The New York herald., 1876-03-08

lieve it. too Applause ON the democratic side and
question by Mr. Baine-"What gag process y'')
1t had gone forth the country that the committee
had connived the absconding Of an important wit
ness against The protest OF the republican members OF
the conlntlee but Il needless for him say that
that charge atly alse and he only wondered that
those republican members had allowed II TO go out
their authority without contradiction He went TO
argue that would be utterly impossible TO convict tho
late Secretary OF War OF any other Cabinet ocer
cept by the testimony Of accomplices, and yet the
| House was now 10 be told that an accompice should
testify before a committee except at his own peril
II against that that he protested He intimaied
that the phrase, LET no guilty man escape" would be
construed by the country mean 'Let escape
! who dare tell on those who are in authority" Ho
warned the House that the volumnous Investigations
that progressing would stopped and
would be utterly impossible to carry them further
cessully unless there was declaration that the
timony OF witnesses should not be used against them
Mr. LAMAR, OF Mississippi said that there should
be any exhibition OF party feeling excitement the
presence such solemn events as were casting their
shadows over the House. IL seemed him the voice
OF faction should at least DO hushed He regarded this
mandate or summons, or subpoena, issued 10 the
members OF committees by the Supreme Court OF the
District OF Columbia AS outrage privileges OF this
House, he did not that the object OF the Court
To hush or TO suppress nvestgatons the question
one OF purely parliamentary privilege. He regarded
u as violation Of the privileges OF the House for
court 10 issue summons to member and order him to
bring along with him the records OF tho House. and 10
remain IN court, and not to depart until allowed by tho
Court or District Attorney
| Mr.. BLAISE-Does not the gentleman from Mssis-
sipp see and does not the whole country see that,
having possession OF the evidence on which the ndct
ment can be found, and having its possession every
paper in the case the House puts itself behind tech
nca privilege and throws itself the Indictment
of Belknap and that to-day II stands the Obstac e.
and the sole obstacle to the indictment of the late
Mr.. LANAR-Neither the gentleman from Mississippi
nor the country, nor the gentleman from Maine sees
any such thing.
Mr.. BLANE-It is nothing but that
Mr. LAMAR-It is anything out that The question
is simply whether this House will permit It's records 10
be at the beck and call OF District Court There is
doubt but that when the Investigation completed 1t
will be within the discretion OF the House permit
the Courts OF the country TO in and get evidence
but peldente lite while tho investigation is going
on aud while the committee is taxing further
mony. Such a proposition was monstrous and
ridiculous.
Mr. BLAINE said he agreed with Mr. Lamar, that
while the affair in iimni IL would be improper for
Court TO Interfere, but that the here
The question whether the House would permit
the testimony and papers in the hands of its com
mlttee to be sent to tnat Court The House could
fuse IL or send 1t, "and now said he impetuously ~
dare, dare that side of the House It," Zap
plause on the republican side and great excitement
Mr.. LAMAR continued his remarks, which he closed
by offering resolution recng the history OF the case
declaring the mandate of the Court 10 be breach OF
the privileges OF the House, and directing the members
of the commtte to disregard such mandate
Mr. kAssoN, trep) Of Iowa. invited the House 10 look
coolly at the situation developed this morning The
question raised here a question of privilege on
the part of member of the House who had received
judicial invitation to aid in the indictment aud punish
ment of criminal 1t extraordinary case, and
one without precedent and against precedent. lie
asked whether there had been any such propo-
son as had been suggested to the House condemning
the executor OF the laws because he had directed
his subordnates to enforce those laws. The Grand
Jury was sworn TO indct men guilty OF crime within
their jurisdiction and the House and the committee
had no right 70 embarrass the Grand Jury the
execution OF the laws of the land.
Mr. McCREARY, (rep) OF Iowa, reminded his COL
league that the committee had in its possession the
contract which must be the foundation OF any pro-
ceeding for an indictment OF this offender and that
that contract was probably the very thing that the
Grand Jury would get hold Of
Mr. CLYMER remarked that that contract was be-
tween Caleb Marsh and John 5. Evans, and that
the Secretary of War knew nothing of 1t when IL
made nor for two years afterwurd
Mr. KAssoS, In the course of some further remarks
referred TO the interview which Mr. Blackburn, OF
Kentucky had had with some OF the parties impi-
Gated, and suggested that the Grand Jury might have
a desire to examine him about it.
