The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-01-16

action OF the committee il would put the guilty parties
if there should be any the qui ee TO meet the pro
ceednSs Ii Indispensable that the proceedings OF the
original committee should be kept secret They ought 20
have the privilege of going into their and locking
their doors and preventing the world from knowing who
implicated He wn perfectly aware that tneie was
precedent for this Of proceedng but ne was
also that there was no precedent against exoop
the investigating committee before tho last Congress
There had been no investigation before the American
| Congress predicated upon general cnarge wHhou.
naming the person 10 be affected by tho charge, and
in that consisted the difference between bis mode and
the other one. He contended that the testimony
should be taken before the whole House, or else In
the presence Of the party implicated by IT, 1t WA.
said at the last Congress that the parties we're lied
in the House; but what lawyer OF man Of intsil
genoe there who did not know that ~ essential Art
of trial was the evidence and how could f Be said that
man tried before them when no Witnesses had
been examined M 4s v n s...ssss.t. - -. st q.
Mr., BENNETT, Of New York, inquired Of Mr. srAsIos
whether the House had tho power 70 try member o. the
mir. STANTON aid he took it for granted that that
would be tested after pcsou should be found 70 be I'm
caed The question not clear the other way ns
to Justify the House in refusing the Investigation. Ho
had no desire to occupy the House longer 4, s
Mr. BURI.lNGAME, of Massachusetts,, said nsnnpoh
the firm whose transactions were to bc inquired INTO
under the resolution had it, chief establishment IN tho
city which he in part represented, few words might not
be deemed inappropriate As general rule, hA would
be against taking cognnce Of any transaction which dd
not occur in the presence Of the House the Senate
He would not have them take Jurisdiction Of matters
which might properly be taken charge OF and inv
gated by other tribunals but In this case he would de-
Part from that general rule 20 many charges q grave
House would consult Its own dignity, well W honor.
by adopting the resolution He hoped that the matter
would be probed to tho bottom but he would hero take
occasion to say that he did not believe that the bd OF
any member of the House was stained by the mony OF
Lawrence Stone, Co. He did not say this to deepcn
the cloud already rested upon that house but what
ever the motive had bccn he would not shield him or
,,,r he clO of
upon his name attempt to shield any member OF tho
House He hoped the investigation would be made but
in such manner that no bounty would be paid 20 In
formers Naes
AIR DAVIS of Maryland, said the resolution should
have his vote He reviewed the passage Of the tariff bill
show that neither the bill reported from tho Commit
tee of Ways and Means the substitute offered BY Mr.
LErcHER Of Virginia had been passed but bill perfect
ed in the House. and amended in the Senate, and passed
in the last hours Of the session, without the opportunity
Of deliberate discussion as it came from the loant com
mtec OF conference He reviewed the action Of the IN
vesieang committee of the last session and cohtcndcd
TINT the pursued then the best and the House
should be grateful for the plain results gained then
brought the guilty to punishment and mado them resign
their seats in the nce of the investigation The gentle
plan Of proceeding was not calculated to protect
the characters of members better than that OF last yes
sion but left them open to thousand suspicious The
only course was that the evidence should be taken and
submitted to the person Implicated who should have the
right to combat it.
| Mr. STANTON said the gentleman had misapmchend
ed lis resolution He proposed to modify it SO that the
committee should report the facts He proposed that no
testimony taken by the first committee should be used
against the party upon trial .ee9l.
Mr. DAVIS replied that the gentleman by that course
had made his scheme double process The proceedings
OF the last committee would indicate the evidence and
submit it to the party before the world knew OF
IT. If it did not then the charge would go before the
world before the facts and evidence upon which was
based The gentleman said the evidence should not
be used because not taken in the presence OF the party
The evidence taken before the committee last Congress
Of I'M
Mr.. KUNKEI, of Pennsylvania, said he was anxious
to have the investigation If there were charges but
those made by the newspapers he would stu 10 for the
nyestigaton He knew nothing about Lawrence, Stone
Co.. but he knew that these merchant princes shook
hands with the frectrade In the last Congress TO
cr, the industrial interests in his State. Gentlemen
told them of the high character Of this company Wcro
men to be eulogized in an American Congress whoss
books showed expenditure of 600 to control the
| industry Of the country
| man from Pennsylvania had misapprchended what ne
had said He had not for moment attempted to shield
the name of the senior member Of the firm. .ve VA
Mr.. KUNKEL replied that he had understood the gen
tIean to say just what hc had said that he would
not deepen the cloud that rested that house But he
wanted that investigation 1t appeared upon the books
of these merchant princes that $87 900 applied for
legislation, and 1t right to know the facts s 81
Mr.. STANTON, of Ohio then modified his first reso
luton follows
Ryosc That by tho Speaker
ss e. ssaaa ss Oar s has sy part said
House. member ofco
of present Of sa
they shalt specific charges against the party mps
and shall have power TO send for persons ana @ report
time. ta..-+. ss0l3 /.
Mr. DAVIS of Maryland, moved 10 amend tho resou.
tons by striking out the second and third and adding
the first the following :saaihaaq sts8 lAs s@
All the evidence and before persons may
shall this House whit in their opinion this House
should do In tho premises issg aaf 3fe sfHf t0i tH
Mr. HARRIS, Of Illinois, said he thought from what
hail transpired since the last session OF Congress- and
what was promulgated by the press Of the country, "
due the other side of the Housc that the nves
CATION should be mado a ~ 98 sf3z.ps d.
Mr.. MORGAN, Of New York, asked by what authority
it did not affect the gentleans side Of the House equal
ly with his.
Nr. HARRIS, of Illinois, replied that nothing had
traspred show in what direction the money had gone
very little to fear from any investigation that might
the present matter that might very wall be considered
The House would reooect that resolutions reported
by the select committee at the last Congress which i'm
pc,ted the character of member and that member
member but fortunately did not belong to his side
OF the House It might be we'll for them to turn their
eyes and examine what in their midst For the
pgaon Of the House, and thAt tho whole matter might
be presented in proper FORM he sent to the Clerk
All amendment tfs NJ l 48s 81 tetat
1.-The amendment then reported In substance, il
recited the proceedings OF the select committee Of tho last
Congress against Mr. nArrsscN, of Now York. and tho
Of the House in regard to it, and proposed his
pulsion from the present Congress. aei g 81
| Mr. STANTON, of Ohio raised a pont OF order that