The New York herald., 1862-03-03

on matters purely personal ! never underwens
before; and to hnd Congressional COMMITTEES reviving
the DAYS Of tho star Chamber tho sangss event Of
this strange year
was busy scrbbling in my room at WIZARDS HOTEL
when about three the afternoon OF the same day. two
men threw open tho door and said they had orders 70
| arrest me. .sWhat for Yn demanded They did not
know "By whose authorityr' " The House OF Repre-
sentatiyesn "And where am to gof To the apart
ment OF the Sergeant Arms" As drove with my new
escort up to the Capitol did nothing but wonder what
new sunrise awaited me- An arrest by tho Sergeant
at Arms was all very well but TO give II due dignity
| there ought 10 bo crime to precede 10, and my
trouble was not to be able to discover 1t. was
| safely deposited in the splendid room OF tho Ser
| c.,ntat Arms-Mr Ball. OK member of Congress- from
| Oho-who welcomed with great cordiality. and
| said was just the man no wanted. "well, what
| are you going to do with mo. Mr. SergeantT
asked, for getting exceedingly curious 20 know
what would happen to msnext9 81 must take you be-
fore the Bar of the housS' said Mr.. Ball. and If you
wifollow round to tho main door, shall descend
the middle aisle and bring up at the appointed place;
right opposite to tho Speaker thought Mr.. Ban was
indulgng in joke, wanted to indulge in drink and
that he meant by the bar Of the house of the
familiar restaurants OF the place. smiled knowingly
and followed him. but enough he entered the House
by the principal door, and asked me to wait moment
till Mr. Hickman notified Of the arrival Of 90 the
prisoner" Up this moment knew nothing wha.ever
of what had occurred. Iems that the Chairman the
Judiciary Committee, ARR left them, had obtained
from the Speaker order for my for contempt Of
his authority and for this had been laid hold Of
by the Sergeant Arms, by whose side was then
standing, waiting for my presence to be announced.
looked round the House. rubbed my eyes and tried hard
to convince myself 1t was not all a dream.
Suddenly the Sergeant told me to follow, and We
marched through the centre Of tho House. was
Quoted to a chair the Clerks DESK Whereon my
lao catechst, Mr. Hickman in his place and stated
had been guilty Of contempt in not answering ques
ton put I thought this very ungcnerous of him
after had answered many thought ho had busi-
ness to ask.
The Sergeant Arms .nen desired me to step forward
and stand facing the Speaker Here was, then in the
very being the bar OF the House what havo you
to say Henry wikoH" demanded the Speaker in stern
tone, " TO tho complaint made against your Not
having anticipated this formidable nterrogatoy in the
presence of the whole House, to say nothing of the
porters the gallery who sat with their eyes fixed and
their pens ready to impae me should make trip l
decided in instant to say nothing. answered the
Speaker therefore, that had other reply but this.
had refused disclose the of the person who had
impaired tho information, such as it was. not from any
want respect the committee the House. but from
sense Of honor as had pledged myself to strict
cresy." This soon said, and took my seat at the
| suggestion OF Mr.. Ball.
close custody till had purged myself of the imputed
tempt but several members of the House. such as Mr.
Wckc. of Kentucky Mr. Stevens, Of Peunsy lvania Mr.
