New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-01-24

u n tbs community he would 90 to the ooun-
heat them upon H.. II CIngres' put nset 10
ffst sttuo, and pass s e tSa es IF rs coO VI
SIush'pg ,hsI 81. 10 Jcuo,rnL He VIII have the public
nc' - bo.Ier he be ran. or wrong ~ nus OH
g. mo matter how EroRg he 49, ms WIZ % ION
ffe}y more In the wrong tbao he WIN us goose gun
H. 90, MD he more pstsnt than me sergeant atAfDs
I,b b;. mace and al the epsgns OF authority, because
tb hes ge Of this bill Congress would sep over the
L.-Ly 10 which he bss the right for his protection,
viz: "Tbat be shall not be bed 70 answer 10 any mat
:, Ter which may crDinste himself Add The Pote,-
t, NJ the Law goes further than that, and # It be not
ell seaued it has the sHpport Of very good authority
That protection gOes so far that man shall not be
bor-oc 10 answer in any matter which mRny disgrace
bimsef Such is the opinion Of the best lcg. writers
or Jaw evidence Under no circums'auces would ne
vote for bill which he believed contained vi dous
principle. Under = pressure OF circumstances IKE
thOse hich surround the present he preferred TO a1op
the old maxim "h4sen slowly in leysaiion upon slcn
in pOftsnt business masters az those apper aiming
IN the liberty Of the citizen while be WAS periec'y
willing TO pass law which should be potent enough ID
its penalties to mpe the disclosure OF all tae acn
which either Iiouse might deem necessary IN me as
charge Of the business conbded TO them BY then COZ
stiiuenis and the Constitution. ,1
Mr. TOOM BIS remar ked That the House ba9 De IN Pur
suiI invest authoritative 20 crimes which were AID
10 have been committed by some OF their o"n mem
bers In this investigation they hsd touno themseVs
srddeny brought up by the refnss OF witness to dis
rIose ceItain facts which be admits 10 be within bis
knowIodoe. In order 10 proceed With the investl-
vafion which was demanded by their honor and their
Interest the HOuse have propOoed 70 pass new law
10 meet the case This bill was not liable to the OBJ
iecifDs which have been made by tho Senator from
New Hampshire. II WAS not eT post tdc'O Law be
GAUGE it did not make that action crtmin now which
p az innocent before, and il was the universal rule IN
al courts of Justice that it is perfectly competent at
shy tine for legislation 70 alter the remedy provided
In exiting Laws Now the case vas thai, IN endeay-
DING 20 ASCERTAIN the tru'h Of the charges that certain
Eoubers Of Congress were guilty Of corruption aud
bribt<y or attempting 10 be bribed, the House call
I'D ts they had night TO do By Law, some OF the very
per.o1s who make the chs-ges, and they retuse 10
ansyog on the grosnd that point Ut honor prevents
thieves from telling one another. This principle OF
hO1Or among thieves was brought forward 10
preveIt the administration OF public Justice lnls
gentleIpGn who las been intrusted with TINS felony
Sanpot for hopors sake disclose it. large portion OF
The House and Senate think Congress has the power TO
compel him to answer, aud for that purpose tnls OH
had been introduced, and because II seemed that me
present punishment il inadequate Tbs seeme1 70 DC
tie only mode in which they could ascertain the truth
of this allegation, because the bill provided that
"whcnCyer in future any witness shaI be Drought up
0ard refuses 10 testify he shall be liable to a certain
"penalty" The law in some OF the States compel
confedcrates in crime to testify against each other'
Whatever man may swear TO- 1t cannot make nun in-
famous unss be il infamous are adv, and II Is better
for public Justice that his Diamy should be exposed
than that in consequence Of screening hmset the guilty
should DO allowed TO escape. Inc Dill Is prospective
In IFS very terms and not post acO as has been al
legged. He thought it proper that the House should
protect their members from the lcentonshess OF the
nress and its miserable mnOns who allowed 10 90
about these halls When II il charged that the
.prpo is poisoned at its source, 1t Is proper
fiat Witnesses should be compelled TO testify.
