The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-02-12
House OF Representatives.

House OF Representatives.
WASHINGTON, Feb. II, 1865.
THE xAHsAs COMMITTEE INQUIRY.
The SPEAKER announced the following the committee
under the resolution Of Mr. Harris Of Illinois, 70 which
shall DO referred the message Lecompton
st,tuton, with Instruction.
Sessrs Harris OF ILL.,, Stephens OF Ca Morrill, Of Vt
Letoher of Va Wade OF Ohio, Qusn,an Of Miss, winsow
of Bennett of n. " White OF Penn, Walbri ige o.
Mich, Anderson Of Mo, Stephenson OF KY, Adrian Of
n j., BufllntoD OF Mas. and Russell OF N. Y.
TuEoGG's INVEST COMMITTEE
The following was aunounced the Select Committee
10 into the facts connected with the gale and pur
chase of tract of land at wsnsons Point for fortica-
ton purposes :-Mcssrs. Haskin OF n. Y, h51'ips Of
Va. Wood ofMU i'crtIca ~ "a, and Hall N Mass.
1HE srr.Nsfup p,-srNyR
Tho House rssur,cd tho caW.eraor or els bEl amend
atory NJ the Get f tho a1 ~ ~ nvcs ~ r>sen
gcr. on board denmhcais.
Messrs Fto,osty ADM ~ IA and wmlhi W, tadr.
Of Iel. opposed tho bill and Mr. WAsBarrNn, (opp.) Of
ILL.,. replied To their Oh .e,t'ns.
The bill tAen rn..ied to the Committee Of re
Whole.
rbr -. 900 Isvrsr1c 4rrov.
Mr. sIAsToS (opp O. ONO, from tie select Committee
" investigate the charges OF bribery 10 Commission with
the tariff OF 1856. reported that Mr. j. ". WO,cOtt was
asked the question, md you :eivr from lawrence,
stone Co. sometime In March last sam ofsrecYVtes,
money, OF thelmoans OF $50 ooo or lees ~ Mr..
woco answered that be DID receive ulouey
rifles of any for the purpose o; influencing, DIT
officer OF tho present last Congress- the tariff, Or
any ether by Congress before IT, "
ccrts nopsted to be before IL; Old lac ever psy
or promise TO pay any money or pecunfy ccnsdcrpsou
any officer member OF any Congress 70: his vote
services be passage Of W influence his seton in
relation tn, any other laws did he
give any money or securities To any person the pur
pose beng paid TO any ofcer or member u congress
fer his vote Influence, directly or indirectly, upon any
under the consideration Of Congress ha he
knowledge that any such act thing done by any
other person He states that he had been advised by his
counsel that the above Is full answer TO everything
which such question may involve, and that 10 go fur
the would involve Interference with his private affairs
which the committee have no right to do.
The committee they have proof that s5s 900 or the
S. 600 expended by Ia~rence Stone aud Company
put into wolcous hands, and the committee deem II ma
tcria 10 Know whether he admits the receipt OF such
sum, and how Il vas expended, They recommend the
passoeo Of revolution that the Speaker issue his war
rant for the sergeab, alarms wocou aud bring
him before the bar OF the Housc 10 answer for contempt
Mr. SrAsTvS remarked tina, the witness pefemPtoFiy
refused 10 answer the question or whether he had re-
oeivod money securities for any purpose" This was
important nierrogatoiy proper answers cannot be
obtained the House had better disband committee.
treadirg on delicate ground The, bad bcttsr pass by
the matter TIL when the question and answers
having been printed they would know exactly their cha
racter
Mr. r1urIIrs (aem.) Of Pa said they should establish
rule by which all such should DC governed. The
had cquvocaed, whoa he should have responder
Mr. sswARp. (sdm } q Ga, said Il the witness was
guilty. Of periuty he was liable 10 be indicted But he
swore uf euuivocally, that be used money, d..
rec,y Indirectly 70 att ct the legislation OF the o-se
They could only proceed as far court OF Justice could
Mr. PrRynscE, (opp) Of Pa, said they had The right II
know whether the received money and the name
Of the parties whom he dsburscd a. With the view OF
ascertaipng whether u was usedf corrupt purposes
Mr JoHN CoCnRANE. adm Of y. Y, remarked that Il
fer The House tn delay The time had arrived
is authority and bring the witness before the
bar 10 answer for contempt.
Mr. SrwARp denied witness in contempt of
the authority Of the House this stage The witness had
right 10 say ~ the committee he did not recognise ia
authority 10 PROFOUND questions affecting his private
sasrs, and cou appeal to the House.
Mr.. BOWIE (a6m OF Md, argued that the witness had
purgcd himself Of the contempt and that the House bad
no further right 10 pursue the matter
Mr. MooRE, adm Of Ala said unless the House sustain
the committee he for one, wouli ask 10 be excused from
lorger service.
Mr. Goocu, (orp) OF Macs, thought the House now
nnprepared question of such Importance, and
that action should be delayed I'LL TO The mere
refusal before the committee did not constitute
contempt That was a question for the Howe TO deter
mine
Mr. LovrJoy opp Of M, said the witness had eluvo
Gated If he received $4,000 trouble for hsn
10 tell " hat he did with H.
The House passed the resolution reported nom W
Committee and adjourned.