Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-01-22

his privilege to make the fullest statement;
or he could postpone doing so till future day.
1t having been decided that he might DO
heard orally
The prisoner then, stating that be was ready
to answer now, proceeded to read a paper In
his own defence, wherein, after discussing his
duties and privileges as writer for the press,
TO-, the points of his letters to tho New York
Times, the previous proceedings of the House
in the LII alters that have been referred to the
|Investigatirg Com mittee, their conduct to-
wards him and bis bearing when before them,
his moral convictions Of the truth of the
charges against unnamed members CT the
House. &C &c he alleged that a. an Amer
can citizen, he endeavored to make his coz
duct comport with the law, and that no man
or body of men could sustain tho proposition
that he was to to treated as independent of
law SO it would be perceived that his action
in the premises was to be judged by law, as
he understood it, or az it is deemed to exist
He believed the House had no just power to
punish for contempt.
Gentlemen had suggested arguments to show
| tho positive state Of facts They have read
tie law of '9S. and one Of u more recent date,
which gives to the committee certain judicial
powers, and on this basis they assume all the
powers of tho Judiciary, and claim the right
to hold me, not in accordance with the princi
Piles of law, but upon the mere fpss diTit Of
this House He stood there protected by that
clause in the constitution, which declares that
no man shall be deprived of his liberty except
by due process Of law; and If he was at this
hour deprived Of his liberty by due process Of
law, why did not some one proclaim the law?
He was charged with Inconsistency in having
refused to violate confidence, and for having
stated TO the committee that he had knowledge
Of certain facts, and yet there was no evidence
that be had made charges duplicating mem.
bers of Congress. He was not aware that the
committee had one particle Of proof that he
had made charges for which he was respon-
sible. He maintained that he had the right
| to receive the confidence of gentlemen for bis
| own purposes, and had volunteered NJ charges
against anybody He had made no specific
charges tn at Congress was corrupt. He had
merely stated that he had moral convictions
that cOrruptiOns existed in Congress After
speaking for somo time, he concluded by
stating that he had nothing further to say ex.
cept to ask to be heard by counsel.
After some remarks by Mr.. Clingman, Mr.
Harris, Of Illinois, submitted the following
preamble and resolution:
Whereas J. w. Simonton has failed to answer
the questions put to him by the House, and has
net Durged himself OF the contempt: Therefor
RssolUed, That the Sergeant At Arms hold the
said J w Simonton In custody, and p ace him
in close confinement In the common jsfl until he
sh III have answered the questions propounded to
him the committee.
After further debate, Mr.. Orr submitted
the following resolution as substitute:
}. w Simon on having appeared at the bar OF
the House according to lis order, and the cause
assigned for the contempt teing Insult lent:
Therefore.
Rss"!red, That the said J. w. SImonton he
continued In close custody by the Sergea n: at
Arms, OF, In his absence, by Mr. w Il. Flood
during Il balance Of this session, or uniil dis
charged by the further order Of this Hous to be
taken when he shall have purged himself Of his
cOmmittpe
The question was first taken on the subst,.
tute, and it was agreed to-yeas 12O, nays II
And then tie resolution, as amended, was
agreed to.
Mr.. Orr moved to reconsider the vote by
which tho resolution was adopted, and to lay
that motion upon the table.
Pending which, the House adj ,urned.