Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-01-23
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

IL THE SENATE, yesterday, after VIC went
to press, the debate on the Submarine Telc.
graph bill was continued by Messrs Pugh
Hunter, Benjamin, Rusk, Thompson of Ky,
Douglass, Butler, Pearce, Bayard, Mallory
and others, until after being slightly amend
ed, 1t was passed-yeas %, nays lS-as follows:
Ye,s-Nessrs Allen, Bell Of N H. Bell Of
Tenn Benjlmin, Brodhead, Brown Colamer,
Dodge, Douglas. DuIkee, Fessenden, + ish, r oot
Foster, Rale, Houston, James, Jonss OF Iowa
Mallory, Pratt, Rusk, Seward, stuart Thomson
Of ~ } Torc y, Wade, Wilson, Wright and
Nays-AIessrs. Biggs, Clay, Cri.tenden, Evans,
Ftp trick, 6eyer, Green, Hunter, Iverscn, Ma
son, Pearce, Pugb, Reid, Slidell, Thompson Of
Nv, TocInbs, TruInoull, and Weler-ls.
The bill from the House to compel witnesses
to testify before Congressional committees,
and to punish contempt Of the authority Con-
gress, was next referred to their Judiciary
Committee.
Shortly afterwards, on being reported back
by Mr. Toombs, who asked immediate action
upon 1t, at the suggestion Of Mr. Wilson, it
was laid over until today.
Il Tue House, the bill last above referred
TO in the proceedings Of the Senate was de
bated by Messrs. Washburne of Me-, Grow,
Marshall of Ky Orr and Dunn, ere being
f0eS~u ia eho "oIuo-tO
BE 1t snOcted. tc., That anv person sum.
monsd as a witness by the authority Of either
House OF Congress TO give testimony, or to
produce papers. upon any matter before either
House, or any committee Of either House Of Cen
gross, who shall wiliully make default, or who
appearing, shall refuse to answer any question
pertinent to the matter Of inquiry In considera-
ton before the House or committee by which he
shall be examined, shall, in addition to the pains
and penalties now existing, be liable to indie
ment as for misdemea in any court Of the Uni
ted states having jurisdiction thereof, and, on
conviction, shall Tav fine no; exceeding enc
thousand dollars and not &c s than ore hundred
dollars. and suffer prison neHt la the common
J All Lot less than one month nor more than
twelve months.
Sec.2 And be IL further enacted, That no Der
son ex mined and testiiying before either Il on g
CT Congress, or any Committee Of either House
shail be held To answer crminally In any court
OF Justice or subject to any penalty forfeiture,
for any fact or act touching which he shall re II
qulred TO testify before either ouse Ct Congress
or any committee OF either House. as to which be
seal have testified, whether before or after the
"a OF this act and that no statement made or
paper produc d BY any witness, before ei her
House or before any committee Of either House,
SNAIL he competent testin ony In any crimiu al
pioSeedlng against such witness in any court Of
justice and no witness shall hereaf er be al
lowed to refuse to testify TO any fact or produce
any paper touching which he NAV be examined
by either House Of Congress or any mmittee Of
either House for the reason that lis testimony
touching such fact or the production Of such pa,
pers may tend to disgrace him OF otherwise render
him Infamous: Prorrded, That nothing in this
actshaii be construeA to exempt any witness from
prosecution and punishment fvr reijury commit
ted by him In tsstifying as aforesaid
Sec. 3 And be it further enacted, That when a
witness sndl! fail to testify, as provided In the
previous secti ms of this BILL and the facts shall
be reported TO TIE House, & shalt be The duty tf
! the Spee ker Of this House, or tie President of
u: senate, TO certify the fact, under the seal Of
the House or Senate, to the district attorney for
the Distrl OF Columbia, waose duty IL shall be
TO bring the Mater before the grand fury for IL cir
action
And then, aftor the transaction of some Ter
ritorial business, the House adjourned.