The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-02-05
House or Representatives %


EkIoENs n TIE GoyfRNsE>l FINANCES.
Tie SFriELR aJnounced that he had appointed Mcssrs
Poycc, cuiimar, Tfippe Garrett, Mott wor,erdyke
spinner a Select Committee 10 consider the navigation
laws OF the CRed St.cs the reduction Of the expend
Of the government the existing duties imports
aad The cxlcdeny OF gradual repeal Of all duties and
resort oSciusiyo.. Internal taxation, proposed b.
Mr. noyces resolution
PENSIONS roR NE SOLDIERS or 1872.
TIE House en took gp tho o' gssnine 70 The
officers OF the War Of 1872 but postponed The considera
ton Of II until the 2ltI or February.
TIE ss7t00 TaJiF observation-disclosures WILLIAMSON AT
The Sergeant TT Arms brought in J. d. williamson to
for hs failure appear and testify before the
larin 1--we fighting Committee, IN opeience t. summons
toe 1.,h 81 January
The SIqaNIa. popounded TO him the questions, 'what
he had thus acting and ~ neither he
DOW ready TO auswer such proper questions ~ shall be
put o. him by i.ie ccniin!lice!'
Nr. Wniain son submitted an answer In writing and,
under OATH saying that the why he did not obey
Sheriff New lOl, ma could noi leave ~ithout his con-
sent, ana Was so advised by his cunsei has always
bctn BIS opinion, aud stu IS, tht p,thet house OF Con
gross has any legal right authority 20 compel him
before committee ard dvulgt private transactions.
We've lac 70 divuge confidential Mat entrusted 10 him
II would destroy az Dusintss wnch lac conducted in
awful manner On ia aoyerb III, family The consu.
ton does az, prohibit nrya. affairs IRON being conaden
tai 10 an as. ~ wLo does not violate the laws
tho land. hr had iutcrdeL 10 test before
court the power Of this House 10 compel his at.
l,aqanoe 70 test,y cone1rlng his private
w.
force ana brought here ne always hoped TO show due
respect % tie icgai and Constituted auhoft'es
N rcpy 10 tho question, "whc,her be vas nov ready
70 such proper questions ut be put TO him :"
he seyb ho vii Oh proper questions, but not 70
affect his ia'cpry ,gr violate lii OATH OF ,acred promise
rot 10 reveal confidential CnnlOunicaiions."
Mr. sr,y1or. (orf) al ono, said be did not wish prcci
ptatc acton. tie socc committee had not ct had
quorum 81 csci6rg upon what course they would
pursue lie ed ila time he gwen have the Wit
ncs bro, gbt bcforc tN commit that they might dis
uncy pOrocnl tie oiCrrc7oTy ie order 70 aee # there
matter 9. confidence sought for hy the commit
tcc III Tie wiinCss rciusc 70 proper question
tc TACT " d. reverted 10 tic House Is viii afford
tsi' o. I,G these reasons se moved that tho fur
tecr confederation ca the subject be postponed iil to NOR
TO-.
Ms Mntsus. "a u) r. Va, said tha, the witness has
rot eycr sought tc pun himself o. contempt in refusing
80 obey tie salntrt 81 q The House.
Nr suggested that tl3 Of the witness
bc printed, That hc be committed o. tho custody OF the
ST. MitIsos replied ihsi Tic witness distinctly takes
question between the wncs- aud the committee.
nut between The aud TIC poser O. the House 20
compel the attendance ui persons for he prosecution Of
any investigation Tho House c1cd ihs 90 s dignity
lrrt settle quest bcfore tbe witness shall appear
before the committee to give testimony. The witness,
accofdng abe language Of bis reply stood IN Al stiude
Mr. srsSrov sad tia, II the witness shal refuse to an
TIT questions hot the HoUst could send him 10 the
Attorney fu the southern District OF New York, TO the
Attorney &C the District of Columbia for a criminal pro
so,utch aud the Houss wou, not tamper with him here
Nr Cox (adrn.) cf Ohio, offered a preamble and reso
Iutnr 10 ,s encctAs williamson las not We, purgcd
himself of contempt he shall be committed In the ciose
custody ofihe Sergeant at Arms until discharged by the
further orders o the House. Until be shall have purged
himself II the contempt
Mr. WRIGHT (adm Of Ca offered q preamble con
cudrg With the resolution that Williamson be committed
10 the common a and there detained until he shall have
answered ali legal questions proroubded to him.
hr DAVE (ogpl Of Md proposed that the speaker do
reprimsnd Mr. Williamson for contumacy, and that VIII
lams pay the the attachment and then appear
before the committee and answer such questions rs may
Mr. BvRRorcrs (opp Of n " said that the House had
before them question Of frauds and vsnies corrected
with the last Congress This vas not the rst tine men
lad claimed superiority to the law He recoected that
had appeared before courts Of law and get up plea
that they had taken obligations higher The laws Of
the land and the constitution. Such persons should be
put IN jail ard kept there Il charged that nearly
800 paid members TO procure their votes for
cs,coa.ed 20 srse aown .ns n'efe ,s o. c
man rom Ohio, (Mr. Stanton) the House WA asked 70
this stiffness home 70 New York to be tried for re-
fusing To answer question; bu. he (Mr Burrougbs)
Tor putting this in jail and keeping him there
until he tells The whole truth lie would keep him there
until bis nesh withercd on his bones, unless he
ans rored honestly They should compel the witness 10
answer, IN order to elicit facts. lie believed that
during The last ten vlanics had been committed in
by tho world for neglect OF duty did they no, investigate
the charges which had been made lie believed that the
future OF the government depends upon the In
tegr,y Of Congress Hc put b. the couscicncics and
hearts oi gc men 70 say whether they should let mon
como here 10 dcy INC power Of Congress Any theyng
shield himself from examination. He repeated, "send
this man 10 jail and keep him there 'u he tells The
Nv Urcuts. adm Of Ind, read section from the
laws OF Ccngrss the effect that person summoned
Witness by the authority OF ethsr house, who shall
rosc r, answer any question produce any papers be-
fore com n,tee shall, In addition 10 the pain and penal
ties crbed be icted for msdemeenor hi Wy United
states Court and on conviction fined not exceeding ~ 900
nor Ies than 800 and suffer imprisonment in Jail less
than ono nor mere than twelve mrths; when witness
shah fail 10 give testimony the fact shall be reported 70
the House, vhen i shall be fhe duty q The presiding on