The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-06-10
"A, MONDAY MORNING JUNE TO- 1S78

10 the committee In It's investigation.
Butler smiled significantly, pulled out
his cheeks, and blew 4 half-whistle, and
then quietly listened to the reading Of
the remainder Of the letter. Then with
unusual deliberation proceeded TO make
known his points Of difference from Mr..
Matthews. His manner was quite i'm.
pressive, and the crowd in the room
leaned eagerly forward to hear him.
There was great curiosity TO know his
purposes, and this was the first good op.
portunity he had to show his hand. The
other committeeman were deeply inter.
ested, and nobody interrupted him. he
said this was q serious and important
matter, affecting the privileges Of the
House OF Representatives, and while he
holds seat in that body be will not sub.
NIT tamely to the denial Of Its rights
Everybody must answer the summons OF
the House, which must have the fullest
power Of obtaining testimony to do lis
duty "a the grand inquest OF the Ma.
ton. II is body legislative In form,
but judicial In action. Impeachment
depends upon the testimony We may get
II any one man can stay away from the
committee, then every other man may
stay away. Its no excase 10 say, ss Mr..
Matthews has, ~ don't know anything
that will be Of advantage to you;n nor Il
It sufficient in answer 10 say, "rbere Is
another Court, and one Court must wait
on the other" We issued courteous and
polite invitation to Mr.. Matthews, and
equal courtesy requires that he should
appear. He must answer to our subpoena.
There Is no privilege allowed TO q mem
Der Of Congress to decline to tell the truth
In court Of justice. Numerous preced.
ents are on record, and one Of them was
afforded to-day by Vice President Ferry
TO respond 10 our invitation by appear
ing before US, although the invitation 10
him was much less formal. Never before
has that Invitation been refused. Senator
Sumner and other Senators answered Sim
liar invitations in this very room. Mr..
ColfAx, the then Vice President, was be-
fore q committee OF investigation, and
Senator Patterson, OF New Hampshire,
testified before the same committee on the
matter OF the investigation Of the Credit
Mobilier. How does Senator Matthews
know he does not know anythingi How
does be know that we can not prove an
abb for Anderson. Ihaye no friends TO
shield nor enemies TO persecute, but l
want TO know all the facts, and so do the
people Of the country want to know the
bottom facts.
Mr. Butler thereupon offered a resolu-
ton requiring subpena to Issue to
Matthews, and proposed that the COM
mittee 70 into secret session to further
discuss the subject, which motion was OBJ
jected TO by Governor Cox, who suggest
ed that the resolution be modified, argu-
ing that the sixth article OF the constitu.
tion exempts Congressmep from arrest.
Butler, however, insisted that members
can be arrested for contempt OF Court.
he desired to test the question Of priyi-
lege. He supposed originally that Matth-
eWs would like an opportunity to ap-
pear, and he offered the motion, which
was adopted BY the committee, inviting
Matthews TO appear before the committee,
on the assumption that it was favor TO
Matthews. But Matthews has not said
be could not leave his duty in the Senate.
He offers no such excuse for not attend
ing here. BE declines for other reasons.
We will hold night sessions or otherwise
accommodate ourselves to such circum.
stances as Matthews may state:as reasons
for not appearing. This is the Court that
will do him justice.
After Butler had concluded his speech
the question was put and the committee
unanimously adopted the resolution just
as drawn by Butler, and adjourned until
Monday. A subpoena will be issued to
Senator Matthews in the meantime.