The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-01-30
1IcUse of Representatives.

~ >H'''>'' w, 'auuNN lp.
Mr.. Kelsey. OF New lo,h, rising to oues
ti"n OF privilege, offered preamble setting
forth this: Arsoi';, /. Chester lad bccu Lu!y
summoned hs;Yrr the Corruption lnvesti~a
lion Commi;tcr, ANA lal neglected to ar-
l"'ar, at.l cnrc!ui;nr w,h the resolution
that the SrrIi>rr ;>>u> his warrant. directed
I" ,lc ~,'r,r"Nt-;,t Arms. communicating him
to take into cu>:viv the body of the said
ti,">irr wlygevvr found, AND tkr same forth
with hi:n.. :" the lar rt The House, to an
swrr f." rn"t~inN'. OF lis authority.
Nj. Florence, Of Ia inquired where was
the authority for I'll ,hiS2
Mr.. Jones, Of Tenn, believing that the
House had 10 s',cl, power, moved to lay the
resolution Oh the table.
Mr.. Paine, o.! y. g., demanded the yeas
and nays.
Mr.. McMuN.... Of Va, rcsarc7v! this as a
very important yuc'tion, and time should
be afforded to look into it. His motion TO
adjourn received! Il negative.
" the in>t:invr Of Mr.. Orr, Of $. c., the
l'rc"'l't addressed tv the Speaker TO the
S,rg";t":- Arms, ommanlinr the latter
to >H:mn!cn Chester, WAS read.
The prcrrpt was Returned Ly the Serrcant-
at-ArH!S, with Tie endorsement that he had
served The summons.
Mr.. Orr WAS Permitted TO make a state
mrnt. lie said the Committee had not
acted III this matter without LOOKING fulIv
INTO tic authorities, whicl, they thought
iNlly susta'nd them in The application they
haA made. y case occurred in 1877 or
ISIS t" this effect: party applied to Lewis
Ni.iiainS member Of the House, and pro-
posc'' t" pay linn pccuniary consideration
to max" Il !avorih!c report OH Il certain BILL
Mr.. Williams hrou.h, The fact to the attcn-
ton q: III" House, (which ordered the ar
rest OF the party, in the language Of tbc
resolution now before the House, Which ,hc
present committee corpic'l from proceedings
II that case. The party was brought be-
fore the House, anI after trial was repri
man,lcd only by the Speaker of the House,
bera';sc thci: were mitigating circumstan-
ecs. After lis discharge from custody, he
instituted a;l action against the Sergeant at
Arms for s;i.>: imprisonment. The case was
trio! i'll th" United States Court. and dcci-
dcd "G,a:Hst Ike rlailtiif, and on arpcal to
the Supreme Cunrt, that tribunal decided
that the House la! the power to act rs it
had done, and that it was properly exercised.
The Scrgcantat-. Arms was protected, and
the complaint dismissed. Tie witness in
lhc present case was suhpmnacl but failed
to ;lpcar. II the House had not the power
TO enforce Tic attendance Of witnesses. the
investigation w;ss Tockcry, and he (Orr)
SEonid not continue 4 member Of the com
m!tice. /! !; !ia,! not The power 10 enforce
rrcu>a's 10 testify to facts within their
k!nowlels the investigation would fall to
the gronnl.
Er. Broom, Of Pennsylvania, wished to
make statement relative to Mr.. Chester,
but Mr.. Jones, Of Tennessee said they want
cd to bear nothing about him now.
Mr.. Harris, Of Illinois-Whcn the wit
ness purges himself Of the contempt, I will
hear the explanation.
MIR. Broom-I was Informed this morn
ing that Mr.. Chester WAS sick, and unable
to be present before the committee. 7
would ask the committee whether they can
pro!"rc evidence that Mr.. Chester refused
TO appear?
MIR. Palne-That is Of no consequence
to the matter before the House.
The House refused to lay the resolution
on the table, and then passed it nearly unani-
mously. Adjourned.