National Republican., 1873-01-31
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

OF Executive communications; which were re-
tetred 10 appropriate committees.
Mr.. Sargent, of Cal, offered q resolution, re- |
qnestiDg the Secretary Of the Treasury to inform
the House forthwith what amount Of Appropria-
ton Is necessary In each Department for postage
In consequence Of the abolition Of the fTAnklng
privilege. Adopted.
FAILURE on TnE MERCHANTS NATIONAL BANK.
MIR. blOcuin, OF New YORK, Introduced fesolu-
rency for copies OF all papers on nle In his once
In relation 10 the failure OF the Merchants Ma
tlOnal Bank, Of Washington, ID. o., and in rela-
tOn To tue deposit In the Ocean National Bank,
OF New York, Of certain facinc railroad bonds
by Joseph u. Stewart. Adopted.
PENSION Bills.
The regular order was demanded, and In the
Mr. Willard, Of W., from the Committee on
Revolutionary Pensions and tho War Of 1919,
Hunt, Of Maine, a soldier oi tho Revolutionary
war. Passed.
Also, a bm granting pension to Jeremiah
1919.
Also, a bill restoring to the pension rolls the
names OF certain persons, soldiers Of the war OF
lbls, stricken from the pension rolls for having
taken up AIMS against the Government OF hav-
ing IN any manner encouraged the rebels.
hr: Luwiey, OF Conn, opposed the bill, and
SAID ne Was content with the concessions made
10 those who were In rebellion, but ho wanted
some mark left on the statute books 10 show
that the nation dsaPProyed Of treason.
dier OF the war Of 1919 who had ever raised his
hand against tho nag, although their sons might
have done 50, and their sympathies might have
citing Of an instance where one Of these old sol
diers had raised his arm against the nag.
Mr.. Butler, Of Mass, sad his position In Oppo-
sltiOn TO traitors and treason was well known.
He stated that when In command NJ New Or
leans, Il became necessary TO disaTm the cltl-
zens; and, among others, there came 10 him
some Of these olu soldiers, who said, with tears
In their eyes, " My arm Is too old TO Iaise this
weapon against you, but do not take from me
this swoTI, which wore under Jackson" aud he
allowed them to retain their precious relic.
Whether they were right or wrong, they had
won tile right to he wrong by shedding their
6lood ior lleir country. lApplause.l 1he war
what happened, not In 1891, but in 1919 and IL
not the New Orleans Of 1881, but the New orleans
Of 1919.
Mr.. nawley, of H., opposed the bin, saying he
could never consent 10 give pensions TO rebels.
Mt. FaTnswOrth, OF ILL.,, said he was surprised
at the opposition TO so Just bill. Lucrative
offices hAd been given to men who had beer
active IN the rebelGon and whose political dlsa
blllties had been removed. Some OF the mos
prominent men In the rebellion had been ap
poor men, who were too old to bear arms, wer'
deprived Of their pensions because they nigh
nave a sou with whom they sympathized.
MI. bingham, OF Ohio, advocated the pasaag
OF the bill, saying that one Of these men wa
under " years, aud that II was a duty Of th
country 70 restore the plttance to soothe thel
declining years.
The 6li was then passed.
MI. spIague, oi Ohio, reported bill granting
pension 70 sally Clark, widow q Joseph l
SlaIk, soldier OF the war Of 1914. Passed.
l. y. STEWART At THE Ban or THE HOUSE
Al l:Eo y. m. the SeIgeant-at-Arms appeared .
the bar Of the House having IN custody Mr. =. I
Stewart, In compliance with the order OF IN
House Of yesterday, alleged 10 be In contempt {
the House In that he refused to answer quei
aPn PTSPSMandsa 70 him 6y ne select S0mm,''
The speaker, addressing Mr.. Stewart, said
was the duty Of the speaker to ask him, "Al
you now ready to make answer to any prop
question addressed to you by the committee b
fore which you have been summoned as a wi
ncss7"
Mr.. Stewart. Being summoned to the bar
this house under \ charge Of contempt !, In I
respect TO Its authority and as dutiful citize
deny that am In contempt, and have not !
iaseI to answer any question which, M INN ~ my ~ 1gd
American citizen, II was my duty 10 answe
and, secondly, by the duties imposed upon me
because what was required OF me had its ORG
IN the relations Of counsel and client, and q
matters Of which had not and could have
and those matters are not mine. They belong
those who trusted me, and know of no tribuT
whatever before which they can be disclosed.
MR. STEWART SAID THAT
before the hour for the opening OF the House
had addressed note TO the chairman OF
committee, stating that, In reading the rep
70 his refusal 70 testify, and had observed tina
was full OF errors, aud that he desired the
testimony to be submitted, and that the te,
mony as now written out should not be vi
Mr.. stewart said that he would, however,
he desired to dispose Of this question as speed
rs possible, rs he held In his hand letter call
him 10 professional duties which he desired
tulnlI, take this occasion " say what the To-
mOny was, and thus save the necessity Of ira
voluntarily, fully, and frankly testlaed in II
tiOn 10 all that seemed TO be the object OF
resolution Of the House under which the g
mittee was appointed, which was, as he unt
stood II, the relations Of the Government to
Union Paclfic railroad, and the indebtedness
the road TO the Government, and the mean
governing the same, In the examination he
answered fully and frankly that he had
counsel for the company anu counsel for pera
connected with the road.
lie had received his fees aud some $3.50
which had been placed In his hands In bonds
money by clients and for clients In the c0nni
uAl relation known to the profession as cou
and client, and that he had respectfully ref
10 disclose. The examination was abridged
the lateness OF the houT and he was not allo
an opportunity to be Asfull as he desired.
his return TO the city he was again summit
before the committee, and the first ques
asked was the same he had declined to ans
lie stated to the committee that the only Ii
nation he refused TO give was that which 9
TO him IN his attitude as counsel. The re
Of the committee stated Otherwise, and that
a portion OF the report to which he objected
WHAT Mr.. STEWART FURTHER sAID.
lie made a general denial OF being In
tempt, and said that he was asked to testify
CeTnng mattets relating 10 himself nnt
Cllents which commenced thirteen years agt
concluded ten years ago, and had long
ceased to be subject OF reflection. Som
the papers and materials had been returned
he could not, were he TO try, give an acel
and distinct account Of the transactions, y
was now called upon to disclose the connd
and produce the papers OF his clients, son
whom had died and gone to higher tribun
he failed TO make these disclosures, he was
he was liable 70 be incarceTated for not
what II he had done his clients could disbAr
and could make him liable for damages. Y
was told that unless he violate the law the !
would put him In hastle,
lie on his oath, subject to all the pains
penalties for perjury, stated that he had n
the matter referred TO paid any bonds or ~
or dcail with, directly or indirectly, any q
Cf this Government, executive or legislatlV
felt confident that II brought before any
,ial body with the laws now in existence