The New York herald., 1862-03-03
The ChevaIier WikOf and the hlck-
man Kitchen Committee.
The Chevalier's Arrest, Inn
prIsOnment and Release.
What Was Asked Him, and What
He Told.
A Plquant Inside View Of congress
ional Committee,
&C., &e., ace
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 90 1862.
s-My recent appearance at the bar OF the House Of
Representatives followed by my Imprisonment by vote
Of the HOUSE. events novel and striking tat 1t
may interest, perhaps amuss, the public, to give
fuller statement Of facts than has yet appeared Iw
throw my narrative into three short chaptsrs.
CHAPTER L.
A SubpQna-A Puzsle-A Syately Corsmrnse-A Asst1ke-
The Presidents Message-New Fork Herald-An laqaisi-
hon-Refect and Ansaoer.
Iarrived in Washington February and Immediately
afterwards received subpoena, signed by the Speaker
of the House. to appear Monday the 10th ns before
tho Judiciary Committee. This surprised ne. /
aware that this committee had been recently charged
with the special duty Of nquring into the censorship
exercised by the the telegraphic des
patches of newspaper correspondents, with view to
curb any abuse Of authority against the liberty
of the press As I was connected with no
ournal, and had sont dispatches, failed to
perceive what had to do with this investigation.
At the appointed hour Monday last entered an eo-
CANT the south wing of the Capitol whore found
seated either side of long table some eight gentle
respectable appearance and imposing demeanor.
At the head sat the chairman Mr.. Hickman Of Pernsyl.
vania whom rscognized-an intelligent man, but well
known fanatic politics. was desired to scat myself
in chair at the lower end Of the table, was then for
mally to tell all know OF certain matter, but
mention made Of it, Whether it was my religion,
my politics my finances that going to be invosti
gated was that perplexing conjecture
The chairman then questioned me as to my rela
tions with the press. ''I had none" was my
reply. ''was I not correspondent or editor?'
"Neither." sDid I not write to or for the New
YORK HERALDs' every rarely" This topic exhaust
t1a Drna, d.Dtss
last Message. The committee manifested new symptoms
Of ntercst whilstI puzzled than svsr would
have given reward to know what it all meant After
few lourishes was asked if had not gent copy Of
tho message per telegraph to the New YORK HERALD?
"No, sir " was my answer "Did you not send any por
tion Of its No. SIR" repeated. amused to see
that both the Chairman and the committee now looked
as bothered as had been They put their heads togs
thsr got up in corner and then returned the charge
"Te what you had to do with despatch sent to the
New YORK HERALD about tho Message tho night before
Its delivery to Congress" "I will, if rccolect
trivial matter" related that had accidentally and
without caring for IT, got little knowledge Of the
Messags-that thought sentence Of It had been
peated 70 me; this information small as IL was made
present Of to Of the correspondents Of the New YORK
HERALD, who. believe, sent it on to that journal.
Chances Of surprise and ncredulty exchanged all
round the long table suspicion fear, took possession
Of the committee that only bamboozling them,
which. Of course was not the case.
was requested to retire for a few moments which
passed walking through the Corridors trying to athom
what these strange interrogations had the
sorshp of the government the press which the
dietary Committee had in charge when was recalled
remarked lie COMMITTEES sat up very straight looked
gravel may say ponderous. The chairman was buried
in reflection and before he spoke startled by darng
bis keen nqusvs eyes 1t mo- and then directing them
TO written papers before him. felt the mystery
going to bo solvsd-that the bomb my head was
about to burst "wi you inform the committee, said
Mr.. Hickman, +" about your relations with the White
house." sri" CALCULATED, greatly astouishcd. "wl
you state how often you 70 here-whom you see-what
you talk Do you the Presidents Do you meet
any Of his familyf Do you dino thcrer Do you break
fast thercS Are politics discussed or war or peace DO
you get any information What do you do with 1t? Do you
send 1t TO the New YORK HERALD" give these as speci
men of the shower Of questions that fell like hail
alonc had to contend with, but all the Members
of the committee opened their batteries upon me;
and keep my head clear and my nerves calm
under the cross fire of some eight adro determined law
yers required small effort and good deal OF patience.
l sought to be respectful and dreaded collision, but
could not help protesting at last against introducing tho
Of the President any VI his family into
inquiry wh Sc motive and aim far from apparent
whilst its nature was becoming more and more nqu
sitorial Upon this of the committee Il wish knew
his name), rose in his place, and protested, likewise,
against these proceedings-"What right mas TINS com.
the white House9 What claim have TO intruds
into the domestic affairs Of tho President, any
more than In those of the humblest person in the
iandr Are to issue permits to the Presi-
dent, to his family 10 the friendships thoy
form or tho people they see m TO invite their partess
He going in this strain of good and taste to
invegh aga { the conduct pursued tovarde me, whom
he was called to order by another Of the committee "a
ought not to take place before the witness was, in
consequence, once more consigned to the corridors.
After y considerable ntorval was summoned back 10
my chair The committee had ch ngcd its aspect; some
looked agtated some angry, others lttlo disgusted.
The chairman seemed unsettled and swung round in his
chair, which played on pivot. Had he overshot the
mark2 Had he missed his gamer That was the express
OF his face The nterrogatories renewed and
the Message disiaterrcd again After short pre-
lude required say who gave tho paragraph from
the Message | had passed to the HERALD cor
respondent thought the COMMITTEES had no right to
know that, and as had pledged myself TO secresy to
my informant, decided at once not to tell them. When
made known my determination tho chairman and those
who supported him seemed pleased II struck me that
they had cornered Thoy insisted, and persistsd.
II ended by the chairman giving forty yeight hours
to reflect, when, continued obdurate, must take the
was not greatly alarmed at this menace for doubted
n the crime was very dark to make free with sentences
OF the Presidents Message OF which became lawfully
possessed and had to dread the penalty, as
none attached TO IL. SO thinking, left the com
mittee room, promising 70 rcturn on Wednesday.
CHAPTER II.
A Nice rlr--,sau<n Arrest-Bar Of the house-nothins
W ouy-O0Wt<hnucu-Ihc fTiS0N-feW0e oInspUtHH-
Jolly Feiioos.
last crossed the threshold Of tho Judiciary Committed
room, and resumed my witness chair Mr.. Hickman IL
model OF punctualty. and in his place. ready for
work. The committee dropped in rapidly.
well, sir" said the chairman, t'you remember how
We parted. You refused to answer a question
deemed important. Arc you prepared to give me
UP the name I demanded, or to be guilty Of q
contempt OF my authority" "Really, gentlemen ro
piled, T cannot why you should insist on the name
Of the person who impaired to moro paragraph Of
tho Message" "ws the best judges Of that, and
must have it," was something like the answer made
"wcII am sorry TO disappoint you; but pledged my
sof not 10 mention the OF tho individual In qqss
tion and, until released from the obligation, dc
cline TO do So" thought tho committee rather
pleased than otherwise at my contumacy. "T do no
despair" added, "of giving the you require by