Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-01-07
Irwin Before the bar OF the House.

L
| munds regarding the condition of affairs in
| the south. In abiding TO the lstter's remarks
Mr; Gordon said; The senator from Vermont
| said the people OF the south were Semi-bar-
| barians, and suggested comparison between
| them and the people OF his own section. He
(Mr. q. would not initiate such a spirit He
| would do nothing u detract from the glory
| tor represented.
Mr. Edmunds asked Mr.. Gorion o. point
out where he had made use OF such language
| Mr.. Gorton.-The Senator's wOpis were
| ournt INTO my memory, and will not out
Mr.. Edmunds said the Senator could not
GET over in that way the audacity with which
Il ne has assumed 70 make statements here of
l the position OF other Senators.
Mr.. GOrdon.-l am responsible for my state
4 mentS.
Mr.. Edmunds-of course responsibility is
| very good thing.
Mr.. GOrion.-The want of ii il sometimes a
| very excellent thing.
| Mr. Gordon then read from Mr. EdmundS'
4 speech of yesterday tai the effect that when
the people OF the south brought to Justice
| their associates who committed murder upon
their fellow citizens for no cause hut opinions
sake, " then | shall begin 10 have some faith
| that our southern brothers, who, it seems.
| have not yet forgotten the old manners and
| ways Of Sem-barbarOuS times. have Thought
1 better of IL; and then / shall begin % have
| some faith that whatever irregularities or
wrongs may exist i'm the anatomy Of any OF
| those states will he properly corrected" Mr.
Gonton, in conclusion, expressed his perfect
4 conviction that the people OF the north could
| rot be rallied To this new persecution OF the
| south He had come here with his heart FUN
| oi good viii To every section Of the cDuntry-.
| and had the expression Of the same feeling
4 from all his people. His faith was as strong
as ~ was i'm the great throne Of Jehovah that
/ right, truth and justice will yet prevail and
that the people OF the north and Uhe south
| viii stand together on common ground for
| the common good OF the whole country.
/ Mr.. Edmunds followed. He said the Sen
ator from Georgia had said great deal
about the glory shed upon the country by
L the southern men Of the past. but he hal
ii omitted 10 mention "A rRpanf Time whom
| the men of the south lifted their hands not
| Tor a common country, but To destroy that
\ country. The Senator had spoken of Wash
| ingtOn, Henry, Marshal and Taney. Illus
| trious names, But were not these names
| dimmed by the names of a Davis. and a
| Lee, and Toombs, and others that he
1 might mention. He (Mr. F. did not. how
ever, wish To refer to this. The people Of the
| north had no luminosity toward the people of
1 The south. All they wished was that life
4 and liberty should be protected i'm the south
| and also the freedom OF political opinions.
| senator Flanagan followed; and pending
further discussion the senate adjourned.
HOUSE.-After our report closet
Both Mr.. Hale (MeD and Mr.. Cox N. "
| gave notice that ON Monday next the former
1 would again introduce his resolution pro-
4 yiding for new election i'm Louisiana. and
the latter one which would embrace the idea
that peace could best he secured 10y the with
drawal of the United States army from New
| The House then resolved itself into Com
mittee of the Whole on the fertilization an
| preparation BILL Mr.. Eldredge (WiSD in the
| chair.
| Mr. Willard CVt) moved to reduce an ap-
| preparation for one Of the forts. which mo
| tion gave rise to sharp and acrimonious
| debate, during which
| THE SITUATION IN NEW ORLEANS
| was discussed by members on both sides OF
| the House.
| Mr.. Randall said that i'm his opinion Sher-
4 idan had forgotten the first requirement OF
l man and soldier, which was To adhere TO
4 the truth, for his statements OF outrageS in
\ Louisiana were false. He was glad 20 SEE
| that when that military despOt had asked
I Congress 10 proclaim the people handful.
| no one in this House had been found TO offer
l a resolution to carry out that recOmmenda-
| ton. He agreed with Mr.. Beck. that if the
| President would clear his skirts he would re-
| move Sheridan at once.
/ Mr.. f.. II. Hoar (MaSS.) said il was not Gus
| tOmary TO remove men until they had com
| United some bad or unpatriotic act. II all
| were removed who gave bad advice the
| House would have TO be cleared Of the demo-
1 cratic party.
AfteT further debate, the fertilization bill
4 was passed.
| THE RECUSANT WITNESS, IRWIN.
| Mr.. Dawes then stated that i'm obedience to
| an order OF the House the Sergeant-at-Arms
now had Richard Il. Irwin, who was held to
be in contempt for refusal TO answer certain
| questions put to him by a committee Of this
| House.
| The Sergeant-at-Arms having brought Mr..
| Irwin to the bar, the Speaker put To him the
usual question whether he was now ready 10
| appear before the committee and make an
| SwCr To the questions put % him. announcing
| 10 him that he had leave To make a statement
i'm relation to his refusal to testify before the
| committee.
| HIS STATEMENT.
| Mr. Irwin then read a statement. 10 the ef-
4 feet that he was not in contempt of the House
1 or of its authority. II had not authorized
| this investigation, and he had not refused 10
answer any question the House had ordered
10 be put TO him. He had asked the commit
tee to show him under what authority il was
4 acting, and, after five days waiting, he had
received five documents. The first two were
1 resolutions of the Forty-SecOnd Congress.
The third was resolution which had never
passed the House, but had simply been re
ferI'ed 10 that committee; a resolution, which
had il been passed, would have authorized
the committee 10 take testimony TO cOrrObO-
rate the testimony OF Legrand Lockwood.
| The fourth was resolution referring 10 the
committee the testimony in the matter OF the
| Pacific Mail steamship subsidy in the Forty
| second Congress, and the fifth was a resOlu-
ton authorizing the committee to send for
! persons and papers, and take testimony un-
der oath.
| He was informed that ii was not the duty Of
the Ways and Means Committee to inquire
into the matter of the Pacific Mail subsidy,
| but 10 look TO the finances and revenues. He
had stated that ne had not employed any per
son subject to the jurisdiction OF this House;
1 that he had not paid or agreed 10 pay or au-
4 thorized any one TO pay any money To any
officer or member OF this House. SO far
| he had been personally concerned he had
| fully and frankly answered all questions put
l to him-Some that the committee hal no
1 right TO ask. as what his salary in California
| was: what disposition he had made OF his pri-
| waite funds. So far as he had been personally
| connected, he had answered every question,
| but TO others he had duty as "A man, rights
| as a man, and privileges aS an American
/ citizen which no power had a right to take
| from him. No person could be deprived Of
| his life, liberty or property without due pro-
1 cess of law. For authority for this he would
| refer to the Constitution Of the United States
| He had been told that the House would COM
| pei him TO answer that the whole power OF
| the government would be brought against
| him tDcOmpel him 10 answer. In all ages
l men had been compelled TO lie by the infiu-
| ence of tortue, but torture never led To the
| revelation OF the truth. He appealed TO the
/ common sense of the House in this matter
| 1t was now evident to the committee that the
| information sought would be obtained from
I other sources, and the only effect of these
1 proceedings would be TO suppress mass of
/ interesting evidence which ne was willing TO
| furnish. Aside from the fact that the House
l had no right TO compel him 10 testify, no
i practical good could come from this course
1 IRWIN REFUSES TO ANSWER.
| Mr.. Dawes then offered the following, which
i was adopted:
1 Ordeys9, That the Speaker PROFOUND 10 e'person
/ in custody the following questions
| ]. Give names of persons whom YOU employs to
aid you in procuring subsidy from Congress in 1872
Il for the Pacific Mail SfeamShip Company