The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1857-01-22
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! AT the meeting o. the Agricultural So.
cieiy, Prof. Henry gave account Oft oper.
alton Of the Smithsonian Institute, and Of
the Patent Office.
DR.. Newberry delivered IN address on the
agricultural inducements to settle in Oregon
and California, which, he contended, were
far less inviting than those Of the valley oi
Mississippi. ----=--.----=
HoUsE-The House passed IL private
bills. ~ si(
Mr. Kelsey rising to o question OF privi.
lege, offered q preamble setting forth thut
Joseph L. Chester had been duly summoned
before the corruption investigating commit
tee, and his neglected to appear and resolu-
ton that the Speaker issue his warrant d.
rected to Sergennt-ot Arms. commanding
him to take into custody the body Of said
Chester wherever found, and the same bring
to the bar of the House TO answer for con.
tempt OF its authority.
Mr.. Florence enquired where was the
authority for all this. q Hs sE 3,
Mr.. Jones, of Tenn, believing the House
had no such authority moved to 10y the reso.
luton on the table.
Mr.. Payne demanded the yeas and nays.
At the instance Of Mr.. Orr, the precipe
addressed by the Speaker to the Sergeant
at. Arms, ordered the latter to summon Ches.
ter II. Reed. The precipe was returned by
the Sergeant alarms with the endorse
ment that he had served the summons on the
p. M. Of the l4th inst. gl gi.s. a..l a5
Mr.. Orr was permitted 10 make q state
ment. He said the Committee had not act
ed in this matter without looking fully into
the authorities which they thought fully
sustained them in the application they
had made. A case occurred in 1917
or 1918 TO this effect, the party who then
failed to appear and give testimony was
brought before the House, and after trial
was reprimanded only by the Speaker of the
House. There were mitigating circum-
stances. After his discharge from custody
he Instituted an action against the Sergeant
alarms for false imprisonment. The case
was tried in the U. s. Circuit Court and de-
cided against the plaintiff, and on appeal to
the Supreme Court, that tribunal decided
that the House had the power to act as it had
done, and that it had properly exercised the
power. The Sergeant at Arms was pro.
tected and the complaint dismissed. The
witness in the present case was subpGnaed
but failed to appear. the House had not
the power to enforce the tendance Of wit
nesses the investigation was mockery, and
he should not continue member of the
committee; If it had not the power to enforce
recusants to testify facts within their know
ledge, the investigation must fall to the
ground.
| SENArE-The resolution was laid aside
for the special order, being the bill providing
for the settlement of the claims of the off.
GERS of the revolution. DIr. Toombs sald he
/ intended to make the bill as odou as pos
sible, and to that end he advocated various
amendments, including one to compensate
the revolutionary soldiers for the depreci.
alton in Continental money in which they
were paid. AS test question, he moved
the indefinite postponement of the consider.
alton of the bill, which was lost by vote SO
! to &c. .a. ri, - ... .,a..3+
! MIR. Pugh moved the postponement Of the
consideration Of the bill until the first Mon.
day in December next. Agreed to. Ayes
"a, nays 80.
The presiding officer laid before the SEN
ate q letter from the president of the joint
convention of the Pennsylvania Legisl stature,
giving Information, of the election of Mr..
Cameron as Senator.
Sixteen private bills were passed when
the Senate adjourned till Monday. ,,...s.
Mr.. Brown wished to make statement
relative to Mr.. Chester, but Mr.. Jones, of
Tenn, said they wanted to hear nothing
about him now. . .a - #-' - =
Mr.. Hurris, of Ill.-When the witness pur.
ges himself of the. contempt, will hear the
explanation then. (Cries of hear! hearD
Mr.. Brown-I was informed this night
that Mr.. Chester was sick, and unable to
be present before the Committee. | would
ask the committee whether they can pro-
duce evidence that Mr.. Chester refused to
appear
Mr.. Payne-That is of no consequence
to the matter before the House. i,4 ..fr
The House refused to lay the resolution
on the table, and then passed it nearly unani.
mously.
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