The New York herald., 1879-03-01

OF censorship over the press, everything
quiring the registration Of periodicals was, mo-
tion of Mr.. CANNON. of Illinois, struck out.
SEWARD AT THE BAR or THE HOUSE.
Pending further action the Sergcant-at-Arms. at q
quarter Of FIVE p. NJ, appeared at the bar Of the
House. having in custody Mr.. George +. Seward
Having announced his presence the SPEAKER. sd-
Mr.. SEwARD-You have been presented at the bar of
the House. under the order of the House. for breach
OF the privileges of the House in refusing TO
certain questions propounded TO you by committee
of the House, which questions that committee
authorized by the House TO ask for standing mute
when rendered oath witness, and for failing 20
produce certain books as required by the subpoena
drccs tcum duly served upon you. 1t is my duty
now by authority of the House. to ask whether yon
are ready TO take tho oath rendered TO you by tho
Chairman of the committee to answer the questions
propounded to you and to produce the books re-
qucstcd by the subpoena duces fe,im.
MIR. SEwARp-I have prepared with the assistance
of my counsel statement OF the law affecting this
question which beg leave to hand in respectfully
and to request that it may be read.
The paper Ia long legal argumcnt was read by the
Clerk The pith OF IL Is that the witness is protected
by the sacred guarantee of the constitution article
that guarantee. avowng the most sincere respect for
the House. and the belief that his just rights
citizen and officer will not be wlfully or willingly
infrnged. He argues that the books called for are
not public records, and he therefore submits that
he is not in contempt of the House and that he ought
to be discharged from arrest.
The SpR,KER Ito Mr.. SewarlI-Do vou desire TO be
understood rs declining to produce the books which
you were required to producer And do you decline
to take the oath offcreu TO your
Mr.. SHwARD-I stand here, Mr.. Speaker, for my
rights o citizen and officer so long az persons
who are my personal enemies are pursuing before
this committee shall hold oil books aud papers that
l now hold. speak this with perfect respect and
dcfcrence to the House. but shall stand for all the
rights guaranteed to mo by the constitution want
20 say to this House. that whenever the committee
says that IL has done with my Prosecutors IL can
have my books, and whenever the Treasury Depart
ment or the state Department demands my books IL
shall have them but not at the instance OF my enc
mics.
Mr.. SPRINGER, (dem.) of H.. thereupon submitted
amendment declaring Mr. Seward In contempt of
the House.
Mr.. BuspY. trcp.) of N. Y. submitted an amend
ment referring the matter TO the Judiciary Commit
tee, to report what action should be taken.
Mr.. LUTrIrLr, (dcm.) of Cal.rhat IL right: let IL
go to the Judiciary Committee; the liberty of citi-
zen is at stake.
Mr.. SrRrN6ER-I hope the gentleman from Cali
forna (Mr LuttrelD will possess himself There Is
no "heathen Chincc' in this matter -tlaughterlal-
though 1t is case coming from China Mr. Seward
speaks az IL the committee used for the purpose
of allowing his enemies 10 pursue him. The only
witnesses against him were men who were
are officers OF the government. Mr..
Myers was appointed Consul General al Shang-
hal Inv President Grant and confirmed hy the