New-York tribune., 1868-12-25
ouE CONGRESSIONAL INVEsTIGATIoN-DuTlEs
.N,n RESPONSIBILITIES OF WITNESSES


Congress, within the last few years, has
passed two laws "moro eootuay to enforce the attend
ance OF witnesses on the Of either House OF Con
rress and TO compel them discover testimony, ana
these cnactments vary materially the old common Jaw
rule which compelled no man to criminate himself
As good many Of our felowcitizeDs Will probably be
reouested To attend and testify before the Committee on
the Election Frauds it may be convenient for them TO
refer to the text of these acts, which is as follows
An ACT more Gee,y 20 ATTENDANCE " Witnesses on The
Summons either House Of Congress aud 10 compel then 10 o'
mgeieG Sy The Senate and House Of Representatives.
OF tie United states of An'erca tn Congress GSstmCea
That any person summoned as witness by the authority
OF either House OF Congress to give testimony OF 10 pro-
duce papers upon auy matter before either lione or Ny
Committee of either House OfCongress who sha Wliuy
make default who appearing snail refuse 10 ansmrl WI
any question pertinent TO the matter OF inquiry ~ cvi
sideration before the House or Committee by Mhon S
shgl he examined shall in addition 10 the pans an9
penalties now existing, be liable TO an lndcineh le & 49,
for msdemeanOr Ia any Court OF inc hl'eS Ji",Ve @
havinr jurisdiction thereof aud conviction sha lhy
fine not exceeding 1000 and suffer lnprlsoine ~ ~, '
common jail not less tnan one month nor inoie '
src Gnd be oihcr epacied That no person eh
, Comnittee of either House shall be held to answer
cruiually in any court OF justice, or sunJrct 10 aug
nenaltv or forfeiture FOX any fact or act tonchng Wnch
il bo rroulred TO testify before either House OF Con
@ress or ony Committee Of either House as 10 which he
Snail nave testified whether before after the date oi
hs oc And that no statement made or paper produced
NV any witness before either House OF Congress or boioe
anv ComDiittee OF either House shall be com
pstent testimony in any criminal roeeocine
against such witness ia any court OF Justice,
and no witness shall hereafter be allowed 10 refuse 10
testify any fact. 10 produce any paper touching
which ne shall be examined by either House OF Congress
or any Committee Of either House, FOR the reason tha
his testimony such fact tho production Oi hnch paper
may tend disgrace him, Or oherWise render nm III
famous PgOJdcd. That nothing ~ tins act s"l le con
strued 1cmpt witness from prosecution ahu pun
ishmcnt for perjury committed by hm m iesnyihS "s
aforesaid -
sEC g. Esd br Il C,yiasr caGccd. That when witness
shall fal testify provided IN the previous seGuoIs o
fs aci ana The facrs shall he reported 10 the House
shall be the duty Of tine Speaker or the Hoise or lnS
president of The senate certify the fact under INC stal
al the Uousa or Senate 10 the District Attorney iof te
DISTRICT of Columbia. whose duty II shail ne 10 Dflh4 te
matter before the grand Jul! Iol iheH dc'lV'
Approved Jan. "a 1855. ,,.,
AZ hT .u.uaisg be provisions - tbe second seton ~ e ~ OF
Jsuuary 1881 orDg tt attendance o Nues,t' ht'i. '"
,fteer . either Horse ~ Congress
Re n enacted by NE Senate md HobSf Or htf'fSf"t
o. fbs T7d Siass Of At1eried tn Cohgfess dsst"Utd
That to pvis0ns the second section OF the act emu
tied An act more etctuay To enforce the attendance
ana 10 cOnpel them to discover testimony, tppoNcu
January "a 1851 amended altered, ana repeated so aS
to read follows: That the testimony OF Witness eh'
auiucd ard tcsfyiug before either House o congress
Committee OF either House or congress. -id hul
be used evidence il any criminal proceeding against
such witness in any court Of Justice FrOroco however
thRt no Official paper Ur record produced hN tucl
witness on such examination snail be held or
taken 70 bc inciuded within the privilege ~ sald
evidence such witness ron ANY criminal
proceeding aforesaid and mo- witness sHau hereafter
allowed refuse O testify 10 lact or 10 produce
any paper touching which he shan De xalnued D. either
the reason thgt h~ Testimony touchu0 such act or the
production Of hUru ptpCt may tcId to disgrace INN or
otherwise render MIN infamous. Ir0ftdcd That notDg
this act shan hc construed Ia exempt any witness rom
prosecution and punishment ior Ieri.ry committed by
him IA iestifying r. Aforesaid
APP Jan. -, 1862