The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-08

by the House; but we also contend that
the case is one for the police courts at Rich
mond, and not for the National House of
Representatives, which has no lawful juris-
diction. The business of Congress is to make
the laws, and not to execute them, and the
er pdTte trial of this man by committee of
the House is without any proper form of
law, and is O more outrageous violation of
the law than that of which Woods is accused.
Let those of our readers who may be dis
posed to consider this q small matter, think
for a moment what the consequences may be
If the pretensions of the House are admitted
in this instance. Any citizen may be arrested
at any time on any kind of a charge and
dragged before a committee, probably preju-
diced against him, which will act at once as
Judge, jury, and prosecutor. He will not be
allowed counsel unless the committee chooses
to grant him the privilege; he will be forced
to testify against himself if the committee
chooses to make him speak; he will be denied
the privilege of cross examination if the COM
mittee determines that the witnesses against
him shall only testify in one way, and as the
examination of witnesses will be regulated
by none of the rules of a proper court of
law, general investigation into all
the private affairs Of the accused may be gone
into without his being permitted to even
enter protest. Such things as these have
been done before now by Congressional COM
mittees and the country has submitted in
silence, because there always has been an
apparently reasonable pretext for ordering an
investigation. This case of Patrick Woods,
however, is clearly one outside of the juris-
diction of Congress- it is a step further than
either the House or Senate has dared yet to
go, and it affords favorable opportunity for
the people of the country to let Congress
know that there have been more than enough
of these star chamber inquisitions. If the
principle asserted in the case of Patrick
Woods is allowed, either house of Con-
gress may order the arrest of the newspaper
correspondents who may happen to make un-
pleasant disclosures about the trans
actions of the MEMBERS they
can arrest and punish the editors who
comment unfavorably on the sayings and
doings of honorable Senators and Represen-
tatives, and they can arrest and punish citi-
zens of every degree upon charges that
would not be listened to for moment in any
court of law The irresponsible and vindic-
tive character of a judicial investigation by
the House of Representatives was clearly
shown in the debates on wednesday
and yesterday. The majority of the
Judiciary Committee reported in favor
of imprisoning Woods for three months in
the Jail of the District of Columbia, in the
same manner as other criminals; but General
Butler, who we believe is entitled to the dis
tinction of being called the champion in
vestigator," moved as an amendment to this
that the term of imprisonment be extended
until the 4th of March next. If Woods were
to be tried before court of law, he
would not only have an opportunity to de-
fend himself, but in case he were to be found
guilty the statutes would define with exact
ness the punishment due to his offense. Be-
fore the House of Representatives, however,
there is no fate between the payment of a
one dollar fine and death upon the gallows
that may not be meted out to him. This
case is insignificant enough in itself, aud
Woods, who seems to be a brutal ruffian,
would probably have got no more than
his deserts, even if the House had
adopted General Buffers amendment,
but the principle involved is one that
cannot be disregarded by the American peo-
pie with impunity, and the House of Repre-
sentatives ought not to be permitted to over
ride the liberties even of this Richmond ruff
fan without at least protest from the indie
pendent press.