New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-02-13

Co,':yrnron, % we'll os 10 Congress- He sur.
prl.ed that the Committee on ways anu niei's Iii In
not do what the Senate did, namely; order tne pl
TO b. paid nd remind the Administration tnat heri
after no such excess Of bppropiHeio" ' w
lowed.
/ The Senates amendment was agreed 70. 49,,
| All the other amendments to the bill were ac!eu
upon, aud the Civil and Miscellaneous Appropriation
bill then passed. ,..;.;o ~
the bill the S-rgeant-at- Arms who had been previ
ou.ly charged with the Speakers warrant Tor tne
arrest Of Henri Wikof, for contempt, entered a., .he
! hall by the door fronting the Speaker having MI
Wikof in custody. The latter gentleman appear
ance was known but to few IN the chamber, ana ne
remained unnoticed until the moment when MT.
Hickman, Chairman of the Judiciary CommItee,
upon whose resolution the order for the arrest had
been Issued intimated to the Speaker that no WAS
present, under custody.
During this interval, Mr.. Wikof was seated on
the sofa coee to the door, the left IA he entered,
and almost in front Of the Speaker, the Sergeant Tat
Arms remaining close to his prisoner dunDg this
time. The latter appeared quite unmoyed, ara re-
solved as 20 his action throughout the novel scene IN
which he was TO be The principal parsonage. Ills
stolcsm did not forsake him At any time during the
subsequent proceed IS, and much disappointment
was expressed at the tameness OF the denouement'
1t confidently expected That the august presence
in which he stood-that Of the "Grand Inquest OF
the Country would have excited him to a desire
10 make tie most Of the lucky chance that had
brought him face TO face with the country, and con-
sequently hll eyes were turned upon the accused,
lie pens and pencils il0uTrhed preparatory TO STE
nographng Wikors defense before Congress.
The bill under discussion having been dspDsed Of,
Mr. HICKMAN rose and said: Mr. Speaker, the
Serpeent-at- Arms has executed the order OF the
House by aresiing Henri Wikoi, charged with
contempt The accused IL now present. and ark
that he be brought before the bar OF the House.
Alta signal from the Speaker, the Sergeant-at- .
Arms, accompanied by Mr. Wikof. advanced down
the center aisle toward the Speakers desk and took
a no.iiion Ia front OF the off. i'll reporters desk
The SPEAKER then, accosting Mr. Wikof, said:
You have been arrested by order Of the llouse for
coniempt in refusing to answer questions propounded
TO you b. the Judiciary Committee OF the House,
and on the report Of that Committee you lave been
arrested. What have yCu to ray IN answer 70 tIls
allegation
Mr. Wikof, in "A low but distinct tone, replied:
Nothing else but that | Lope not 10 be considered
wanting in respect to the Judiciary Committee or to
the House. but the information the Committee de-
manded 1 received, such as II was, under an obhga
ton OF strict secrecy, which feel myself bound 10
u Hcct.
Mr. Wikof then seated himself on a chair on the
right Of the Speaker, when he was lost to view for
the remainder of the proceedings by the excited
PAGES who surrounded him, aud who at once COM
menced putting in their claims for lie autograph.
thort FL ence followed the prisoners reply,
which WIS brOSon by
Mr. STEVENS (Rep., Pal who said: The gentle
man having declined 10 nfsw er, /
Mr. iICKnAN-I submit. the following pream-
bic and resolutiOu-
Mr. STEVENS would like TO inquire whether
the answer il in writing. J think if going 10
make record OF it 1t should be IN writing, by the
writer himsef or some other person.
Mr. COX DEM Ohio and lr. RICHARDSON
(Den., H. made violent efforts 10 caim attention,
both wishing to make suggestion al this point, bnt
signay failed in tie prevailing noise 10 make their
wishes known in the gallery
Mr.. STEVENS repeated bis remarks. u
Mr.. IiIChMAN-ILo reply is already reduced TO
writing, and the House has the knowledge Of the 4
natter with ali the Information. i
Mr.. COA-hgain move 10 amend the motion;
that j., that the further consideration OF the matter
be poalp oncd to a given time tomorrow.
NJ. HICKMAN amid confusion, created prnoi-
pally by Mr.. Richardson calling on tie Speaker TO
listen to a suggestion lie had % makc)-l call the
previous question on the resolution have offered.
The SPEAKEK-Allow me 10 state the ques-
ton The fret question before th. House j. the mo-
ton OF the gentleman from Pennsylvania Mr.. l.
Sevensl that lie answcr 10 the interrogatory from
tie Chair he put in writing. The gentleman from
Ohio moves that the matter DO postponed till to-
morrow. >, -,
have il noatponed. do not know his opinion in tie
matter but lime has always been gwen III other
cases to reduce TN answer 10 wn'!ns.
Mr. HICKMAN-Ihe Houee is not only 10 pos
session of the hole matter, but =
r.
before the House but the question whether tie
answer should be in writing.
Mr. UICkMAN-Alow me TO say a word upon .
that The witness has made but single response,
when brought before the bar Of the House, that the
information which the Judiciary Committee asked
TO have from him WAS nmuuicated to him under .
pledge Of socresy and that therefore, be declines
10 communicate it to the Committee. There can
surely be no necessity, under such circumstance for
the llouse 10 delay its action for day, in order TO
enable the person in contempt 10 communicate that
single fact in writing. / shall therefore, be opposed
TO the motion submitted by my colleague, inssmuch
Us there il 10 necessity for IT, / prefer that the
House, being in full possession OF all the facts,
should take action a. once. This would be the bet, |
ter wsy TO treat the witness himself. l have no /
doubt Suit the Clerk and the reporters At the desk
have the answer given by the witness, and must /
have it now ia writing. II be read 10 the wit |
ness and thus ascertained whether it lie IL true |
answer TO the interrogatory propounded by the
Speaker.
DO not know whether the reply has been reduced
TO writing | learn not; but would ask him how 1
can the record be made Ineligible hereafter unless
the response is placed in writing to act upon IT.
/ Hence move that il be reduced to writing.
Mr.. HICKMAN-I ask that the answer OF the /
witness n. II has been reported at the Clerks desk,
be reJ orted to the wtness and that tho inquiry be
made OF him 10 it's correctness FIT be So shall
insist on my motion, and hope that the House will
consent TO any delay AS II Is not for the interest
of the witness that any delay should be had
/ Mr.. STEVENS-Msy ! ask If it is part OF the
Clerks duty to take down the answer OF the witness
/ in writing
The SPEAKER-It is not part of his duty.
| Mr. H.CKMAN-l amend the motion--that the
witness be brought again before the bar Of the
House. and bis answer DO taken down by the report
err at the desk aud handed to the clerk to read to
witness, and that he as to its correctness.
The SPEAK Ek-Tbe question IA that the motion |