The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-02-15
XLIVth Congress Second Session.
OLD WELLS COMPLAINS OF HIS
PRISON.
PROCEEDINGS or THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 8,

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5.
Mr., Hale rose to a privileged question
and read letter addressed to him from
!. Madison Wells and Thomas G, Ander
son, stating they we're confined in
damp. dark dungeon in the cellar of thu
Capitol; that yesterday, by order of th'
Speaker, they had been transferred to
much better room, but they had beer
brought back to the cells by order of th'
Sergeant alarms, and that on accoun
of the bad air in the cell one of them
Governor Wells, was on his bed sick.
Mr.. Hale said his attention had beer
called by this letter to the matter. HI
had gone to the cell in which the prison
ers were confined and had found it q
damp, dark room, into which CLEAN O
sunlight could never penetrate, and
which had to be Illuminated by gas. The
air was poisonous; and one of the pris
oners, an old man over seventy years oI
age laid on his bed of sickness. 1t was
inhuman to keep them in such a room,
and he therefore offered resolution di-
recting the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove
the prisoners to a well-lighted and we'll
ventilated room. where their health NAV
not be endangered.
Mr. Cox said that it was in the same
cell that Republican Congress had in,
carcerated Stewart and Irwin. The pris-
oners we're confined, and in the close
custody of the Sergeant. alarms, but
they could release themselves by simply
purging themselves of contempt Of the
House, and answer the questions which
they had refused to answer.
Mr.. McCrary inquired what question
they had refused to answer,
Mr., Cox they had refused to produce
certain papers.
Mr. McCrary-They are confined for
not producing what was not in their pos
session.
Mr., Cox-The House has already dis
posed of that question. The resolution
was, in his Judgment, reproach to the
Sergeant alarms. The witness had
simply been treated as other witnesses
had been.
Mr.. Wilson spoke in favor of the reso-
luton and stated that after frequent
fruitless attempts to see the witnesses, he
had succeeded in so doing only by order
from the Speaker when he did succeed
he found the witnesses in a small, ill
ventilated cell He could not escape
the impression that the officers in the
oargeant-at- Arms office did not wish the
prisoners to be well treated. He honor
ed the Speaker for the honest efforts to
relieve their suferings. 1t was abhorrent
o the feeling of the American people
hat the House should treat with such
cruelty an old man over seventy years
Did, because he had stood up for what
ne knew was right
The Speaker said the witnesses were
not in his charge but that as he had
charge Of the rooms in the Capitol he had
ordered that the prisoners should be
to the room of the Commit
zee on Education, but that the Commit
zee had objected and the Sergeant.at-
Arms had no power to do anything but
emove them once more to their former
oom.
Mr.. Wood said he did not wish the
House to be regarded by the country as
loing an inhuman action but he thought
hat before acting on the resolution the
House should require certificate from
ONE doctor stating that the health Of the
prisoners would be impaired or endang-
red by their confnementin that particu
ar room. That had been the custom
lways in cases where prisoner com.
,lained of his accommodations.
Mr.. Conger thought there could be no
retence of right or justice on the side of
ny party which should perpetrate such
cruelty as to confne prisoners in a
Dom in which their health would be un
simply because they refused
} produce papers which it was not in
leir power to produce. The mere |
tatement of that to the common Ameri- |
an mind would produce the conviction
an infamous wrong done by this House
nd no man would dare attempt to justi-
, conduct which reminded one of the
ays Of thumb screws and inquisition.
The Prisoners Made Comfortable.
Mr.. Clymer, on behalf of the Sergeant.
/ Arms, said that that officer had done
Il in his power for the purpose of rend-
ring the prisoners comfortable. The
,om they occupied was well heated,
and well.ventilated. 1t was
room which had been used for the
lme purpose by preceding Congresses.
hey were allowed to have conversations
ith their friends.
Mr. Conger Many members have
ought access 10 them and been denied
The Speaker explained by calling at
.ntion to the fact that the resolution
hich placed recusant witnesses in the
lstody of the Sergeant.at-Arms direct
that they should be held in close Gus
dy,
Mr.. Banks thought that when the
.ouse adopted the resolution it had not
tended that an inquisition should be
;tablished which should compel prison
s to disclose what they did not desire
disclose. He also desired to call at
ntion to the fact that the prisoners had
ot been kept in ''close custody" as the
solution desired, but thatthey had been
ken before Committee of the House
nd compelled to give testimony without
nv order Of the House allowing them to
E brought out of custody. d
Mr.. Sparks stated that all the time the
-isoners were before the Committee they
ad been in charge Of the Sergeant-at-
rms. M Hf
Mr.. Banks replied that when witness
as testifying before the Committee he
as free man. eUjp on 0
The Previous Question not Ordered.