The Sweetwater forerunner. [volume] (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1867-1869, 1868-06-04
Gbs fprtrunntr.
sweetwater, Thursday, June 4, 1858.



Gazette, in the case Of Colonel G. W.
Woolley, is the theme of general comment
here to-day, and it is universally regard
cd as the most alarming evidence yet fur
nished of the strides of the Radical party
towards despotism. a citizen of Ohio
comes to the National Capital, and while
here has occasion to use $20,0eG, more or
less. \ summons is issued for him to APP
pear before a committee Of Congress and
disclose his private transactions, whatever
they may be- He claims the protection
of the Federal Constitution, which guards
him against precisely such an outrage, but
his claim is ignored, and Colonel Woolley
is thrown into prison. Yes, imprisoned
within the walls of the nations Capitol,
from the dome of which the Goddess of
Liberty looks down in mockery. If this
power be recognized, what citizen is safe
in visiting Washington! Who may not be
made the victim of political or, perhaps,
private revenge? But still more damn
ing feature of the case is that the Jaco-
bins refused to allow the minority of the
body to be represented on this committee;
they refused to allow the "BeaSt" to be
checked by the presence of fair and hon
est man, and yet claimed that a commit
tee thus constituted should be clothed
with all the powers of the House of Rep
rcscntatiyes, without the right of appeal
to the body itself, that its action should
be assumed to be right, its questions prop
er, in the face of the fact that the House
every day rcyerscs the action of its COM
Mittees even when constituted in compli-
ancc with parliamentary law. Not day
of the session passes that the House does
not express it's dissent from the conclusion
or Judgment of some committee. This is
the first case on record where the commit
tee has claimed the power to PROFOUND any
question it may please, and that the
House shall assume it to be proper. 1t
Is the first case on record where the wit
ness has been refused an appeal to the
body itself and the committee allowed an
absolute power to punish by imprison-
ment. If this is to be the admitted prac-
tlce and power of committee of Congress,
citizens Of the several States should think
twice before venturing to visit the seat of
Government here. Butler may have some
private griefs. He may deem the oppor-
tunity favorable to punish and imprison,
or he may wish to possess himself of secrets
for private usesin the future. Who can tell
Every one visiting Washington is plac-
cd at the mercy of an irresponsible com
mittee, and hs knows not how it will be
with him before he leaves the city. He
may return to the bosom of his family
lie may wake up "imprisoned within the
walls of the Capitol" As Chief Justice
Chase said, ''it is time for all who love
their country to band together against the
Jacobins." If nothing else can arouse Q
people boastingly jealous of their liberties
this last browning act of Radical Cypress.
ion and despotism should. In fact, the
tendency of the outrage is already seer
here. A leading Radical Senator from
New England said to-day that Boutwell,.
resolution would be worth 100000 vote
10 the Democratic ticket. Colonel Wool
ley is kept in prison in room adjoining
the ''Star Chamber," and this morning he
was brought in and asked by Butler if he
was ready and willing to answer as to the
manner in which he had disbursed hi
money. He replied that he was read,
and willing to answer the moment tn,
House of Representatives pronounced tn,
questions proper, but not before. "Bacl
to.your prison, sir" exclaimed the indig
nant inquisitor, and the guards bore Col
Woolley back to his room of confinement
What think the American people o
this! Fooled in the attempt to remov,
the President and seize the reins of Gov
eminent, the vengeance of the chagrinec
and defeated impeachers falls upon til,
head of "A defenccless private citizen, anc
Butler, with the air of Robespierre, ex
claims, "Back to your prison sir !" As i
is understood Colonel Woolley will no
yield the principle for which he is conten
ding under the Constitution, unless direc