National Republican., 1876-12-21

| FERNANDO WOOD RISES TO EXPLAIN.
Mr. WOOD,of N. Y. rose to a personal explana-
tIon and said he would ask the Indulgence of the
House on matter personal to himself 1t was
the first time he had ever intruded personal
matter on the House. A newspaper of this city
has been made the vehicle OF disseminating false
and sc,ndalTus IS charges against him, many E Of
years ago; the falsity Of which allegations was
shown at the time and the charges were rotracted
by the parties making them.
| IThese charges were revived now for the purpose
Of deterring him from the Performance Of his
cation in these publications are false and fraudu-
lent, were SO proven, and were then made for the
their the Ip purpose n then, and were re- disprOven and
withdrawn without cent Of money being paid to
secure that object. In order to show the falsty
of some Of these charges, and the purpose for
which they were made, he lMr Woopl would
Mr.. Spofford, the librarian Of Congress. This
licitation.
tion has been called to the publication Of certain
charges against Mr.. Woop in the NATIONAL
an alleged interview @ S that the pamphlet referred
to by THE REPUBLICAN had been stolen from the
Of the assistant librarian that the interview had
not taken place as reported. He was informed
6s sa s1 s IF The ee
Lance, a paper devoted chiefly co libels.
MI WOOD said he s desired e to 70 repeat. in con,
the articles referred to were false land with this
statement and denial he would drop the subject.
IApplause on the Democratic side ..
IRELAND CONGRATULATIONS.
The SPEAKER said that he had been informed
Of the presence in the city Of a gentleman who
bore an address @ from the Irish people to the
nial, and he would suggest that some action
should be taken to receive the message.
| Mr.. HOLMAN, of Ind, offered q resolution re-
citing that it has been announced that John
o'C0nnor Power, M. p has been deputed by the
Irish nation to present to the people ofthe United
States resolutions Of congratulation on the occa-
| sion of the American Centennial, and that the
Foreign Affairs with instructions to report what
| action should be taken in the premises.
not De- more proper to use the words Irish people,
MT HOLMAN said that matter had been con-
sidered, and it was deemed best to use the words
| Irish nation.
Mr. HoAR inquired where it received its na-
MT HOLMAN said from the Irish people resi-
| dent in ireland.
Mr.. BANNING. of Ohio, from the Committee
| on Military Affairs reported back the message Of
Of Captain E. S. Meyers to the active list Of the
| army, and recommended that the bill do not pass.
The House SO ordered.
REPORT UPON THE MORRISON TELEGRAM.
| Mr.. LYNDE, of Wis, from the Committee on
the judiciary, reported upon the resolution sub.
mitted to them on December 10, and that the COM
Sy the ene
mittee appOinted to investigate certain matters
| in Louisiana. The communication fails to inform
who refuse to produce the books and papers called
fussl was made. The House has power to compel
| the production Of books, papers or kilograms
fuses to do So is liable to Be brought to the bar Of
| the House.
The committee, therefore, report for adoption a
vestigstion Of the House refuses to appear before
papers kilograms In bis possession or under his
centrol, and which are demanded by said commit
% snd IL
stances relating to such REFUSAL for the action of
They report also an additional resolution that,
whenever witness has been su6penaed to ap
pear before committee Of the House, any per.
to his evidence, or who shall interfere with him
or prevent the attendance Of such witness, or
him from producing any kilograms, books or
papers required by the committee on the facts
Be- to to
answer for breach Of the privileges Of the
| House.
MINORITY REPORT.
Committee, submitted an additional resolution. on.
sehn declaring myth that subRena issued BY committee
| grams books, papers and other documents shall
may be, in order that they may be made capable
to be produced they shall be described by refer.
ence to the name Of the party sending or recev-
and dates IS near as may nay Be- ascertaiDed; but the
committee charged with investigation shall not
to make Rssv such DESCRIPTION when they
rant Of the contents or the date Of the dispatch,
and in that case any description which will en-.
able such telegraph dispatch to be identified
| shall be deemed sufficient.
MR.. KNorr's SUBSTITUTE.
Mr.. KNOTT, Of KY, offered substitute for
both reports on his own responsibility as follows
deriDg communication transmitted by telegraph
any more privileged than accumulation made
orally or in any other manner whatever; that this
House has the power, through its subpoena, under
the hand and seal of the Speaker, to require any
t has given authority to examine witnesses and
send for persons and papers, to procure telegraph
committee, such committee may deem neces-
sary to the investigation with which such COM
Committee may order ' and direct amy witness @ WSo
may be brought before it, to produce to the COM
nittee any books or papers, whether such paper
be telegraphic dispatch or any other which may
appear to be in his possession or under his own
control which such committee may deem necessary
charged. And that any person upon whom such
subpoena shall have been served who shall DISC
dsobey the order ef sash Committee to pro
duce any book or paper which he shall have been
brought before the bar oi the House, upon re,
port Of the facts BY the committee, to answer for
contempt of the authority of the House. and
| dealt with as the law under the facts may re-
quire.
Resolved, That any person who shall prevent
been subpenaed to appear before any committee
| Of this House from so appearing or from testify
book or paper which such witness may have been
required to produce, or prevent or attempt to
, truth before any such committee, Should, upon
the report Of the committee Of all the facts, be
brought to the bar of the House to answer con-
l m ha daol vvff ha la npda tha
facts may require.
DISCUSSION OF THE RESOLUTIONS.
| After all Of the resolutions had been read Mr..
hYNDE ;on Dd proposed to demand the prsvons quss:
agreed that there should be some debate.
Mr.. HURD said he had offered his proposition
: | because he wanted TO avoid throwing out drag
| net which would embrace all the telegraph
| offices of the land and compel them to produce
only cover kilograms public matters, but tele-
grams embracing to great extent the private
bearing upon the subject matter to be investi.
, | gated. Mr.. HURD said that when courts of JUS
, tice demanded papers they specified the papers
: Mr.. LYNDE contended that there was no
|, analogy between papers demanded by q court of
Justice and those demanded by q legislative COM
mittee and that the same rules did not apply.
He quoted English precedents to show that his
snd uric of the House Si
> its own powers by adopting Mr. HuRD's PROPOSE
| tion.
Mr.. KNOTT argued in favor of his own propo-
sition, and said Mr.. MoRRIsoN's letter disclosed
the fact that there was necessity for t, and his
request should be accorded, to take such action
as would give the committee power over wit
: | nesses.
Mr.. McCRARY said this would be q good time
to settle definitely and forever the principle to
how far q legislative body could go in demanding
, kilograms and other papers. The question should
be settled as to how far telegrams are nviolable
He did not believe that either political party had
intrusted secrets to the telegraph which 1t would
really fear to have made public, and therefore,
while It might be proper 70 reach them, the pri-
vate dispatches Of individuals should be pro-
d tected, and therefore the subpoenas should de-
t scribe the papers that would be required. The
minority Of the committee did not think that all
Q | dispatches in q given time should be demanded
y He believed that any committee could intelli-
gently describe just such papers as It wanted to
n examine. What the minority objected to was
n that drag net should be thrown out. If he was
q | not mistaken, there had been times when whole
!? bundles of dispatches were brought from tele-
D. graph Offices into committee rooms for the pur-
It pose Of being oyehauled SO that particular dis