The Evansville daily journal., 1858-02-05
Conversational.
WAsuISGroS, Feb 4-M


WAsuISGroS, Feb 4-M
HorsE-The Speaker announced he had
appointed Boyce, Qujtrpan, Trip. Garnett,
Mott. Wortcndikc and Spinner, select com
mittec to consider the navigation laws Of the
United States; the reduction of tho expendi-
turcs of ports; the existing duties on I'M
ports, and the expediency OF the gradual re-
peal of all duties on Imports and the resort
exclusively to internal taxation, Us proposed
by Boyce's resolution.
The consideration of the bill granting PEN
sions to the officers and soldiers OF the War of
lsl2, was postponed till the 24ih OF Febru-
airy.
The Sergeant a.-arms brought j. ID. Will
hanson 10 answer for his failure 10 app ar,
and testify before the Tariff Investigating
Committee, in obedience TO the luminous Is
sued ON the 9th OF January.
SESATE-Jones presented joint resolution
OF tho Legislature of Iowa, instructiDg their
Senators, and Representatives that the State
opposed the admission OF Kansas into the
Union under the Lecompton Constitution,
for the reasor that that instrument has not
been submitted to u fair aud honest vote OF
the people of the Territory; and requesting
the Senators to resign il they cann't obey
the foregoing instructions.
Jones SAID he presented the resolutions as
matter Of respect to his State. aud not because
H. had tie most remote idea OF obeying.
flc believed the people OF Kansas had am
pie opportunity OF expressing their views ut
the ballot box, and if they refused to do 80
il was their own fault. His own mind was
made up 10 vote Tor the admission oi Kansas
under the Lecompion Constitution unless
some stronger arguments couhi be made
agains; it thar any which he had yet heard.
Rcsolutrns were adopted by strict party
vote, every member OF the Democratic purity
i'm the Legislature voting against them. AL
though he was inclined to think the majority
OF the people Of Iowa might now endorse the
resolutions, he believed that after thorough
examination OF the sub. .ect. they would come
10 a different concuSson. For his own part
he intended to do everything in his power TO
sustain the AdminIstI alton upon this ques
tion, believing Kan.a- aud Minnesota ought
TO he admitted as twin sisters ia the same
way as asdOnc with Florida and Iowa.
WASHINGTON, Eeb. 4-P.
HousE.-Williamson submitted an answer
In writing. and under oath. saying the reason
why he did not obey the summons was that
he was in custody OF the sheriff Of New York
and could not leave wItho t has consent, and
bacauss 1t would destroy his business, AMI
impoverish his family. The constitution
DOES not prohibit private affairs from heing
intru ,ted conhdentiaily to an agent who doc,
not vio,ate the laws OF the land. He had M
tcnflcd 10 test before court the power vi this
House 10 compel his attendance To testify
conserving private business Transacted, bu,
he Was taken from his bed by force and
brought here. lie always hoped To show due
respect ~ the legally constituted authorities.
In reply 10 the question, whether he was now
ready To- answer such Questions might be
pus u him. he said he would answer all proper
o;eslions. but not To affect his integrity, u
violate his oath or sacred promises not to
reveal con fdential communications.
Smith SAID he did not wish To procipitat,
action, the select committee had not ye
had All opportunity of deciding What course
they would pursue. and moved that the farthcl
consideration of the subject be postponed til
Tomorrow.
Stanton also suggested that witness an.
swcrs DC printed. and Inc be committed TO th
custody 0I the Sergeant at Arms.
Mlson replied that witness distinctly take
issue with the House, and defes its authority
IL was not now question between wi,nesse
and eom:nittce. but between witnesses sn'
the power of the House 10 compel attendance
of persons in prosecuting any investigation
The House owed it to its own dignity TO firs
settle this question before witnesses shall ap
pear before the Committee to give testimony
According to the language OF his reply, b
stood in the attitude OF contumacy.
Cox offered preamble and resolution I,
the effect that as Williamson has not purge'
himself of contempt, he be continued IN clos
custody of the Sergeant Arms until dis
charged by further order Of the House, o
until lac shall purge himself OF the contempt
Wright submitted preamble concluding
resolution, Williamson be committed I
goal, and there detained until he should an
swer all legal questions propounded to him.
Burroughs said the House had before then
the question Of frauds and villainies con
neeted with the last Congress. This was nc
the first time witnesses have claimed supe
riorlty to the law. lie recollectcd a ma
who appeared before courts, and so they Ina
taken obligations higher than laws of til
land and the Constitution. Such person
should be put in Jail and kept there. IL Wa
charged nearly 100000 were paid to mem
bers 10 procure votes for a measure calculate
to strike down interests of the North, an
yet according to the suggestion OF the ger
tleman from Ohio, the House were asked
send this witness home to New York to
tried tor refusing TO answer questions; bnt
lBurroughs) was for putting this man !
jail. aud keeping him there until he tells tl
whole truth. He would keep him there Il
his flesh wilhered on his bones. Unless h
answered honestly, they should compel th
witness 10 answer in order to olicit facts.
lie believed that during the last ten yea,
villainIes have been committed in and ont
Congress, and they should be held respons
BILE to the world for neglect of duty did the
hot investigate the charges which had bee
made. lie believed further that the exisl
enee OF this Goverumsnt depends upon n
tegrity OF Congress- He put it 10 the COT
sciences aud hearts of gentlemen to "a
whether they should let u man come here
DEFY the power of Congress. Any thievin
scoundrei might plead confidential comm,
nication> 10 shield HIM from examinu, ion.
He repeated, send this man to Iail and ke,
him ther; till hs tells the truth.
John Cochran sail he was authorized h
Williamson 10 inform the House he was no
ready 10 answer in writing ~ the Commit
might direct, aud asked To withdraw the n
pers presented in the early part OF the pr
ceedings.
Wright Of Georgia said no man was le
diSpo~cd to punish the innocent than he W,
He had offered his resolution % punish |
contamacy.
Finally IL was agreed that Williams
should have leave to withdraw his answer
the summons, anl submit another answ
tomorrow; and that in the meantime he
remanded TO the custody of the Sergeant
Arms.
George Taylor presented n petition
the irse.lon OF the public lands. sign
by the Mayor OF Brooklyn and thousa