Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-01-22
WASHING TON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

averrei that be was competent 10 give testi-
moDy, the snd point being Immediately and
directly german to the subject matter the
Committee Of Investigation was raised TO dis.
pose Of-yiz Whether there are or ara no.
members who receive brides for their votes
involved The case in almost inextrcaGie d.
lemuas- They left it on adjsurning in con
dition wherein the task OF enabling the public
at large to comprehend it justly, is we'll nigh
hopeless.
1t is our duty to the STAR distant readers,
however, to attempt TO enable them to compre-
herd the real facts involved in tie case. So
We have to explain it, as follows Viz: A
witness swears in answer to an interrogatory
Of the Committee that two members Of the
House, asking his confidence, disclosed to him
their willingness to receive brides lpay from
parties interested) for their votes. He was
then asked to name those members which he
declined to do, on the ground that to do so
would be breach of their confidence in him.
such is the gist of the case divested Of al,
other pleas on which his refusal was rlIeged
to have been based, which have really 10
bearing on the affair, if but for the fact that
he, IN his answer, selected such for his own
ground for the refusal
Ihs House, at the request Of the Committee.
caused him to be arrested and brought to their
bar, and cfered him an opportunity to purge
himself q ;he contempt OF their authority
involved in his refusal to answer as above ey
planet. He was offered the privilege Of
purging himself orally or through counsel !;
and selecting the former, delivered a speech
OF an hours length, the point of which was.
1t appears to us, u arTaign the House before
the country for being corrupt body, rather
than to purge himself Of the cont.mpt. That.
he refused in the course Of his remarks TO 40
again claiming that his moral convictions
secured for him an immunity from being forced
70 disclose the names Of the members who had
applied to him TO procure persons t. bride
them.
When he had concluded the reading Of his
lecture upon the want Of character on the mar.
Of the House, which occupied about an hour of
their time, Il was moved TO commit him 70 the
JAIL & this county, there 10 be held in CUSTODY
until the teTmin nation Of this Congress, unless
was voted down Another proposition was
ensred, TO TIE effect that the House should
not longer lower its character and dignity BY
continuing to trouble itself with him or his
Affairs AID that he be, therefore, forthwith
discharged from custody and deprived of the
sat trepoT:er's' in the hall that be has oceu.
pied up to this time. That also failed and
har -.
be kept In close custody By the Sergeant at
Arms, prevailed Questions Of The iurisdie
ton and extent CT the authority of the House
IN such case were raisei and argued into
confusion worse conloundei. Up to their sd
3ournment for the day their discussion had
merely served t. complieate what appears to
rs to have been originally 4 comparatively
simple case.
We know Of 10 rule in law which exsmpts
An ordinary witness from answering such n
question as the one refused to be answered. !,
thls case, after Proclamation that he ,,he wit.
ness) Is competent 70 enswer it, IF any su.b
rule OF practice existed in courts of law there
would be an end Of all their autboriiv On s.r
as Witnesses a:e concerned. The witness hay
ing declared his competency to convict two
members SO far as his testimony will 90 70
that end, We 10 not sc Low the House car. in
the discharge Of duty to themselves, refrain
from the exercise o: al their authority :.
cure the punishment Of the guilty - -
that the innocent may not suffe5.
elaiiy a. 10 la" respects tie r,oraI convic,irr,
ct a witness SO situated, o rscosni,ss ,ha ohI;-
CATION t. resi- ect tie -. eIa1,.sI ..I..Y
-.Ing 10 lie bribed But this
: affecting the honor Of the House,
:. N Il due to them 20 refrain, as far as
rNsaiSie, from mixing suggestions with refer
ehce 10 eur province, in its present condi-
tiOn, Icing simply to inform the Stars readers
concerning AL the facts involved in the affair.
The PIesidsnt Elect We hear. on autbor.
ity IN which We place confidence, that Mr. Bu-
ehanan Is u arrive in this city on Monday
next. Of course the approach Ct that dav
will create great hGt:c. in the Deuo,r.t;.
political ranks here; for that Larty evs,.
where knoTs 10" - Ronor 4 gentleman who
has teen called CD. as he has been to become
the standard bearer Ct its PRINCIPLES Besides
the ordinary GtI-OIstratiCIs Which will be
made by those who calculate hcw much rar.
tieiPatiOn in making a great t. DO" over
hin may eventually lie worth t. themselves,
he will receive cordial welcome fros, all his
political lI.ends now in Washington, for there
are LoEe here who do not wish his aduiEis,rs-
Goh well Es Is the representative Of the
great Democratic party CT tie whole eountry-
tAe s1Ardiah ii The principles which its mern-
Ssi' h'ii II common. They know that the
80 @seshleLey oi tnOse principles in the
o'sihH4eL' depends On the success Of biz adj.
aih's'f4''9n. which, in turn, Gepends on the
am 'fefat:on IF all wings Of
t,l -''I,,'' II '1e party i'll its support Never
Hei'ie did Democrats Party pr..,..