Mr. BLACKBURN replied with some heat Of manner
that IL the gentleman from Iowa said that he had had
conversations with Mrs Belknap and great lenRth
he would copy the remark OF a Senator and would
authorize the gentleman from Iowa whenever he heard
anybody making any such statement TO that he had
his (Mr Biackburns) authority for telling that
lies (Great exctement)
Mr. KAssoN-Do / understand the gentleman TO say
that he had no conversation on the subject involved
in the prosecution involved in this crminaty outside
Of the committee rOoml
Mr.. BLAcKBuRS--I have fled statement on the sub
ject which neither the gentleman from Iowa nor
any other man can impugne.
Mr.. KAssoS-Then appeal to that statement and ask
IL that is so If the interview impertnent
the case why was 1t reported and made public, and If
pertinent to the why not the criminal
OF the country entitled to it Applause oil the repub
lican side.)
Mr. BLAcKBuRN-wnl the gentleman from Iowa in
form the House whether the newspaper report true
colleagues a
former Secretary of War;
Mr. KAssos-f will answer the question with moro
cheeriulness than the gentleman has answered mine
Mr.. BLACKBURS-Then trust the gentleman will tell
what occurred, and whether he is the repository Of
the confession OF guilt
MT KAssoN-I will respond to a subpoena to give any
statement OF fact aid of the prosecution OF crime.
win the gentleman do so much, will he plead his
privilege and decline to In prosecution before
the committee made its report2 There came a request
10 the entire Iowa delegation In both Houses to call
the Secretary OF War, as he wanted to them that
AoNy Wa in lhn knna md hare
and we got this statement from him:-
When | sent for you gentlemen supposed there would
ject have now learned mpoached so il is use
less trouble you with what going say
And we left him.
Mr.. ArSswoRrH, (demj of Iowa, asked why the Iowa
delegation had lett HIM out daughter on the demo-
cratic side of the House.)
The debate continued amid great excitement and
with frequent demonstrations OF applause and laughter
either side of the House Mr. Blame, OF Maine was
the central figure the republican side of the House
at which all the shafts OF eloquence and satire
launched from the democratic side The debate was
such length extending four hours, that II is
impossible to give connected summary of H. II
participated in by Mr. Robbins OF North Carolina:
Mr. Singleton of Mississippi; Mr.. Daniord OF Ohio:
Mr.. Bcebe, OF New York; Mr.. Bright, OF Tennessee;
Mr.. Cox, of New York. Mr. Hoar: Of Massachusetts;
Mr.. Knott, of Kentucky, and Mr.. Hooker, OF Mis-
sissippL
The republicans intimated that the witness Marsh
had been allowed 10 escape the country through
motive which the democrats had, it
charged the democratic side that the President
Cabinet Instrumental III driving him OF tho
country through intimidation His escape was char
actcrized by Mr.. Bcebe that of obscure petty
thief and he suggested that the democrats in
greater game that they had allowed that mser-
able offender TO slip through their hands through tho
Vaccinations of the Executive and Cabinet officers
The democrats. however, he said proposed pursue
not the Marshes, who tricnina, but the
Williams in high places, aud IN that connection he
quoted tho doggerel rhyme-
Some bait their hooks with mites Of cheese
And sit kernel TO bob for fieas.
Others bait their hooks with tigers tails
And sit rock and bob for whales
The gentlemen the other side might pursue their
flea catching II they pleased but the democrats would
draw from their turbd waters Of pollution the whales
and would supplement IT, perhaps by dragging out The
lcvatnan himself and exposing HIM to the indignation
outraged community.
Finally the debate closed and the House proceeded TO
the resolution offered by Mr. Hoar, of Massa-
chusetts a substitute for Iamars and which pro.
posed TO declare that the members subpnnaed ut
liberty TO attend the criminal court and give such
evidence and produce such documents relate to the