investigation must fail. If the bill
is so referred it cannot be reported
back in time for the committee to avail
themselves of its provisions. He ar
gued to show the necessity and justice
OF its immediate passage, and said the
country have a right to know who are
the two members alluded to by Mr.. ST.
monitor. protested against gentle
mon being suspected of wrong and yet
no sufficient means being afforded to
ascertain the truth of these grave char
ges through the public press.
Mr.. Orr offered a resolution, which
was adopted, and that YIN. B. Flood,
clerk of the Sergeant at Arms, be au.
thorized and directed to execute the
orders of the House during the absence
of Mr.. Glossbrenner, the Sergeant at
Arms.
Mr.. Davis of Maryland, membe,
of tho select Committee, said the cues
ton was whether the House will re-
move the obstacle thrown in the way
Of the investigation, or permit to come
to dead stand. Hence the import
ance of passing the bill.
At this point the acting Sergeant at
Arms came into the Hall with MIR. ST.
monitor, the former informing the
House, that pursuant to order, he had
the latter in custody.
Much interest was evinced during
this proceeding.
Several gentlemen, amid confusion,
endeavored to address the House but
the floor was assigned to Mr.. Jones OF
Tenn. who said that the Sergeant at
Arms having executed the Speaker
warrant, had arrested and producedMr.
Simonton before the Bar Of the House
and he submitted whether it was with.
in the power aud jurisdiction Of the
Speaker to order the Sergeant at Arms
to take this man and keep him in custo.
dy for an indefinite. period of time.
The Speaker have made no such
order. ...
Mr.. Jones--The witness is here and
if nc wished to answer to the charge he
has the right.
The Speaker-The House can take
such order as it wishes.
Mr.. Burnett moved that tho prison
er be now heard, and in justification of
his voting against the resolution for
the arrest Of Simonton, said, among o.
Their things, that there was not tribu,
nal in this country, where party cod
be deprived of his liberty without some
process Of law. Hence he had wished
to read the law on which the committee
had based their action in reporting that
resolution. He wished the investiga-
ton to be thorough, and here was the
place for the witness to purge himself
Of the contempt, because he was already
guilty of it.
Mr.. Davis of Maryland, said they
must dispose of the prisoner in some
way. lie was now before tho House
on process of attachment. lie offer.
ed resolution directing the Speaker
to call on the prisoner to show cause
why he should not be committed fol
refusal to answer the questions pro-
pounded by the committee, as stated in
their report, and that he havo until
tomorrow morning to make his answer,
and meanwhile that he remain in the
custody Of the Sergeant at Arms,
Mr.. Colfax agreed with Mr.. Davis,
that the witness should have answered
the questions, but he was an American