The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-03-09

however, having testified before the com
mittec and having given no indication oi
a contempt OF the House, It was beyond
the power Of the committee or Of the
House to have ordered him into custody
or to have restraired him in any manner
Of his liberty without having been guilty
OF almost as great an outrage as that
charged to the Secretary Of War. Marsh,
however, might have been taken into
custody in pursuance Of the law by an
other department Of the government.
He (Knott) did not insinuate that
the distinguished head Of the department
Of Justice or that the District Atty. was
not aware Of the proper mode and man
ner Of securing Marsh's detention. There
was now but one method by which Marsh
could be brought back, and that was an
infallible one. II was in the power Of
one man to have Marsh in Washington
in forty.eight hours. 1t was simple
plan, and one known to the legal profess
sion from the earliest dawn OF jurispru-
dence. II the President OF the U. s.
really, honestly and sincerely desired the
impeachment, indictment and punishment
Of the late Secretary of War, whose enor-
nous crimes had disgraced his own ad-
ministration, and had caused every
Americans cheek 10 mantle with shame,
all that he had to do was to give aSur-
ance to the witness, Marsh, that il he
would come before the tribunals and tell
the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth, he should have free pardon, and
Marsh would be in Washington in forty
eight hours. Marsh was not coming
without such assurance, and no sane man
in his situation would come without such
assurance after what had been blazoned
over the country. The question there
fore presented itself to the committee
what was most advisable for the House to
do, and the committee had concluded that
to present articles Of impeachment with
moral certainty that there would be no
sufficient evidence to sustain them would
put the House in an attitude which would
render it ridiculous in the eyes Of the
world and contemplate in its honest esti-
nation. He did not believe there was
more than one man in the House who
would feel disposed 10 place the House
in that position when abundant evidence
might be procured to sustain the charge.
Mr.. Lynde, another member Of the Ju-
dietary Committee, sustained the report
OF the committee and submitted that
even il Marsh were present 1t would not
be prudent to present articles on his tes-
timony alone, particularly when it was
apparent that other important testimony
could be procured. He regretted the
manifestation OF any partisan feeling on
the subject and intimated that no menu
ber Of the House could ride into the
Presidency in the manner in which this
investigation should be conducted.
Al the conclusion OF Mr.. Lynde's re-
marks, Mr.. Lawrence, also n member OF
the Judiciary Committee, tried to get the
floor, but Mr.. Knott moved the previous
question and resisted the appeals OF the
Republican members TO withdraw the
motion.
The previous question was seconded
and the resolution adopted.
Mr.. Knott then moved the previous
question on the bill to protect witnesses
who shall be required to testify in the
case.
Mr.. Kasson appealed TO Mr.. Knott not
TO insist on the previous question, but to
allow some little discussion.
Mr.. Blaine-There have been two
speeches made on the opposite side Of the
House. [Shouts Of "0rdcr," "Order,"
from the Democratic side. Every man
here is in favor Of the bill, but we want
one short speech on this subject from
member OF the Judiciary Committee.
Continued shouts Of "order."
Mr.. Davis-The gentleman from Maine
is out OF order, and he knows 1t. He
ought to obey the rules Of the House.
Laughter.
4 vote by tellers was taken on second
ing the previous question, but the Repub-
licans generally refrained from voting,
SO there did not appear TO be quorum.
There being nothing in order in that con-
dition except motion to adjourn or for
a call OF the House, Mr.. Blaine again ap.
pealed to Mr.. Knott as saving Of time
10 allow n short debate. He himself did
not want to speak more than fifteen min
ntes.
Mr.. Hoar said there were some appar-
ent defects in the bill and that the pre-
vious question would prevent the offering
OF amendments. He thought the bill
would easily pass.
Mr.. Blaine-The vote would be uHan-
imous.
Mr.. Knott declined to make any COM
promise and so there was nothing for it
but call Of the House.
After the call, which showed the pres
ence OF a quorum, Mr.. Blaine made an
other effort TO secure chance for discus
eion on the Republican side, disclaiming |
anything that had the appearance Of fill
clustering, but his voice was drowned in
shouts Of "order' from the Democrats.
Another vote by tellers had the same
result aud there was another call OF the
House.
After two hours consumed in this way
an arrangement was made, which Mr..
Knott said he had proposed from the be.
ginning, that half Of the hour left to the
committee after seconding the previous
question should be given to Mr.. Lawrence.
Mr.. Lawrence yielded part Of that time
to Mr.. Kasson, who expressed his regret
that statements which had been made
yesterdaylin the heat OF debate had to-
day been repeated by the cool gentleman
from Kentucky (Knott). Mr.. Kasson
undertook to show that Marsh could not
have been frightened away by any Cabi-
net proceeding, rs Marsh left Washington
at / o'clock on Thursday, three hours
before the report was presented in the
House, and could not have learned any
thing about the mythical meeting Of the
Cabinet until he heard il in Montreal on
Saturday morning.
Mr.. Lawrence also yielded few min
utcs to Mr.. Blaine, who declared that he
was authorized to say that there never
had been any instructions in the Cabinet
to prosecute Marsh. Marshs case has
never been considered in the Cabinet, ,lbut
simply the question Of prosecuting Bel
knap.
SENATE.
SECRET SOCIETIES.
Mr.. Cameron (of wisconsin, presented
a petition signed by over 10000 persons
in regard to secret societies. The petit
t;npass 1onloro tbnfH nnnnaiIinn m all