Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-03-08

process p 1t had gone forth to the country
that the committee bad conDlved at the ao-
scondiug of an important witness, against the
protest of the Republican members OF the COM
miltee; but it was needless for him to say that
that charge was fatty false, and he only won
dered that those Republican members had al
lowed it to 20 out, on their authority, WltnouI
contradiction. He went on to say that 1t would
be utterly impossible even to CONVICT the late
Secretary OF War, or any other cabinet officer,
except by the testimony OF accomphces, and
vet the House was DOW TO be told that an &C.
complete should not testify before committee
except at his owo peril. 1t was against that
he protested. He intimated that the phrase,
Let no guilty man escape, would be co.,
slIued by the country to mean, Let 20 man
escape who dares to tell on those VINO are 10
aut hority." He warned the House that the
voIumnuus Investigations that we're now pro-
crossing would be stopped, and that it would
ba utterly impossible TO carry them farther sue
eessiulIy unless there was declaration that
the test uouy of witnesses should not be used
against them.
Mr.. Lamar, of Mississippi, said that there
should not be any exhibition Of party feeling
or excitement in the presence of such solemn
events as were throwing their shadows over
the House. 1t seemed to him that the voice
of faction should at last be hushed. DE re-
garded this mandate or summons or subj oe Ia
issued to members of committees by the Su-
preme Court of the District as an outrage on
the privileges of this House. He did not say
the object Of the court was to hush or to sup
press investigations. The question was Que
purely of parliamentary privilege. be regard
ed it as violation of the privileges OF the
House for court to issue summons to
member and order him to bring along with
him the records of the House, aud to remain
in court and not to part until allowed by the
court or District Attorney.
Mr.. Blaine. Does not the gentleman from
Mississippi see, and does not the whole coun'
try see, that, having possession OF all the evil
dence on which an Indictment can be found,
and having 10 its possession every paper 10 the
case, the House puts itself behind ts technical
privilege and throws itself across the indlct-
ment ct Belknap; aud that to-day it stands as
the obstacle, aud sole obstacle to the lndlct-
ment OF the late Secretary of War?
MIR. Lamar. Neither the gentleman from
Mississippi, nor the country, nor the gentle
man from Maine, sees any such thing.
MIR. Blaine. 1t is nothing but that. 49,
MIR. Lamar. 1t is anything but that. The
question is simply whether the House will per.
-
District Court There is no doubt but that
when the investigation is completed it will be
within the discretion of the House to permit
the courts of the country to come in and get
evidence, but not pendente lite, while the in-
vestigatioo is going on, and while the commit.
Tee is taking further testimony. Such pro-
position was monstrous and ridiculous.
MIR. Blame said he agreed with MIR. Lamar,
that while the affair was IN hnsine, it would be
improper for a court to interfere. But that
was not the case here The question was
whether the House would permit the testimony
and papers in the hands OF its committee to be
sent to the court. The House could refuse it
or could send it. And now, said he mpetu-
ousIy-I dare, dare that side OF the House 10
refuse it. Applause Oh the Republican side
and great excitement.
Mr.. Lamar continued his remarks, which he
closed by Offering resolution reciting the his
tory Of the case, declaring the mandate OF the
court to be breach of the privileges of the
House, and directing the members OF the COM
nittee to disregard such mandate
MIR. Kassou, of Iowa, invited the House TO
ook coolly at the situation developed. The
question Was raised here as question of priv
llege on the part of member of the House
who had received judicial invitation to aid 10
the Indictment and punishment of criminal.
1t was an extraordinary case, and one without
precedent and against precedent. He asked
whether there had ever been any such propo-
sition as had been suggested to the House con-
demuing the sworn executor of the law because
he had directed his subordnates to enforce
those laws. The grand jury was sworn to To-
dict men guilty Of crime within their jursdlc-
ton, and the House aud the committee had no
right to embarrass the grand jury 10 the exc
cution of the laws of the land.
Mr.. McCrary, OF Iowa, reminded bis col
league that the committee had IN Its posses,
sion the contract, which must be the tounda.
ton of any proceeding tor an indictment OF
this offender, and that that contract was prob:
ably the very thing that the grand jury would
get hold of. ~.
Mr.. Clymer remarked that that contract was
between Caleb P. Marsh aud John 5. Evans,
and that the Secretary oil War knew nothing
forwards.
MIR. kassou, 10 the course of some further
remarks, referred 10 the interview which MIR.
Blackburn of Kentucky, had had with some
of the parties implicated, and suggested that
the grand jury might have desire to examine
him about it. ~'-
Mr.. Blackburn replied that if the gentleman
from Iowa said that he had had conversations
with Mrs. Belknap, and at great length, he
would copy The remark of senator and would
au; horize the gentleman from Iowa, whenever
he heard anybody making any such statement,
to say that be bad his Mr.. Black burn' 81 au
thority for telling that man that he lies.
IGreat excitement.
MIR. Kasson. Do understand the gentle
mao to say that be had no conversation on the
subject involved in this prosecution, involved
in this criuiuslity, outside of the committee
room?
MIR. Black burn. | have filed statement on
the subject which neither the gentleman from
Iowa nor any other men can impugo.
Mr.. Kasson. Then appeal to that statement
and ask If thatis not so. If the interview was
lmpe rt!oent to the case why was itreported and
made public, and if pertinent to the case why
are not the criminal courts of the country en-
titled to it? Applause on the Republican
side.
MIR. Blackburn. Will the gentleman from
Iowa inform the House whether the newspaper
report is true, that be and his colleagues waited
in a body on the former Secretary ofWar?
NJ K.soop I will ansuer the nuesfion with