The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-02-17

WASHINGTON, Feb. /

Lawrence, Stone & Co., some time in
March a sum of securities or money Of
the amount of 5000, moro or less p
Mr.. Woieott answered that he did not
receive money OF securities of any amt,
for tho purpose of influencing, directly
or Indirectly, the action or vote of any
member or officer of the present or last
Congress, upon the tariff or apv other
measure considered by Congress, CIR be.
fore it, or contemplated to be before. it,
nor did he ever pay or promise to paw
any money or pecuniary consideration to
any officer or member of any Congress.
for his vote or services in the passage. or
to influence his action in relation to the
tariff, or any other laws, nor did he ever
give any money or securities to any person
for the purpose of being paid to any Of
icer or member of Congress, for his vote
or influence, directly or Indirectly, upon
any act under the consideration of Con.
gress, nor bad he any knowledge that any
such act or thing was lone by any other
pc son. He states thnt he had been ad.
vised by his counsel that tho above is a
full answer to everything that such ques-
tion may involve, and that to go further
would be interfering with his private af-
fairs, which the committee had no right
to do. The committee say that $4,000
OF the SS7 600 expended by Lawrence.
Stone & Co., was put into Mr.. Wolcott's
hands, andthe committee daem it material
to know whether he admits the receipt of
such sum, and how it was expended.-
They recommend the passage of a resolu-
ton that the Speaker issue his warrant.
and the Sergeant at Arms arrest Wolcott,
and bring him before the House to answer
for contempt.
Mr.. Stanton remarked that the witness
perenpiorily refused to answer the ques-
ton whether he had received money or
securities for any purpose. This was an
important interrogation; if proper an
swer cannot be obtained, the House had
better disband the committee.
Mr.. Underwood said tie House was
treading on delicate ground, they had bet
ter pass by the matter till tomorrow,
when the question aud answer would be
printed and they would know exactly
thoir character.
Mr.. Phillips said they should establish
such a rule which all such eases should
be governed by The witness had euuiyo-
Gated when be should have responded.
Mr.. Seward said if the witness was
RulibJ "a PcIJuIY, UC was IidOI6 10 DC u
dictated, but he swore unequivocally that
he never used money, either directly CT
indirectly, to effect the legislation of the
House. They could only proceed as far
as a Court of Justice could, and had no
right to pry into private affairs.
Mr. Pdryiance sal / that they had the
right to know whether the witness ~reeeiv-
ed money, and the names of the parties to
whom he disbursed it. with a view to as
certain whether it was used for corrupt
purposes
Mr.. John Gochraugs remarked that it
was unwiso for the House to delay. The
time had arrived to assert lis authority,
aud to bring the witness before the bar
for ontempt
MI seward denied that the witness
was ia contempt of the authority of the
Heuse. AT this stage tho witness had a
right to say to the Committee he did not
recognize its authority to PROFOUND ques-
tions affecting his private affairs, and
could appeal to the House.
Mr.. Bowie argued that the witness had
parged himself of the contempt, and that
the House had no further right to pursue
the matter.
Mr. Moore said unless the House sus
tanned the Committee, he would ask to be
excused from longer service
Mr.. Gooch thought the House was now
unprepared to act on a matter of such
importance, aud that action should be de-
layed until to morrow. The mere refusal
to answer before tho Committee did not
constitute contempt. That was = question
for the House to determine.
Mr. Lovejoy said the witness had
equivoeated. IF he received $4,000, it
was no trouble to tell what be did with
it.
The House passed the resolution re-
ported from the Committee, and adjourn
ed.
Mr.. Davis continued his speech on the
Army bill.
Mr.. Houston spoke at some length, e1-
patiating Oh the wrongs of the Indians,
and tho inhumanity practiced against
them. He Thought a thousand mounted
volunteers sufficient protection for the
Texan frontier.
Mr.. Toombs preferred volunteers, and
styled the regular army q despotism. He
cautioned Senators to heware OF 1t.
Mr.. Davis unprecedented no danger to
liberty from the small number of the
army.
air. Wilson thought the President
ought to be authorized to receive the scr
vico of 5000 volunteers for Utah. He
believed the army4hig enough.
A motion to strike out first section,
which proposed to add two companies to
each section, was lost-25 agaiDst 30
The same section was subsequently, amen
ded by limiting the increase to two years.
Mr.. Hale said he had as soon vote for
an increase for all time as for two years,
for that would be the ultimate result.
Without taking the question on tho
bill, the Senate adjourned till Monday.
WASHINGTON. Feb. IL.