Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-03-01

| POsToFFICE BILL.
Mr. Blount, of the committee, then reported
back the postofice bill with recommendation,
which was agreed to, that the Senate amend
ments with two exceptions, the Brazilian sub
slty and the classification OF mail matter, be
non-concurred in in gross. The committee also
recommend that the two excepted amendments
be non-concurred in also, but desired that they
shonld be voted upon separately and some
time allowed for debate which was then be-
| gun.
After long debate vote was taken on con-
| curing on the amendment and it was rejected.
yeas 80, nays 157, and it was non-concur4ed
| without further vote.
| The next question was in the Senate amend
ment on the Redistribution of mail matter.
After an hour discussion, in which opposition
| to the amendment was based on the ground
that 1t would be giving to the postoffice depart
ment a power of censorship over the press,
everything requiring registration of periodi-
calls WAS, on motion of the committee, struck
| out.
| CONTUMACIOUs SEWARD.
Pending further action the sergeant-at-arm.
appeared at the bar of the House having in
custody Geo. F. Seward. Having announced
his presence, the Speaker, addressing Seward,
said: MIR. Seward, you have been presented at
| the bar of the House, under order of the
House, for breach of privileges of the House
| In refusing to answer certain questions pro-
pounded to you by committee of the House,
| which questions that committee was author
lied by the House to ask; for standing mute
| when rendered an oath as witness, and for
! failing to produce certain books as required by
subpoena duces tecunt duly served upon you. It
is my duty now, by authority of the House. to
ask whether you are ready to take the oath ten
dered to you by the chairman of the commit
tee, to answer the questions propounded to
| you, and to produce the books requested by the
subpoena duceS tecuna.
MIR. Seward have prepared, with the as.
sistance 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, long legal argument, was read.
| The pith of it is that witness is protected by
the sacred guarantee of the constitution, arti.
Gle of the amendments. He claims the pro.
lection of that guarantee, avowing the most
sincere respect for the House and the belief
| that his just rights citizen and officer will
not be wilfully or willingly infringed. He ar
gued 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 Speaker to Seward-Do you desire to be
understood as declining to produce the books
you were required to produce, and do you de-
| cline to take the oath offered to YOU?
Mr.. Seward-I stand here, MIR. Speaker, for
my rights as a citizen and as an officer So
| long persons who are nv personal enemies
| are pursuing me before this com mittee shall
| hold all the books and papers that now hold.
| speak this with perfect respect and Difference
to the House, but shall stand for all the rights
guaranteed to me by the constitution. I want
to say to this House that whenever the commit
tee says that it has done with my prosecutors it
can have my books and whenever the treasury
department. or State department demands my
| books it shall have them, but not at the in
stance of my enemies.
MIR: Springer thereupon submitted resolu-
ton declaring MIR. Seward in contempt of the
House.
ring the matter to the judiciary committee to
report what action should be taken
Mr.. Luttrell-That is right. Let it 90 to
the judiciary committee. The liberty of a cit
izen is at stake.
Mr. Springer hope the gentleman from
California LuttrelD will possess himself.
There is no Heather Chinee'' in this matter.
although it is a case coming from China. Mr.
Seward speaks as if the committee was used
for the purpose of allowing his enemies to pur-
sue him. The only witnesses against him were
men "Ao were are officers of the government.
ME-. Meyers was appointed consul general at
Shanghai by President Grant, and was con-
frmed by the Senate, and Mr.. G.. Wiley Wells
was appointed by the present occupant of the
Presidential Office. There are the two wit
nesses whom Mr. Seward speaks of as his enc
mics. He has been offered every opportunity
before the COMMITTEES to have fair hearing.
Mr.. Seward-I have not had the slightest in
tention of attacking the chairman of the com
mittee.
After scene of great confusion and uproar
the House refused, LOT to no. Mr. Springer
motion for the previous question, which would
have cut off vote on Bundy's substitute, and
then proceeded to vote on the substitute. It
was agreed to-ayes, liz; nays, 10s. The fol-
lowing Democrats voted with the Republicans
for the substitute: Luttrell, Lynde, Manning,
Mills. Robbins, Willis of New York and Wilson
of West Virginia.
.Mr. Seward was on motion discharged from
custody on his own recognizance.
THE PosToFFIcE BILL AGAIN.
The remainder of the Senate amendments to
the postofice appropriation bill were non-con-
CURED in and committee of conference or
dered.
The House then took a recess until 800. The
evening session was confined to the considera-
ton of pension bills and to bills for the removal
of political disabilities.
At half past 10 O. clock the House took re-
cess until IL o'clock tomorrow.