New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-02-12
Thirty-FTf.h Co.. FIr.t se..Ion. !.

I W AsHTSGT0N. Feb. a. ls5S.S Senafe.-The Vice
/ President laid before the Senate a communication
from the Secretary Of War in compliance with a re-
solution Of the Senate Of the 2sth ult calling the
amount OF expenditures for the support Of the Mill.
tsry Academy at West Point for the past year. in
elnding the compensation Of the cadets ans all the
officers connected therewith which was laid On the
table and ordered to bO printed
\ Also another report from the Secretary ~ War
communicating statement Of the expenses q rhe
arnories, and the number Of arms and sppendages.
made and altered thereat during the year enfinc.
June 80, 1851; which was read, laid on The table,
and ordered TO be printed. sET
Mr.. Jones presented Joint resolutions Of the Iaois
atme OF Iowa instructing the Senator's and request
ing the Representatives from that State in Congress
to oppose the admission Of Kansas into the Union
under the Lec0mpton Consultation, for the reason
that that instrument had not been submitted TO a fair
and honest vote Of the people Of the Territory and
also requesting their Senator's 10 resign il they can
not obey the foregoing instruetions The joint
Iuti0ns having been read,
Mr.. Jones said that he presented them az a matter
OF respect to bis State, and not because he had the
most remote idea Of otieying the Instruction.. He
believed the people OF Kansas had had ample oppor-
tunities Of expressing their views at the balIot5ox
and If they refused to do It was the own fault
His own mind was made up to vote for the admission
of Kansas under the Lecompton Constitution, unless
some stronger arguments could be made against it
than any which he had yet heard
Mr.. Pngh presented the petition OF the directors
and faculty Of the Farmers, College, Ohio, praying a
grant OF land 10 the several States and Territories in
aid Of the establishment Of agricultural colleges;
which was referred TO the Committee on Public Lands
| Mr. Crittenden, from the select committee TO whom
was referred the bill Y provide for the ascertainment
and satisfaction Of Claims Of American citizens for
spoations committed by the French prior to the 3st
OF July, 1901, reported it back without amendment
and recommended its passage Mr.. G. at the time
submitted an elaborate report on the subject, which
was ordered to be printed and on his nn.. the bill
was made the special order for Thursday, February
| Is, at one o'clock.
On motion by Mr.. Mason, resolution was adopted
linafFucfinO the COmu1ittrea nm paIat
inquire whether It is in the contemplation Of the Gov
eminent of Turkey to send to this country officer
of rank m their navy, with view TO obtain infosma-
ton concerning American improvements in naval
chitecture and equipment, and to superintend the
| construction Of one or more vesseIsofwar for the
Turkish navy at the shpyards Of this country and
II So to inquire whether any and what steps should
be taken BY this Government to manifest its good
will towards the Government Of Turkey, by giving to
such officer an appropriate reception, and otherwise
to favor the objects Of his mission. 81
On motion by Mr.. Stuart, a resolution was adopted
instructing the COMMITTEES on Printing to INQUIRE and
report to the Senate what has been paid an
nnally, during the last five years, to each OF the
printing establishments Of the City Of Washington for
printing and advertising Of any kind for the United
States, other than that ordered by either house OF
Congress whether done by the direction of any de-
partment or civil or military officer thereof and
whether the has been paid under the provisions
Of any existing laws and, also, TO inquire whether
any amendments in existing laws necessary in
der to secure some proper economy in the expenses
Of the those objects and to report by
On motion by Mr. SlideIl, resolution was adopted
instructing the Committee on Commerce to INQUIRE
into the expediency OF defining more precisely by law
whether the value Of merchandise imported into the
United States shall be fixed at the date OF shipment
at departure from foreign ports for the purpose OF
estimating the duties thereon.
On motion BY Mr.. Green, a resolution was adopted
requesting the Secretary Of the Navy to communicate
to the Senate the number and tonnage Of the govern
ment vessels employed in the Pacific ocean, (as well
government vessels proper as private vessels employ
ed by government) in transporting coal and other
supplies for the United States aud the annual ex-
pense thereof, with specification in detail.
The Presidents message upon the question of the
admission of Kansas, was then taken up, and the
debate thereon lasted until the hour Of adjournment.
House-The Speaker announced the select COM
mttee authorized, by the resolution Of Mr. Boyce to
inquire into the expedency OF adopting free trade
and direct taxation, to be composed of Messrs Boyce
of South Carolina, Quitman Of Mississippi, Tppe of
Georgia, Garnett of Virginia, Mott of Ohio Worten-
dyke of New jersey, and Spinner of New York.
Mr.. Stanton, of Ohio, called the attention Of the
House to the fact that they had yesterday extended
to the witness brought before the House charged with
contempt until O'Clock to-day to answer the ques-
tions propounded to him. The hour had arrived and
, the Sergeantat-Arms had informed him that the
witness was ready to comply with the order of the
House.
The witness was then brought within the bar Of
the House, in the custody of the Sergeant-at-Ams.
The Speaker stated that he was instructed BY the
House to PROFOUND to the witness the following ques
tions "What excuse have you for not appearing
and testifying before the select committee of this
House, IN pursuance OF the summons served on you
on the 27th ultE' "Are you now ready to appear
before said committee and answer such proper ques-
tions as shall be put to you by the committee ~
The answer of the witness, under oath and in wri.
ting, was read. In answer to the following oues-
tion--l. "What excuse have you for not appearing
and testfying before the select committee of this
House, in pursuance Of the summons served on you
on the 9th ult2H-the witness replied that he was
| Iupdar he aufh nf GhorfH af aftx 4
county Of New York not to leave the city without
his consent, aud so advised by him and his
sci, with whom he consulted on the subject also
that il always was his opinion and was still that
neither the House Of Representatives nor the Senate
Of the United States had any legal power 10 compel
him to come before them or their committee to di-
vuge the private transactions Of his business and
which, If divulged, would destroy all the business Of
/, his Office, as person would employ person who
should disclose his most confidential and private af
fairs II he had not been taken from his bed by
force it his intention to have Thoroughly tested
the question at issue before the courts in the city Of
New York, without meaning any disrespect to the
honorable body. rffs A-.-
In answer to the following question:. aAre you
now ready TO appear before said committee, and
answer such proper questions shall be put to you
by said committee lh-the witness replied that he
was all proper questions which should not affect his
integrity or violate his oath or scored promise
heretofore given not to divulge the same.
After warm debate upon the subject and numer
propositions in different forms TO punish the
tumacy and impertnence of the witness, the latter
sgnihed his willingness to answer any and all cues
tons. Mr.. Stanton then offered the following resolu
ton:
Resolved, That the answers of J. d. Williamson tc
the interrogatories submitted to him under the order
of the House be printed, and that said Williamson b
l remanded to the custody Of the Sergeantat- Arms
aud that its further consideration be postponed unit
T one O'Clock to morrow.
] Mr. Stephens, of Georgia, moved to amend the res
! olution by adding the following
Resolred That j. d. Williamson have leave, by hi:
own request, TO withdraw his answer and submit
amended answer, such amended answer to be submit
ted tomorrow at one O'Clock, p. NJ and, in the NEAR
time, said Williamson remain in the custody Of the
! SergeantatATms.
! The previous question seconded, the amend
I ment agreed to, and the resolution amended
adopted. The House soon after adjourned.
An Unfounded Report.
I In the Washington Union of the 5th inst, we find