Cox Of Ohio and Mr. Richardson, OF Illinois. not in
clned to favor this summary process Of dsposing Of an
unlucky witness till he had some chance OF putting in
defence. All debate however, was rued out OF order,
and sympathsers were forced TO abandon me to my
fate The usual forms were rapidly ~ hurried through as
what it all about thought it best TO sustain their
committee. Twas, consequently. ordered into close
custody" and thereupon retired from the House to the
OF the Sergeant Arms "What Is to become Of
now, Mr.. Balls asked, not little amused at tho
preposterous turn the affair had taken. We that puz-
zles me-" said the worthy gentleman rearraneng his
spsctacles, but must store you away somewhere be
yond the reach Of the curious"
After q long consultation with my tormentors, the
Judiciary Commttee Mr. Ball once more gave the word
"mareh" and as had not even knapsack to shoulder
| was route in o moment. Vending way through
the noble halls Of the new wing Of tho Capitol passed
through the well known rotunda and began descending
saircascs turning right and left, till arrived at
door that opened with spring lock- and entered the
room destined for my prison. WAS nc: Unworthy the
! name for the ceiling low and double arched the
solitary window useless, az gasght was necessary in
daytime. The furniture consisted Of table and some
wooden chairs Altogether it was as cheer dirty and
repulsve den the Venetian Council Of Ten would
have thrown Of their victims into who had dared to
breathe word Of the Presidents message-I mean had
there been such thing in those dark days Of brutal
tyranny. "Now, this will suit you. Pm sure, said the
facetous 'and TO make you perfectly
comfortable. I'll get yoa iron bedsead with straw
Mattress After completing my survey OF this dingy
hoeI thought tho occasion demanded pun, so replied
should vote sgainst Capoi punishment for the rest Of
my fe." Mr.. Ball said that was not bad and, recon-
mendng me TO make myself at home, left me to my
nections. found my imprisonment not TO be soil.
ary for two OF the guard Of the Capitol were detailed to
| watch over me and protect mo against all visitors
| learned from my new companions that magnif-
cent Capitol was under the constant supervision Of
guard OF twenty men, divided into squads for day
and night duty-al unier command OF Captain Daring
very gcutlemauly person indeed. Tho room occupied
chiefly used by the guard lumber for their
night lamps, keys and what not, and il afforded plea
SAINT shelter for couple of dogs-one OF them Jack "a
splendid Newfoundand), having passed his whole LIE in
the public service, and brought many rat to untimey
end The novelty OF state prisoner taking up his
quarters in Jacks favorte kennel brought the various
members Of the guard on duty in succession TO me-
and, finding me disposed to be agreeable they ma,c
strenuous efforts to make comfortable They were
intelligent well behaved men, and had with the
| new regime They hailed mostly from tho West and
North, where they had respectable positions
figured delegates TO the Chicago Conventon a1d
OF them with strong oratorioa propcnsties favored me
with the repetition OF the speech no male that occa-
| sion. He was an enthusiastic Seward man, and TO his
credit, lie was faithful to his first love. An Incident
pected agreeable occurred during the evening,
which see reason for not mentioning. person in
authority tapped at my door about eight O'Clock P. NJ
lovely gir! Of booming seventeen upon his AZ
must beg you to pardon tbs visit of curiosity h said
"but hores young lady Just arrived in Washington,
and pereoty rabid pursuit of the wonders of the place
She heard OF your adventure few moments ago, and,
knowng had Access Acc IS 70 you insisted @ on my giving her
little diverted by so lively an episode, and begged my
romantic visitor who was introduced under assumed
| namo, and her escort, to be seated. IL truy
| amusing 10 contemplate the sngularly expressive
| counenanco Of this beautiful girl, her
bright, dark eyes wandered curiously about the
repulsvo place shc had stumbled into. Every oh cc,
seemed 10 cast shaie her face till at last settled
expression Of lowering disgust overspread it. sWeln
she exclaimed "if this is what they cai prison have
seen enough Of it," "But let me hope,r said smiling,
"you will lsavo with better impression of tho prison
err" "You deserve" she replied with spirit 'any.
body's sympathy for being shut up In such odious
place as ths and for doing nothing very eiher
| During the vivacous chat which followed could not
help secretly contrasting this young American girl with
the products OF European civilization In France any
where on the Continent so young person would not be
allowed by the social code open her mouth at ALL The
same reserve s cx.cted in England till young lady is
introduced into society. Whereas here was Miss in
her teens who had seon nothing OF the world talking
wth stranger in a very strange place, on ths
accidental topics that rose up, with as m .ch
SSmpnni In L. n"a'nor "'vnslnos. ns, m sh'