The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-01-29
AN IMPORTANT BILL.
The following bill passed the House las,
Thursday, ONLY Twelve sossfcs fs nf'sSSSscS

The following bill passed the House last
Thursday, onlY. Twelve yossfcs tks afssSdAcS Of
witnesses the of either House Congress,
and 10 Compel them 10 discover testimony.
SEC. :. BE II enacted, dc, That any person
summoned as witness by the authority of
either House of Congress, to give testimony or
to produce papers upon any matter before
either Bouse, or any committee of either House
of Congress, who shall wilfully make default or
who, appearing, shall refuse to answer any ques-
ton pertinent to the matter of inquiry in CON
sideraton before the House or committee by
which he shall be examined, shall, in addition to
the pains and penalties now existing, be liable
to Indictment as for a misdemeanor in any
court of the United States having Jurisdiction
thereof, and, on conviction, shall pay fine not
exceeding one thousand dollars, and not less
than one hundred dollars, and suffer imprison-
ment in the common Jail not less than one month
nor more than twelve months.
SEC. 2. And be 1t further enacted, That no
person examined and testifying before either
House of Congress, or any committee of either
House shall be held to answer criminaly in
any court of justice or subject to any penalty
or forfeiture, for any fact or act touching which
he shall be required to testify before either
House or any committee of either House of
Congress, as to which he shall have testified,
whether before or after the date of this act; and
that no statement made or paper produced by
any witness before either House, or before any
committee CT either House, shall be competent
testimony in any criminal proceeding against
such witness in any court of Justice; and no
witness shall hereafter be allowed to refuse to
testify to any fact or to produce any paper
touching which he shall be examined by either
House of Congress, or any committee of either
for tbo hot
ing such fact or the production of such paper
may tend to disgrace him or otherwise render
him Infamous. PrOoided That nothing in this
act shall be construed to exempt any witness
from prosecution and punishment for perjury
committed by him in testifying as aforesaid.
SEC. 3. and be 1t further enacted, That
when witness shall fail to testify, as provided
in the previous sections of this BILL and the facts
shall be reported to the House, it shall be the
duty of the Speaker of this House or the Presi-
dent of the Senate to certify the fact, under the
seal of the House or Senate, to the District At
torney for the District of Columbia, whose duty
it.shall be to bring the matter before the graud
jury, for their action.
If this bill become Law, gentlemen who shall
hereafter prefer charges Of corruption against
members of Congress, will, Of course, be pre-
knowing that the sweetly constraining force of
Law will bring out the Truth, will find them
selves braced up in their purpose to lead a pure
and pious life.
The bill was opposed in the Senate by Messrs
Hale, Seward, Pugh, and Wilson, chiefly on the
ground that it was hastily drawn up, and might
work detriment to the liberties of the citizen ;
but on the question of its passage, Messrs. Hale,
Pugh, and Wilson, alone voted in the negative.
Possibly, time may show defects in it some
Of Its provisions are not sufficiently guard.
ed but we trust it will have the effect of
bringing to light "the hidden works of dark
ness" People ought to be prepared to tell the
ruth, and if they refuse, be compelled to do so.
The measure has nothing to do with the liberty
of the press-it applies equally to all citizens,
| whoever they may be-the editor or the letter
writer may write just as freely as ever, provi
ded that, when he charges members of Congress
with corruption, be he prepared boldly to name
them, and produce his evidence.
Without such bill, Congress would have TIT
power to summon witnesses in any investi
CATION it might order, and to punish contempt
and its power, in this respect, is almost unlimit
ed, certainly indefinite. :
Either House may define contempt, as 4
pleases, and punish it, as it pleases-a mos
dangerous power. The bill, while it does no