Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-02-14
NUMBER 80.

movement tsrned the scale against him in
the Senatorial contest last June. MANY
who had known him long and well had been
forced by one circumstance and another to
doubt his reliability both as politician and
a man. So, when his defeat came, the out
side world, who knew him only BY his fair
reputation, were surprised but that sur
prise was not shared by the well-informed
men of our own State. The Republican
party, unlike any other that has gone before
1t. will not bestOw its honOrs upon men of
compromised regulations 1t may be mis-
taken sometimes, and it may sometime be
slow to be undeceive1, but when its faith in
one of its idols is once shaken, that idol is
forever after broken image.
AMUSING SCENE IN THE HoUsE.-The gal
leries Of the House were packed, Thursday,
with people curious to witness the proceed
ings in the case Of the contumaciOus wit
ness, Joseph B. Stewart, who refused to tell
the Wilson Committee what he did with
quarter of million of dollars, or there
about, put in his hands by the Union Pacific
Railroad Directory, in 1861, for some mys-
terious purpose. Nearly all the members
were in their seats, and behind the semi
circle of desks stood a crowd Of spectators,
who had been admitted to the privileges Of
the floor, Among them were many persons
of note, including ex-governor Seymour.
Augustus Schell, and Horace F. Clark, Of
New York General Burnside, Ex-Governor
Warmoth, of Louisiana, President White.
of Cornell University, Secretary RObeson,
and q number Of Senators. About 30,
Sergeant-at Arms Ordway came marching
down the centre aisle of the hall with his
prisoner. Ordway is a man of unusual
height, but he appeared Of only moderate
stature when standing beside the gigantic
Stewart, who measures more than six and
half feet in height. \ page followed close
upon Stewards heels. with an armtul of
law books. Two more ran for chairs on one
of which the books were deposited, and
third brought glass Of water. The Speaker
asked Stewart # he was ready TO answer
the questions that had been put to him, to
which Stewart replied in an hours speech
For nearly twenty minutes everybody lis
tened to his talk about his honor. and his
obligations as an attorney not to reveal the
secrets Of his clients, and at one time. when
in an excited manner he declared that, 50
help him God, if he should be sent to prison
the confidence of those who trusted him
should rest in his bosom, the gallcrieS ap-
plauded, and looked upon him for the mo-
ment, no doubt, a hero undergoing per-
secItion. He ought To have stopped then.
but he kept on and on, repeating himself
over and over again, and reading tedious
extracts from his law books. until
most Of the members went u writ
ing, reading and talking, and paid no
more attention 10 him than if he had been 4
member himself Twice attempts were
made to choke him off by points of order,
but the Speaker ruled that he was entitled
to his hour lie took every minute Of it.
and when he concluded it was with flight
Of iustian oratory about the guarantees Of
the Constitution and the liberties of the eiti-
zen. about TO be infringed in his case. He
made no impression on the House. Every
member knew that it had been repeatedly
decided by legislative bodies in like cases
that no man attempting 10 corrupt the fOun-
tain Of law or suspected oft can shield him
self from testlfying behind the profession Of
an attorney. If this could be done, cOrrup
tionists might ply their trade under the noses
of investigating committees, for when ques-
toned about their transactions they wOnld
only have to plead that they were lawyers,
and that the persons with whom they did
bushes, were their clients Washington
Special 10 Tribune.
We might add that while the lobbyist
Stewart was boring the House with his tur-
gid eloquence, Mr.. Lynch Of Maine busted
himself in drawing up resolution. which
received the hearty approval Of all the mem
bers in his neighb0rhO0d. Ii ran a. follows
Resolved, That the sergeant-at-armS be
directed to take j B. Stewart to the
steps Of the east front Of the House of
Representatives and then and there apply
the toe Of his boot to that part of said
Stewards body which l. located just be
meath his coat tail a. MANY times a. may be
necessary to propel said Stewart to the
track Of the Metropolitan railroad, and
there leave him, and that all further pro-
ceedings in this case be dispensed with.