New-York daily tribune., 1858-02-05
seE from examination. He repeated, as Send this man
"to Ill ard keep him there till he tells the truth"

aeE from examination. He repeated "Send this nan
"to Ill ard Eeer him there till he tells the truth"
Mr. HUGHES (Ind read section from the laws
If Congress- TO the effect thst any person eumnonet
as witness by tho authority Of e her House who
shall refuse to answer aty question or produce aby
papers before Cunmilte- slali IN addition TO the
paus aDd peud ties presc ibed be Indicted for mi 4ie-
ineenor ID any United States Court and on conviction
fined not exceeding 81 900 less than Sl00 and suf-
fer imp1.oUmeJti 10 jail rot less than one no. IN IRE
than twelS months. When witness sLa fail to give
ties mony the i0c' shall be ported 10 the House when
ii shall bo the duty Of the preceding officer certify
the same to the Ato'uey for she District of Columbus
whose duty sba be to bring the matter before the
Grand Jury tor their action. He cOuteUded that the
witness in tns case has brought himself within the
letttr and spirit OF this law which passed by the
last Congress. Az the power Of the House nper-
feet and as on attempt 10 exercise would give rise
= great deal Of embarrassment and bstruct public
business, and the law covers the case the House
ought to content itself with allowing further time
to the witLess, who, # he Continues contumacious,
Gun be dealt with by tic House the law directs.
Mr.. STEPHENS (Ga.) concurred in the remarks
just submitted. The better way would be to send tho
tncss before the Committee and there lot the ques-
tOn be propou,ded. There ought to be no questions
asked but legal Or proper ones, which mean the same
thing
Mr. STANTON (Olio) said the House were sitting
judge ard should set rash precedent nor e4tao
lish any rule prcjudsial to the rights OF witnesses
hereafter 10 be brought before them. "
Mr.. WRIGHT Ca said that he had offered hi7
resolution from the conviction that il was absolutely
Necessary for y House to protect its honor ms
gentleman (Wilamton presented himself ia tne aI.l'
tude of contumacy He here to qui )ble to tue
House in its face and in defiance OF It's authodty 70
command the respect of all the citizens OF the kepuo
lie. The witness came here to deny the right oi Tue
House 10 take him at all and told that he intends to
bnye the question Investigated by the tribunals OF the
country. Let him take the responrioi u ne refuses
obedience to its maodate. When the House has
punished him for cOnumaoy, then let hun try the law,
anc see whether II action o. the House If legal or
not Ii Involves the bOnd of the House and the IN
teglity OF the nation Ii had been alleged IN THIS
ten ple dedicated TO law and justice that Infamous
frauds had been practioed in controlling Congressional
legisai aiiOn--that the votes Ot members had been
bought ard sold in the market, and COnmittee had
leen appointed TO ascertain the truth which will never
be LDowu unless the House commands respect to the
preceI is which Issues. He sGtishcd before the
subpen'. was served that they should have trouble
with this witness.
Mr.. JOHN COCHRANE IN. Y. announced, by au-
thority Of the wtness that he now willing to an
swer all questions, and that he had something to cay
direct and pertinent from him. II had been said that
t bnI Ia great ana M O outrage pus
citizen Of the United States. The simple question
was whether this witness was contumaclous QUE
refusing to auswer interrogatory But what ques-
tion had been prOp0uuded to him by the COMMITTEE
If any let be rcse from the Clerks tesk. Action is
taken, not TO punish fraud but to punish witness be-
fore they have given him an opportunity TO answer
What spectacle was this for the people to look upon
While pur suing the alleged Frauds thcy would plant
Their foot the neck of innocent and unoiending
witness. In conclusion he said that he was author
lied by Mr. Williamson to inform the House that he
was now ready to answer in writing, as the Committee
might direct and he asked to withdraw the paper
prese ned in the early part of the proceedings.
Mr.. WRIGHT tGa said that no man was less dis.
| posed to punish the innocent than he was; he had
off red hi resolution TO punch for contumacy.
1t was finally agreed that Mr.. Williamson should
have leave to wi. hdraw bis answer to the summons,
and submit an amended tomorrow, and that,
meantime lie be remanded to the custody of the Ser
geant-at-ArDs
Mr.. GEORGE TAYLOR On. " presented petit
kop ON the freedom Of the public lands signed by the
Mayor of Brooklyn aud thousand Others. Referred
TO the Committee on Public Lands.
The remainder Of the day was spent in considering
the rcport of the Committee on Election, against al
lowing Mr.. Campbell further time to take testimony
in the Ohio contested election case.
Without taking the question, the House adjourned.