M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1857-01-29
COngrcssiOnnl.
WASHINGTON CRY, Jan. 81.

teu oenalof rom Missouri IN place OF
AIR. Atchison, appeared and was quail
lifted.
The Submarine Telegraph Bill was
then taken up.
On the Telegraph bill there was a
long discussion, but there was no def
mite action on it when the Senate ad-
Ijourned.
HoUsE-Mr. Orr, from the Inves-
Itigating Committee, made q report
setting forth that Mr.. SiInonton, a
witness, has refused to answer certain
questions as to members approaching
him with corrupt propositions, which
were deemed material to the Inquir-
ing Committee, and concluded by Of
fering a resolution directing the Ser
geant at Arms to take Simonton into
custody and bring him before the
House forthwith to answer for con
tempt of its authority. After debate,
the resolution was adopted, only six.
teen voting in the negative.
Mr.. Orr alsoreported a bill to more
effectually enforce the attendance and
answers of witnesses, making them
liable to Imprisonment and fnes.-
During a spirited discussion to which
this gave rise, the assistant Sergeant
at Arms brought Mr.. Simonton be.
fore the bar ofthe House, and in re-.
ply to a question ofthe Speaker, what
he had to say why further action
should not be taken against him, he
was permitted to make a speech of
more than half an hours length, in
justification ofhis refusal to answer
what two members of the House had
approached him with corrupt PROPOSE
tons. Tie denied the power of the
House to proceed against him in this
particular case, and concluded by ask
ing to be heard by counsel.
Various propositions, one by Mr..
Orr, which was adopted, for the Ser
geant-at-Arms to keep him in close
confinement until he purge himself Of
contempt.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 90.
SENATE.--The consideration of the
Submarine Telegraph Bill was resum-
cd.
Messrs. Hunter and Thomson, of
Kentucky, Pearce and Grier opposed
the bill for various reasons. Mr..
Weller was not willing that $4,000
a year should be expended for this tel
egraph, while a similar connection
with the Pacific, which was vastly
more important was rejected. Mr..
Butler was not willing to- trust the
destinies of this country to a wire con-
trolled by Great Britain, and urged
other objections to the bill. Messrs.
Rusk, Douglas, Seward and Mallory
pressed its passage.
Mr.. Bayard remarked that it was
certain, if practicable, a line would be
established. 1t were better that we
should have some share in it, as we
can not prevent its construction by
our refusal to participate in the enter
prise. lie offered an amendment,
which was adopted, providing for such
arrangements as may be necessary to
secure to each Government the trans.
mission Gifts own messages by its own
agents.
Several amendments Of a verbal
character were made, when the bill
passed--yeas, 20, nays IS.
The House Bill to enforce attend
ance Of witnesses, &C., was referred, by
unanimous consent, to the Judiciary
Committee, who forthwith called a
meeting, and, IN the course Of five
minutes, reported it without amend
ment and asked its immediate consid-
Grafton.
Mr.. Wilson objected. The Senate
then adjourned.
HoUsE.-The pending question was
a motion to reconsider the vote by
which was passed the resolution d.
recting the Sergeant.at,arms to keep
Mr.. Simonton in custody, and lay that
question upon the table.
The pending question was decided
in the atfirmative-yeas 116, nays
II.
The House then resumed considera-
ton of the bill reported from the
Select Committee, more effectually to
enforce the attendance ofwitnesses up
on the summons Of either House of
Congress, and to compel them to dis
close testimony.
Mr.. Davis Of Maryland, from the
Select Committee, reported a substi-
tute, providing that pains and penal
ties be added to those now authorized.
He explained that it contemplated
definite and efficient punishment
No witnesses shall hereafter be allow
ed to wilfully refuse to give testimony
or produce any paper, andsif he do SO,
he shall be liable to indictment for
misdemeanor, and, upon conviction,
shall pay q fine NO more than $1,000
nor less than $1OO,and be imprisoned
in the %penitentiary for not more than
twelve nor less than one month Tho