Mr.. TURMBULL said he was in favor OF the OBJ
iec OF the bill, and perhaps should vote for II as
wa In his Judgment, each branch OF Congress has
the right TO protect ITSELF and summon wtRtsses, and
inpi,on them for contempt Of It's authority But if the
bill intended to the witoess from criminal prose
cutiop when there in abundant evidence TO convict
him apart from his own testimony, goes too far
MIR HALE. In response TO Mr.. IOombs, SAID he was
not ready because the authority OF the Ho1se had
been defed to trample down the principles winch are
essential TO the protection of individuals. Did any one
suppt sc that when a bad taken his position he
could be driven from i'll They should only Tx the
penalties for all coming time, leglsatug from wisdom
ard experience with camncss and sober judgment ana
not from the passions of the hour in which latter case
Congiess may be beaten by insoent defiance OF its
mower IL public representations were correct be be-
out he believed that If the bill should pass the positions
Woulo be reversed, and the prisoner mognhed into
hero. Severe the denuncialohs OF the Press
ave, il is an institution notwl'hstandlug' mas
a hundred ewes and thousand tongues. II
sos, hears and hishes what - here sad
throughout the whole country. The Press VIII
live az eng a. Congress Will hve-snd day
nfter ILauglter 1t will record, he said, our dssou-
Hon hr0 me hero of the press will be the man agains
whom Congress, in the year of grace 1897, undertake
by bill of pains and penalties, Ia put DOWN, lie WAS
Wiling 20 20 as far as any man could rlghtiuly 60
though he thought at one time he would never lnsh
sny man for col ompt of the Senate. An individual
nhmCd Nugont committed taltani breach OF prlvI-
ego by publishing a treaty III The Ns"- or" HeTd'd
Tie nom, nj he was arrested, many astue men sald
the arrest was without authority. The Sergesnt at
Arms rave him the best room in his house and the best
meat snd LIQUOR that the City could afford, and the
Senate had to foot the bill Laughter lie sued out
writ ot Esbeas corpus and The senate gave ue a%!eI
Eve hundred dollars. The prisoner was heiu tll tho
erd Of Congress, and then LET loose.
Mir. BAYARD did not apprehend that any man was
to become hero by this scriOn of Congress- Ihore
So in he hill about the Because n
man connected with the press Was concerned was that
a ressou why this bill should he eveled at 1t lie
thou hi with Mr. Trumbul that the second section oil
tie BIZ required modification, bat without some such
BIZ an inquiry into the grave coafSes made "ouia DC
futile. 40,
MIR. SEWARD, with q view to perfect the bill
thought it duty 10 suggest few amendments. In
the fis; place, II is made msdeneanor Tor any per
con 10 refuse to sny questions propouuded by
fhc COMMITTEE Ii might be TRIVIAL question or In
Guso,isl question and therefore he proposed TO make
Ii read, any material question. Agsin, the Oil
makes TO distinction ~ the character Of the suUect
on which witness may lie questioned. II might be
on matter over which Congress has no jurisdiction.
Mr.. " waId proceeded to show how dsasIrousy 10
bbcity ruch power might operate adding al one time
uere were bat few here who agreed with hun on pc.
Nt'cAl subjects not enough TO demand the eas and
Nays-eud rhen some thought that by uttering certain
sentiments he ought to be expelled the body ne pro-
nosed 10 insert after the word inquiry the words
Hyiibin the constitutional jurisdiction of Congress,
cor Of either House of Congress. The bull sub
verts AID dispenses with the privileges ct witnesses
undtr tie common law. He also offered proNiso
that this act shall not be construed so as to de
"ive any witness of the privileges which are allowed
" with esses by the rules of common law.
Mr. BAYARD thought the bill gave protection in
the instance TO which the Senator referred
Dir TOOMBS regarded Mr.. Sewards objections as
calculated TO defeat the bill by side blow, and OPP
posfd n amendments. $50
Mr. RIlTIER maintained that the bill ought TO pass
now He had seen 80 much contempt for the Senate
g., fbavs hn