The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-03-08

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.
mittee to disregard such mandate.
Mr.. Kasson of Iowa invited the House to
look coolly at the situation developed this
morning. The question was raised here as a
question of privilege on the part of a member
of the House who had received judicial invita-.
ton to aid in the Indictment and punishment
of criminal. 1t was an extraordinary case
and one without precedent aud against prec.
edent He asked whether there had ever been
any such proposition as had been uggested to
the House condemning the sworn executor of
the laws because he had directed his subordi-
nate to enforce these laws. The grand jury
was sworn to indict men guilty OF crime within
their jurisdiction and the House and the com.
mittee had no right to embarrass the grand
jury in the execution of the laws of the land.
MIR. McCreary of Iowa reminded his col.
league that the committee ad in its possess
sion the contract which must be the foundation
of any proceeding for an indictment of this
offender and that that contract was probably
the very thing the grand jury would get hold
Of.
Mr.. Clymer remarked that that contract was
between Caleb p. Marsh and John S. Evans
and that the Secretary of War knew nothing
of it when il was made, nor for two years af-
forwards
Mr.. Kasson in the course of some further re-
marks referred to the interview which Black
burn had had with some of the parties impli-
Gated and suggested that the grand jury might
have desire to examine him about it,
Mr.. Blackburn replied with some heat of
manner ii 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 authorize the gentle
man from Iowa whenever he heard anybody
making any such stat sment, to say that he had
his (Blackburn's authority for telling him that
he lies. Great excitement.)
kasson-Do understand the gentleman to
say that he had no conversation on the subject
involved in this prosecution, involved in this
crimality outside of the committee room?
blackburn have filed statement on the
subject which neither the gentleman from
Iowa nor any other man can impugn.
kasson-Then L appeal to that statement
and ask if that is not so. If the interview was
!mpertinent to the case, why was it reported
and made public, and if pertinent to the
| case, why are not the criminal courts of the
country entitled to it? (Appause GU the Re
| publican side.)
Blackburn-Will the gentleman from Iowa
inform the House whether the newspaper re-
| port is true that he and his colleagues waited
in body on the former Secretary Of War?
| Kasson-I will answer the question with
more cheerfulness than the gentleman has
| answered mine
Blackburn-Then trust the gentleman will
| tell us what occurred and whether he is the re.
| pository of guilt.
Mr.. Kasson-I will respond to subpoena
| to give any statement of facts in aid Of the
| SO much or will he plead his privilege and de.
| cline to aid in the prosecution. Before the
| committee made its report there came request
| to the entire Iowa delegation in both houses to
call on the Secretary of War as he wanted to
| see them that day. We went in the evening
Senators and members. and we met this state
ment from him: "When 1 sent for you, gen.
tlemen, L supposed that there would be some
| opportunity to be heard in the House on this
| subject. have now learned that I am i'm.
| peached, SO that it useless for me to trouble YOU
with what was going to say as to the evidence
in this case,' and we left him.
| MIR. Ainsworth of Iowa asked why the Iowa
delegation had left him out. daughter on the
Democratic side of the House)
The debate was continued amid great excite
ment and with frequent demonstrations of an
plause and laughter on either side. Mr.. Blaine
was the central figure on the Republican side
at whom all the shafts of eloquence and satire
were launched from the Democratic side The
debate was of such length, extending over foul
hours, that it is impossible to give a connected
summary of it. 1t was participated in by
| Messrs. Robbins of North Carolina, Singleton
| of Mississippi, DanfoId of Ohio, Beebe oil
| New York, Cox of New York. Bright of Ten
nessee, Hoar of Massachusetts. Knott of Ken
lucky and Hooker Of Massachusetts,. The Re
| pubicans intimated that the witness, Marsh
had been allowed to escape from the country
| through some motive which the Democrats hac
and it was charged that the President and cab
met were instrumental 10 driving him out Of
the country through intimidation. His escape
was characterized by Mr.. Beebe as that of an
obscure petty thief and he suggested that the
democratic were so intent on greater game thai
| they allowed that miserable offender to sir
through their hands through the machna
tons of executive and cabinet officers The
Democrats. however he said, proposed to pur
sue not the Marshes but the villains in high
| places.
Finally debate was closed and House pro
ceeded to voting on the resolution offered by
! Hoar of Massachusetts as a substitute to Mr.
Lamars and which proposed to declare that the
members subp@naed were atiliberty to attenc
the criminal court and to give such eviden &C
and produce such documents as related t.
charge against w. w. Belknap for receiving 9
| bride from one Marsh.
1913.
Lamars original resolution was then agreed
to, yeas $780, nays 75
After ordering the arrest of S. T. Wolf fol
| refusing to answer questions before he Naya
Committee House adjour ned.