New-York tribune., 1871-12-08
Y1IIp OONGRESS-1ID SESSION

THE CASE OF THE KU-KLUX wITNEsSES-DOUBTs
CONCERNING THE POWER OF CONGRESS TO
PUNISH THEM-A DULL DAY IN THE housh'
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON, Thursday. Dec. 7. 1871.
.rh.re "a crave doubt as to the power OF
to brins 70 the bar Of either House, and punish
ttnaas for refusing to questions put to MIN
nv Jo,nt Committee Of both Houses; and the depao
today on Senator SCOTS resolutions 10 direot tne '
Presdent to issue his warrant for the arrest OF
cous KuKlux witnesses, got the question doeper an"
deeper into the mire The matter now stands aoo"' ~
follovs Senator Scott has introduced concurre
luton putting the authority OF arrest and pu'S"e
,n ,b,s cso into the hands Of the Senate other oe
tor. led nv Edmunds think that contempt OF 'he 'o
Committee IL contempt Of each House seF","'. .,.
offences In one act-and, therefore, desiro " a'' 80
pcndcuty Of the House of Representative. ara
than an hours debate Senator snernan' ~ tsh ,or
concise speech showed that the power 70 .a;nst
... ,on tho ofense Il committed against
Tho DIGNITY of either House OF Ho"A'
lies with the House whose dignity Is "Ien". =, ,n
neither In parliamentary nor consti"'i'"" " ,, 49,
an offense as contempt against CoherN'' 10 ......
o,nzed Iu the case before the Seh"'o, Wv ,,
we're summoned BY the authority OF oo'h HOUSES A"o
80 ,,... .,s hv authority Of both Houses. and
,h ,r,cp,, xvas committed against the dignity OF ooth
Houses The witnesses must, therefore, DC 'r'eo anu
punished Ivy the joint action OF "o'h i'"''S " w
all Bat there Is no law, precedent OF recoEHeu p"f
icuo hy VIII
,.rn, and the courts would probably discharge, on
, % ,,ress corpus any prisoner held by such aii-
,h,y when this point forciby put, the Senators
red 70 debate It no more While the debate on s'n"tor
sco,ts resolutions in progress to-day, common
I,,l.,s" Conklng and Carpenter more than once
hwcd by remarks intended to bc sarcastic low sorcly
they feel their defeat during the Special Session last
Spnng.
The proceedings Of tho House to-day were without IN
terest resolution offered by Mr. willard passed,
calling upon the Secretary of tie Interior for n'rina
ton TO the male inhabitants over q years
OF age in each State who deprived OF the suffrage
other than for participation In the kepelo' is
,fornst on the House discovered yesterday IL esseDta
the framing Appcronment BILL The regular oraer
was then demanded aud the Clerk continued Tor an hour
and Quarter TO read, to an flatentve ahdlence au'
othermslalnen OF the pOrderous PostOhce Codncauon
bill There remained but three pages to read when 1t
was discovered that the morning hour had expired
motion was made to 20 into Committee OF the Whole,
out was not put, Mr Edrdge moving to adJonrn,
which the House was evidently disposed to do. Pend
ing the motion to adjourn dozen gentlemen got
on their feet and began to shout "Mr Speaker and
brandsh the bills they wanted to Introduce Tor re''r-
ence The Speaker very sensiby took occasion TO dee
cate the habit which has grown into regular prac
ce introducing bills ont of order by unanimous con-
sent and thus disturbing proper course OF business
He reminded the House that ample opportunity is given
on every Monday for the introduction OF all tine bs
members wish to offer. The House took the suggestion
in good part and at adjourned. There Will be no
session tomorrow Saturday, the members wishing
time to attend to what is generally known among them
Al department business" which means calling on the
for constituents This Cratnitous ofhee-seeking ana
gcucy business is the most Onerous ana dlsagrec-
an'e part Of the avocatUn OF Congressman nu very
Lcrbc having the courage to refuse to discharge
tbcse sccIied duties.