Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1857-01-17
TEE --LATEST NEWS
REORIVED IFH
MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH.
CONGRESSIONAL.
WAsnIN0ToN, Jan. 10th, l

WASHINOToN, Jan. l6thI 1850.
SENATE-The Senate took up the resolution
of Mr. Houston, calling upon the Secretary oil
the Navy, &c,
Mr. Mallory objected to its passage as being
needless exposure of transactions which have
gone beyond the control of the Navy Depart
menf or Senate.
Mr. Houston contended that these matters
ought to be brought to light, so that II the ac-
tive Navy board had resulted in good It could be
made manifest to the country, it to the contrary,
the case ought to be equally known.
The resolution was laid aside for the special
order being bill providing for the settlement
of the claims of the officers Of the revolution.
Mr.. Toombs said he intended to make the bill
as odious as possible, and to that end indicated
various amendments, including one to comPen'
safe revolutionary soldiers for the depreciation
in continental money, in which they were paid.
Asa test question, he moved the indefinite post
ponement of the bill. LOst-22 against 20.
On motion of Mr.. Pugh the consideration OF
the BID was postponed until the first Monday oil
Dec. next-yeas "a, nays %.
The President of the Senate laid before that
body letter from the President of the joint
convention of the Pennsylvania Legislature CIV
ing information of the election of Cameron.
Sixteen private bills passed. Adjourned till
Monday.
HoUsE-The House proceeded to the consi-
Iteration of the bills on the private Calendar.
The House passed thirteen private bills.
Mr.. Kelsey, rising TO question of privilege,
offered preamble, setting forth that Joseph l..
Chester had been fully summoned before the
corruption investigation committee, and neglec-
ted to appear, and concluding with the resolution
that the Speaker issue his warrant, directed to
the Sergeant-at-Arms, Summoning him to take
into custody the body of Chester, wherever
found, and the same forthwith bring to the bar
of the House, to answer for contempt Of court
authority.
Mr. Florence enquircd where was the authori-
ty for all this?
Mr.. Jones Cof Temp believing the House had
no such power, moved to lay the resolution on
the table,
Mr.. Paine demanded yeas and nays.
Mr.. McAIulen regarded this as n very impor-
tant question, that time should be afforded to
look into it.
negative.
At the instance of SIr. Orr, the precept ad-
dressed by the Speaker of the House, to the
Sergeant-at-Arms, commanding the Inter to
summon Chester, was read, and the precept was
returned with the endorsement by Sergeant-at-
Arms, that he had served the summons ON the
l4th inst.
Mr.. Orr was permitted to make n statement.
He said this committee had not acted in this
matter without looking fully into authority
which they thought fully sustained them i'll the
application they had made. a case Occurre In
1910 Or 1918 10 JnlS cHecL:-
A party applied to Lewis Williams, a member
of this House; and proposed to pay him u pc
cuniaTy consideration to make favorable re-
port on certain bill. Mr. Williams brought
the fact to the attention of the House, which
ordered the arrest OF the party, in the language
of the resolution now before the House, which
the present committee copied from the proceed
ings in that case. The party was brought be-
fore the House and after trial, reprimanded
only by the speaker, because they were mitiga-
ting circumstances. After his discharge from
custody he instituted an action against the
Sergeant Mt arms for false imprisonment The
case was tried in the United States Circuit Court
and decided against the plaintiff, and on an APP
peal to the Supreme Court, that tribunal deci
ded that the House had power and it was prop
erly exercised. The Sergeant Mt arms was pro-
tected aud the complaint dismissed. Witness
in the present case was subpenaed but failed to
appear. If the House has not power to enforce
the attendance OF witness, the investigation was
mockery. He (Mr. ORR should not continue a
membe of the committee if it has not power to
enforce recusants to testify of the facts within
their knowledge. Tho investigation would fall
to the ground.
Mr.. Broome wished to make statement rela-
tive to Chester, but Mr.. Jones Crenn.) said they
wanted to hear nothing about him now.
Mr.. Harris en- )-When he purges himself of
the contempt, l will hear the explanation.
[Cries of hear, hear
Mr. Broome-T was informed this morning
that Chester is sick and was unable to be pres
ent before the committee.
The resolution passed unanimously. Adj
journed.