Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-03-09
Fridau. Feb. 12.

Friday, Feb 12.
 The SPEAKER stated that the sergeant-at- arms had informed him that in obedience to the warrnt of the speaker he had arrested ohn w. Wolcott, and was now ready to produce him at the bar of the House. | Mr. STANTON, of Ohio, offered the follow. Ing resolution; which was adopted under oper- aton of the previous question:
 Reso'oed, That John w. Wolcott be now ar raIgned at the bar of the House. and that the | Speaker propound to him the following ipterro- gatories:
 lSt question. What excuse have you for re- | iuslng to answer the question propounded to you by the select committee of this House before whom you Were summoned to appear, as to whether he had received any sum of money from Lawrence, Stone & Co.,, some time in March, 1857?
 2d question. Are you now ready to answer that or other proper questions that may be pro- pounded to you by the committee?
 And that said John w. Wolcott be required to answer the same in writing and under oath.
 MT. Wolcott having appeared within the bar of the House in custody of the seargeant-at- arms, the Speaker propounded to him the above | questions.
 The witness in reply, assured the Speaker
  the answer which he had given to the questions proponnded by the committee and asked that further time until Monday be given him to purge himself of the contempt of which he stood charged under the advice of counsel | Mr. STANTON then moved that the re- quest of the witness be granted and that, in | the mean time, he be remande ed to the custody of the sergeant-at-arms.
 MT. JOHN COCHRANE, of New York, said they must be remarkable circumstances to authorize any gent eman to rise in his place and interpose an objection; but under wel-consider- ed reflections upon the circumstances which surrounded the case, he could not remain quiet without entering his protest. The witness ask ed for further time to answer, because his sem for counsel was engaged in professional pursuits before the supreme tribunal of the United States If he recollectcd alright, the witness stated yesterday, upon consultation and receiv- ing advice from two gentlemen learned in the profession of the law, that the question was not pertinent to the enquiry, or within the scope of the authority of the House. if then, the gentleman had taken that position, he asked what reason there was for granting any further delay for consultation with counsel.
 Mir. CLEMENS, of Virginia, concurred in the remarks of the gentleman from New York.
 
 ther he had received the S30,O00; he qualified his answer by stating that he had not received it for any such purpose as that stated by the committee That he did receive the money he "firmed by his answer because he acknow- ledeed that he had not received it for the pur- poses alleged bv the committee, either directly or indirectly Why should he have the bene- fit of counsel in order to chaffer about the phra seologv of his answer? If he stood before the House purged from all that might influence the legislation of the House. why could he not say SO plainly distinctly, and honestly? Why have time to deliberate upon a matter in which the truth alone is involved? The country and the committee hal right to know how he had disposed of that money--how he had account ed for it to Lawrence Stone X Co.
 Mr. CLARKE B. COCHRANE, of New York, thought there was nothing unreasonable in the request of the witness for the delay and hoped that it would be granted
 Mir. DAWES, of Massachusetts. also argued in favor of granting the time asked for, saying that if was an important question: and he want ed time to consider it.
 Mir. STANTON said that if he had known that the motion would have led to any discus sion he would have moved the previous ques- ton when he made it. The claim was reason able, as the witness set up a constitutional right to test the authority of the House, and he saw no reason why it should not be granted He therefore moved the previous question.
 The previous question was sustained and the motion agreed to.
 THE MARYLAND CoNTEsTED ELECTION.
 Mr. BOYCE, of South Carolina from the committee on elections presented majority report in the case of MT. Brooks. contesting the seat of Henry Winter Davis, the sitting mem- Der from the fourth congressional district of Maryland, accompanied by the following reso- iuton:
 Reso1ve}, That it is inexpedcnt to grant the prayer of the memorialist to appoint d commt- tee to take testimony
 MT. PHILLIPS of Pennsyvana, from the same committee, submitted minority report in the same case accompanied by the following resolution:
 Reso'ved, That the committee of elections have power to send for persons and papers, and to examine witnesses and evidence in the case of the contested election of Hon. H. Winter Davis, Tn the fourth congressional district of Maryland.
 The reports wer ordered to be printed and their further consideration postponed until Monday next.
 Mir. FLORENCE, of Pennsvlvania then
 
 adjourn to meet on Monday next
 MT. JONES, of Tennessee, called for the yeas and nays.
 The yeas and nays were ordered; and being taken, reSnlted-yeas l08, nays 87.
 50 the motion was agreed to.
 QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE
 Mir. HOARD, of New York. rose to a ques- ton of lrivilege Various rumors had been 1f q ..c with the legislation of the House. These rr1- moys had taken some shape in the correspond eace of newspapers to which he wished to call he attention of the House. If such interior euce had taken place, it was right and proper that the IonSe should vindcate it's dignity
 Mr. FLORENCE, of Pennsvlvania, obiec- ted to the gentlemans proceeding unless he stated his question of privilege
 Mir. HOARD stated that he was just about to do that, and sent up the following resolutions
 Reso'Ued, That q committee of five be ap- pointed I'v the Speaker to inquire and nvesti- gate whether any improper attempts have been made, CT are being made by any persons con- nected with the executive department of this government, or by any persons acting under their advice or consent to influence the action of this House. or any of its members. upon any questions or measures upon which the House has acted, or which 1t has under consideration directly or indirectly, or any improper promise, offer or ntimation employment, patronage of flee or favor under the government, or in any department or service, to be conferred or with held in consideration of any vote given or to be given, withheld or to be withhed with power to send for persons and papers, and with leave to report by bill or otherwise
 Mir. WARREN, of Arkansas, declared the tO hp insult to the House.
 MT. STEPHENS, of Georgia, did not un- derstand the resolution to be received.
 Mir. WARREN understood the gentleman from New York as proposing that resolution as amatter of privilege but it did not go far enough to make it such. If the gentleman would put his finger upon the party to whom the pro- position was made then it would be proposi- ton for which he would be willing to vote but