The Washington union., 1858-02-12

kius cka Howard Kellogg Kelsey Kigore Knapp, Knkel of
Morris l Pennsy ana Of Illinois Morse Of New York,
Petit roer prvance Richie Robbins oesr Royce Scott shaw
Illinois Sherman OF New York Stewart Penn
ylvana Tapan Thayer, Underwood Wade Waoree wairon
washbane Of Wisconsin, w~hburne Of hno "ashourn Of Maine
Mr. STANTON, of Ohio, from the select committee
appointed investigate the alleged expenditure OF money
by Lawrence Stone Co TO influence the legislation o
Congress submitted the following report
Tho .cec, committee appointed the charges against
the members the last Congress- growing out Of the dis
person report TINT the s, day o. February, sss
John waco Of B-ion IN th State Of massachusetts, was called
amongst matters not material TO The matter which the commit
desire to bring to the attention OF the House testified as o
Had you any placed IN hands belonging
any in Massachusetts for the purpose Of nnu
encing OF Congress the passage OF the afaf
YOU ever authorized by any mako any
promises the even, Of the Of that ac
ouesond you after the last session Congress
the manalaeurers either IN Boston or elsewhere any
used in tha. wayf
April from Mr. Stone negotiable securos mo
Answer-Neyer any such purpose that either d
recy indirectly
estonDd you in tho carly Of March
considerable sum Of securities for any purpose
for any parpas ennSsd ecu @ with The l sGes
their action, or 70 be paid paid 70 ea their ~, agents
Answer-Nor for benefit either directly indirectly,
Satisfaction of previous arrangements prom
satisfaction arrangements promises
o s, you % ,tiIs ns auouS, o s sso 600 o e
@ for any Ir pnGpos % "no Of nne thu, sort,
matter Of strictly business
did not for the purpose Of influencing members Congress or Their
Whereupon consult counsel regard
obligation the question last popounded to HIM which
the appeared before said
submitted the following his answer to said qaes
and erempo refused make any other or further answer
Question you receive from Lawrence Stone
March last OF securities money Of the amount
Aswe-I March last any other time, receive
Stone Co any money or securities oil any amount
purpose influencing TO be used in influencing directly or
indirectly the action vote Of any member or officer OF the present
tho last Congress upon The Ar or amy other ae or measure con
ered by Congress- or before H. or contemplated to be before H.
Nor did promise TO pay directly or indirectly any
the Of or TO influence s
relation e ,nri other law Nor did ever give
for tho OF bong paid
y or ny upon any act under the consideration Of Congress
knowledge that such act or thing was done by
am advised by my counsel Reverdy johnson and james
Keith opinion have obtained SINCE the present question
propounded that the aboye answer Is ul answer to
everything question involve, falling under the u
of representatives touching the inquiry which
sle; and acting under the same legal aaVe mos
, in ts present form not Of seh peFtne
70 70 institute H. aIns % mar i, @ answer ac question as this except
coming quarter influence directly indirectly the action
money! to % AMY AMY ONE for such pur and knowledge
any money used Tor that purpose or any other Illegal purpose
regarding Congress of its oncers respectfully submit ta
gives to the House the right TO inquire into my
n 70 The alleged influencing Congress
in duty much beyond the Jurisdiction the House.
to the private social relations any other
citizen without such charge or implication OF eopon 9. attempt
:" '0'' 'Op' s''t' y 10y J. ". woICorr
wAsHISoros d. C., Fob. II, 1858
Your committee having heretofore had evidence that the firm
lawrence stone had early March 1887 paid the said
John $5s 900 payments OF s33 900
which constituted the
ss7 appeared from the books OF Lawrence stone Co.
a7 = very material and important the
them know from MIR woo, whether he admits
e recep and If how IL expended that
and tho country may Judge whether was designed to in
committee therefore, recommend the adoption Of tho follow
ing resolution , m .,.or he and he hereby autboz and 70
ulea % snS h II, % as, the sd John " woo whsresoever he
may be found his body the bar Of the House forthwith
contempt in refusing to answer proper and competent
prOpoanded To him by select committee Of this House In pur
authority conferred By the House said committee
Mr. STANTON said SO far as the investigation had
proceeded appeared that $5S 900 Of the SS7 900 had
gone into the hands of Mr. Wolcott Upon inquiry as
to whether he had received that money not the wit
ness had refused to give proper answer He believed
il Indispensable for the House to know whether not
the House was influenced by the expenditure of this
money. They had right to know how tins disbnrse-
nent had been made. That the sole inquiry, and
the simple question was for the House to determine
whether they had right to demand an answer to the
question II he received it, to whom and for what pur-
il paid ii thcy nau not inc power W CoihPel
witness to answer this question: they had better be dis
banded at once They asked the House to confer this
power upon hem that they might perform their duty
Mr. UNDERWOOD, of Kentucky hoped that the ques-
ton might be passed informally to-day to come up
when they would be better prepared to
slider it.
Mr. PHILLIPS, of Pennsy ylyania, thought it was time
for the House to establish rule by which they should
be governed they must abandon the investigation 1t
was time now that they should have power to compel
refractory witness to disclose testimony The question
which had been propounded to the witness eminenty
proper and he would ask If any gentleman. whether
LAWYER or not would stand up and allow witness to
substitute his own judgment for that of the committee
II was the duty of the House TO clohe the committee
with all the powers of the House to compel him to
swer the questions categorically
Mr. PURVIANCE, of Pennsy lvania, said the witness
had obstnaely refused to answer and 1t would be idle
to ask second question 1t appeared that $50, 900 was
paid to this man. and he refused to testify as to the
ner in which he had disbursed it. The House had a
right to know whether he had disbursed it, and the
names of the parties who had received it.
Mr. MAYNARD, of Tennessee asked, but did not re-
ceve consent to submit motion that the report of the
committee be printed and its further consideration be
postponed until some honr tomorrow.
Mr. REAGAN, of Texas said the presented no
legal question of privilege to the witness from
swering the questions propounded to him by the
mittee The witness had not even answered the ques
ton propounded by the committee but had replied TO
series questions propounded to him by the
mtee If he desired to rely upon the ground that his
answer might criminae himself let him make that point
Mr. JOHN CoCHRANE, of New York. thought the
issue had been fairly decided by the witness He had
rendered his under advice of counsel and declined
to answer simple, direct question. II for the
House to determine whether, under these circumstances