The Washington union., 1858-02-05

Alter dGDatS between Mtk5Ib, w AIKEN o
STANTON Of Ohio, LOVEJOY Of Illinois, aud JONES
OF Tenncssee in opposition to the motion to ecommit
and postpone its further consideration; and Messrs CUR
1Is OF Iowa, and DAVIDSON of Louisiana in It's Ia
Mr JONES' of Tennessee moved that the further CON
sideraon of the subject be postponed until the Zah IN
stant which motion agreed to--eyes ios noes not
counted.
Mr. MORSE, of New York. from the Committee ON In
valid Pensions reported bills for the relief OF lsaac Car
penter Leonard Loomis and Hector st. John Beatey
and they were severally read twice and committed
Mr. CHAFFEE OF Massachusetts from the same con-
mittee reported bills the relief of Henrietta Clark
Thomas Acock and Mary w Thompson aud they
were sever,lIy read twice and committed
Mr. POTTER of Wisconsin, from the Committee
Revolutionary Pensions reported bill for the relief of
the heirs OF William York and it read twice and
committed
Mr. ANDERSON, of Missouri from the Committee on
Invalid Pensions reported bill for the relief of Timothy
L. o Keefee; and IL was read twice and committed
Mr. CASE, Of Indiana from the committee, pre-
sened adverse report the Of Thomas H. Cros
by and 1t was laid on the table
Mr. REILLY, Of Pennsylvania from the Committee on
Patents reported bill extending the patent granted TO
William Crompton, for improvement in the picker of
patent power LOOMS for years from the 18th day
November, 1858 /; and it was read twice and committed
Mr. MACLAY, Of New York. from the commit
tee reported bill for the relief Of David Bruce and it
was read twice and committed
Mr. KETTF, of South Carolina from the Committee on
Public Buildings aud Grounds reported the following
olution; which WIS rejected:
Rcsqlpd the Committee Public Buildings and Public
Grounds authorized employ clerk at the conpen
cation clerks Of committees in this House
coNruxAcrous WITNESS
Mr. STANTON Of Ohio called the attention of the
House the that they had yesterday extended
the witness brought before the House charged with
tempt until o'clock day to the questions
propounded to him The hour had arrived and the Ser
geant- at Arms had informed him that the witness
ready to comply with the order Of the House.
The witness then brought within the bar of the
House, in the custody Of the Sergeant Arms.
The SPEAKER stated that he was Instructed by the
House to PROFOUND to the witness the following questions
What 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 ut r. 'Are
you ready to appear before said committee and
such proper questions shall be put to you by the
committee 2!
read In to the following question:. What
have YOU for not appearing and testfng before
the select committee of this House. in pursuance Of the
served you the 9th ut. p? the witness
replied that he under the authority of the sheriff of
the city and county of New York not to leave the city,
without his consent and advised hy him and his
counsel with whom he consulted the subject also
that 1t always his opinion, and STILL that neither
the House of Representatives the Senate of the Uni
ted States had any legal power to compel him to come
before them their committee to dvulge the private
transactions of his business and which, if dvulged would
destroy all tho business Of his Office person would
employ person who should disclose his most confden-
tial and private affairs If 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.
In answer to the following question Q. Are you now
ready appear before said committee and such
proper questions shall be put to by said commit
tee the witness replied that he all proper ques
tions which should not affect his integrity violate his
oath sacred promise heretofore given not to dvulgc
the
AN-vrOA A 4
on with the members Of the select committee and was
therefore, authorized to propose any Of action
for tncm but he would submit proposition which
struck him proper under the circunsaHces lie did
not desire to prccipate the action Of the House. hut
asked for the leave Of the House that time might be given
to enable the committee to have the witness brought be-
fore them for the purpose OF propoundng to him distinct
nerrogatores and for his to estimate the claims
the witness might have to exemption Of responsibility for
his conduct.
Mr.. MILIsON Of Virginia, said those who had listened
to tho reply Of the witness would observe that he had not
sought to purge himself of the contempt of refusing
to obey the summons OF the House.
Mr.. STANTON tinterrupting) modified his motion so
that the of the witness should be printed, and
that the witness be remanded to the custody Of the Ser
Mr. MILISON (resuming declared that the witness de
fed the authority of the House He had said that unless
compelled to appear here unless dragged from his bed
he would have appeared and that it was his
to invoke the opinion of the courts upon the constitu
tonal power of the House. He stood in the attitude of
contumacy He Ind right to invoke the decision of the
courts and he r M thought it might be as well that
he should be INDUCED by invoking the decisions Of
the courts of the United States for the District 1t might
be that after full investigation he might conclude that
the House had authority to compel the attendance of
witness here but they had summoned him here, and
it due to themselves that before examining the wit
by the committee il should be asceraned in what
aspect he stood.
Mr. STANTON said his idea was, that when a witness
presented upon refusal to answer before commit
ct<,s1h b1 tran
the criminal courts having Jurisdiction IT. after the wit
summoned before the committee he should
fuse TO testify the committee would then recommend that
the House should send him to the District attorney for the
southern district of New York. to for his offence
Mr. MILISON resumed the floor.
Mr. cox, of Ohio, asked that gentleman to yield him
the floor for the submission of the following resolution
whrcas J. Williamson has satisfactorily answer
OF the House, aud has
himself OF the contempt charged.
R,socd williamson IN ,i,ae custody
Of the
purgcd contempt charged by ,estne
before said committee t..5fi
Mr. MIILSON said he did not regard the resolution as
offered.
Mr. WRIGHT Of Georgia. asked consent 10 submit ths
following resolution:
Whereas ans wcr williamson questions
Of Tho House f Rcprcscntnivc relative ebedence
Witness his readiness sncl
committee he proponnded 10 him. being
sufficient and ng and therefore dsresectful and imTennt
Ordered BY House j. Williamson
the common Jail this until he all legal pro
pounded 10 him
Mr. DAVIS, Of Maryland asked consent To submit the
following proposition
ORDERED That the Speaker do rcprmand