Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-12-17
CONGRESSIONAL.
XxXv1IITH CoNGREss.-FIRsr SESSION.
THURSDAY, December Il.

L.
ton and sent to the Clerk to be read an extract
from the New York Tribune headed ga Case
OF Bribery, relaiins to oo NJ s nasie"a Soma
oner, confined for fraud, out of the Old Capitol
+ prison. Mr.. Hale said he understood the par
asraph to refer to him. and went on to state
two persons who were confined in the Old Cap
itol.
The first case was that of DIR. Bliss, Super
intendent OF Armory Square Hospital. He
came on to Washington and represented the
facts to the Secretary of War, and the DIR. was
released on parole till his trial. when he Mr.
Hale) was present as his counsel The trial
resulted in the Doctors honorable acquittal
and recommendation by the court-martial
that he be restored TO his place. Mr.. Hale said
he then went home, where 1t was known for
what purpose ne had been here, and subse.
uuentiy in passing through Boston, friend
told him that there was another person in the
Old Capitol whose dtfence it was desired he
{Mr. HALEY should undertake.
This party's friends were exceedingly anx-
ious that he should have a trial, rs there were
large sums of money depending-the pay in
regard TO certain steamboats, being withheld
until the Issue of the trial. He was told that
they would give him $4,000 as retainer: but
before accepting, he asked friends to consult
the law and see If he could with propriety aid
in The case. He sought the opinion of two diff
ferent lawyers, and though one knew nothing
of the action of the other, both reported in
writing that there was not only no impropri-
ETY., but it was his duty to undertake the case.
He then received the 1000, but in coming to
Washington he consulted the Hon. Reyerdy
johnson, OF Maryland, gentleman Of high
social and legal position, and stating to him
that there was prisoner in the Old Capitol
charged with large frauds on the War Depart.
ment, he asked Mr.. Johnson las personal
matter) if it " as proper that he should under
take to act as counsel in the case. Mr. John
son looked surprised, said Mr.. H., as If he
thought was rather green, and responded that
there was no improperly whatever in so doing,
and went into an exposition OF the duties of
counsel and the law. Mr.. Johnson said he was
doing such business every week; and he Mr..
H. did not know if he did not say every day,
as that there was nothing even indelicate in it
on the part OF a member OF Congress.
He then went to the Secretary of War to
make inquiries who told him that he had fur
nished copy OF charges against Mr.: Hunt,tne
prisoner, to MIR. Brady, OF New York He
asked the Secretary if he thought the purposes
Of justice required that this man be kept in
prison up to the day of his trial, and desired
that he might be ont, with the view OF afford
ing him an opportunity to prepare for that oc
casion. Mr.. Stanton said that il the Provost
Marehal General consented he had no O1iec-
ton. and the party was relieved, and went to
to the Provost Marshal once in every forty
eight hours. Under these circumstances, Mr.
Hunt agreed. in New York, whan he lMr
HALL required it, 10 pay $1,000 additional,
were the facts, and if this is bribery, he had
only to say it was not inadSertent, tor he
never did thing more deliberately in his life,
and more cautiously.
Mr. Johnson confirmed Mr.. Hale's state
ment in regard TO his calling upon him, and
the conversation which ensued; and the views
expressed as to the Iawtulness and propriety
OF Mr.. Hale undertaking the case. And Mr..
J. then went OF to point cut the distinction
between a member OF Congress acting in be-
half of a claim and III case where criminal
Congress prohibited a member from prosecu-
ting in the Court of Claims. yet it did not affect
his appe airing before another tribunal q court
martial or criminal court, as counsel in a
rriy jna When a gentleman hpcOmp n
Senator he did not cease to be a lawyer, and
was therefore bound. to act as ever in behalf
of client in such case.
HoUsE-Mr. Stevens, from the Committee of
Ways and Means, reported bill making ap-
preparations for the diplomatic and cons ular
service for the year ding June 30, 1865 which
was referred TO the Committee Of the Whole on
the State of the Union.
MIR. Rice, Of Mass, from the Committee on
Naval Affairs, reported a joint resolution ten.
dcring the thanks of Congress to Captain John
Rodgers for eminent skill and zeal III the per-
foImance OF duty.
Mr. Wilson offered q resolution, which was
agreed to, instructing the Committee on In
valid Pensions to inquire and report what leg
islation is necessary 10 secure to the widows
aud legal representatives OF persons who ha We
died or who may die in the military service
from disa bility or wounds received in the line
OF duty the same pensions allowed TO others.
Mr.. Price, of Iowa, offered a resolution in
stIucting the Committee on Roads and Canals
10 inquire into the expediency and necessity of
constructing and enlarging the canals as may
be necessary 10 connect the waters of the Hud-
s9i. aad Mississippi with the great lakes, and
that they report by bill or Otherwise.
Mr.. Holman moved to lay the resolution on
the table: but the motion was disagreed to 81
against S.
The resolution was adopted
o.. motion of Mr. Washburn, of Ill. il was
resolved that wnen the House adjourn to-day
II Re to Monday next.
Mr. Harrington off 3ed a series OF resolutions
setting forth the constitutional provisions in
relation TO the rights OF citizens, ETC., and de-
clarjng Congress has no power under the Con-
stltution TO delegate 10 the President authority
10 suspend the writ OF hnbeas corpus in the
loyal States That the sumption of thNP Pre-
sident depriving citizens in the loyal States Of
the bene fit of the privilege OF the writ of habeas
corpus, and without due process of law, is
contrary to the progress Of the age. despotic
and subyersive OF the principles on which
republican government is founded; and in
structng the Committee on the Judiciary to
renort bill to protect the rights of citizens in
accol dance with the provisions Of the Consti-
tu,,ou of the United States..lig
The question having been taken, the resolu-
"9'7s were reiected-G1 against 50. q &. % Es1