New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-02-12
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

a.
The SPEAKER announced the following as the
Committee under the resolution Of Mr.. Harris Ill.,, 70
which shal be referred the Kansas Message and Lee
compton Constitution, with Instructions:
mont LetcheI Of virginia Wsds Of Ohio, oaitm.n Of M:sp
penp:yyan. WssridFs Of Micsissn, Anderson aa..euf
81 sSd RS.: Of a'.a S"in''' Of
The following was announced as the Select Commit
tee TO examine into the facts connected with the sale
and purchase of tract Of land at Wilkinsons Point
ence Of Pa and Hall Of Mass.
The House resumed the consi ieratiou OF the Oil
amendstory of the act for the preservation OF the
lives Of passengers on board steamboats,.
Messrs. FLORENCE, pal and WHITLEY,
DELI opposed the bill, and Mr.. wASHBUREE,
tID) replied to their objections; The 9i was 'hen
committed 10 the Committee of the Whole go
Mr.. STANTON (Ohio), from the Select Commutee
TO investigate the charges Of bribery In connection
with the Tariff of 1856, reported that Mr. D. w. wol
colt was asked the question, Did you receive from
" Lawrence Stone Co.. some time in March last,
sum of securities money OF the amount OF 7oVV,
more or less ?" Mr.. WOlcot answered that ne did
not receive money or securities OF any a'.ah' T Wv.
nurp,se of influencing directly or indirectly. the &C.
lion or vote Of any member or 0fcer OF the present
or last Congress upon the Tariff or any other
measure considered by Congress, or before 1t, or
contemplated to be before it; nor did he ever pay,
or promise TO pay any money or pecuniary considers
ton TO any officer member OF any Congress tor his
vote or services in the passage Of or to influence his
action in relation to- the Tam or any other law; nor
did he ever give any money or securities to any per-
son. for the purpose of being paid to any officer or
member of Congress for his vote influence directly
or indirectly, upon any act under the consideration
Congress- nor had he any knowledge that any such
act thing done by any other person. He states
that he had been advised by his counsel that the
above is a full answer to everything which such
question may involve, and that to go further would
involve interference with his private affairs,
which the Committee have no right to do.
The Committee say that they have proof that $5S 900
of the $S 900 expended by Lawrence, Stone Co.,
was put into Wolcotts hands, and the Committee
deem it material to know whether he admits the re-
cept of such sum- and how il was expended. They
recommend the passage OF resolution that the
Speaker issue his warrant for the Sergeant farms to
arrest Wolcot and bring him before the bar of the
House to answer for contempt.
Mr.. STANTON (Ohio) remarked that the witness
peremptoriy refused to answer the question OF
''whether he had received money. or securities for
any purpose" This was an important interrogatory;
if proper cannot be obtained, the House had
better disband the Gem nittee.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD (Ky.) said that the House was
treading on delicate ground. They had better pass
by the matter till tomorrow, when, the question and
answer having been printed, they would know ex-
actly their character.
Mr.. PHILLIPS Penn said they should establish Q
rule by which all such cases should be governed The
witness had equ,vocated, when he should have re-
Mr.. SEWARD (Ga.) said if the witness was guilty
of perjury he liable to be indicted But ne
swOre unequivOcally that he never used money, d.
rectly or indirectly, to affect the legislation OF the
House. They could only proceed as far as court OF
Justice could and had right to pry into private a.
fairs. ,
Mr.. PURVIANCE pa said that they had the
right to know whether the witness received money,
and the names of the parties to whom he disbursed It,
with the view of ascertanng whether it was used Tor
corrupt purposes.
Mr. JOHN COCHRANE IN. w. remarked that it
WAS unwise for the House TO delay. The time had
arrived TO assert it's authority and bring the witness
before the bar to answer for contempt.
Mr.. SEWARD (Ga.) denied that the witness was m
contempt of the authority of the House at thus stage
The witness had right to say to the Committee that
he did not recognize its authority to PROFOUND ques
tons affecting his private affairs, and could appeal
to the House.
Mr.. BOWIE Md argued that the witness had
purged himself of the contempt, and that the House
had no further right to pursue the matter.
Mr.. MOORE (Ala.) said that unless the House sus
tanned tbs Cammtee, he for would ask TO be ex-
cused from longer service.
MIR. GOOCH Mass thought the House now I'm.
prepared to act question Of such Importance ana
that action should be delayed till Tomorrow. The
mere refusal to answer before the Committee did not
constitute contempt. That was question for the
House to determine. .,
Mr.. LOVEJOY Qll) said that the witness had
If he received $50 0OO it was no trouble
for him TO tell what he did with it.
The House passed the resolution reported from the
Committee and adjourned.