Year: 1876

Mr.. Blaine-The gentleman closes the
avenues himself.


Mr.. Clymer-I will not permit the
gentleman from Maine TO impute to me,
motives which do not understand, or TO
pusinsinuations in my mouth which
have not uttered.


Mr.. Blackburn, another member of the
committee. SAID he was lot surprised at
the


Gentleman from Maine.


He Black did not intend to charge
that it was the purpose of the the exec
utive to intimidste witnesses, to throttle
investigation and to afford immunity 10
criminals, but he did say, that unless
this gag process was stopped, the country
would believe that it was on purpose,
and he would believe it too. Applause
on the Democratic side, and question
by Mr.. Blaine, What gag process?l 1t
had gone forth to the country that the
committee had connived at the sbscond-
ing of any important witness, against 8
protest OF the Republican members Of
the committee, but 1t was needless for
him to say that


The Charge was Flatly False,
And he only wondered that those Re-
publican members had allowed it to go
out on this authority without contradic.
tion. He went on 70 argue that 1t
would be utterly impossible to ever
convict the late Secretary
OF War or any other Cabinet officer, eI-
cept by the testimony Of accemplices,
and yet the House was now to be told
that no accomplice should testify before
u committee except at his own peril. 1t
wa. against that that he protested. He
intimsted that the phrase "Let no guilty
man escape" would be construed by the
country to mean "Let no man escape who
dare tell on those who are in
authority" He warned the House
that the voluminous Investigation
that were now progressing would be
stopped and that it would be utterly
impossible ID carry them on further
successfully unless there was declara-
ton that the testimony OF the witnesses
should not be used against them.


Mr.. Lamar said that there shou Id
not be any exhibition of party feeling or
excitement in the prevalence ofthe solemn
events as were throwing their shadows
over the house. 1t seems TO him that
the voice OF faction should now at least
be hushed. He regarded this mandate,
or summons, or subpoena issued to the
memb bers of the committee by the Su-
preme court of the District of Columbia
as an outrage on the privileges OF this
House. lie aid not say that the object
OF the court WAS to hush the investiga-
tion. The question was one purely of
parliamentary privilege. He regarded
1t as violation of the privilege of the
House for the court TO issue summons to a
member, .and order ihlm 10 bring along
with him a record of the House, and 10
remain in Court and not take part till
allowed BIZ the Court or District Attor-
ney.
Mr.. BTaine-Does not the gentleman
from Mississippi see, and does not the
whole country see that having possession
of evidence on which an indictment can
be founded, and having in its possession
every paper in the case, the House puts
itself behind its technical privilege,
and throws itself across the indict-
ment of Belknap, and that today
it stands as the obstacle and sole obstacle
to the indictment of the late Secretary OF
War.


Mr.. Lamar-N Neither the gentleman
from Mississippi nor the country nor the
gentleman from Maine sees any such
thing.


Mr.. Blaine-It is nothing but that.


Mr.. Lamar-It is anything but that.
The question il simply whether this
House will permit its records to be at the
back and call Of District Court. There
is no doubt but that when the inyes-
tiga.ion is completed it viii be
within the discretion of the House TO
permit the courts of the country 10 come
in and get evidence, but not prnd>nte lite
while the lnvesti tigation is gong on and
while the court is taking further testimo-
ny. Such proposition was


MOnstrous and Ridiculous.


Mr.. Blaine said he agreed with Nr.
Lamar that while the affair was progress
ing it would be improper for a court 10
interfere, but tnat was not the case here.
The question was whether the House
would permit the testimony and Papers
in the hands of its Committee to be sent
to the Court. The House could refuse
it or could send it, and SAID he ! dare, ]
dare that side of the House to refuse.
Applause on the Republican side and
great excitement


Mr. Lamar continued his remarks
which he closed by Offering a resolution,
reciting the history OF the case and de-
clarlng the mandate Of the court 10 be
breach of the privilege OF the house and
directing tie members Of the committee
to disregard such a mandate.


Mr. Kasson invited the House to look
cody at the situation deTeloped this
morning. The question was raised in
the House as to the question Of the priv
ilege on the part Of tho members Of the
House VINO had received judicial invi.
tation to aid in the indictment and pun.
ishment OF criminals. 1t was an extra
ordinary case and one without preced ent,
ana against precedent. ile hrhfd "htLH-
or there had ever been any such spropO-
stiou as had been suggested to the House
condemning the sworn executor Of the
laws because lie had directed his subordi-
mates to enforce those laws. The grand
iurv was sworn TO Indict men guiI.1 of
crimes within their jurIsdictIOn,
and the House and committee
had no right to embsrrass the grand Jury
in the execution Of the laws of the land.
M McCreery remined his colleague that
the Committee had in It's possession q
contract which must be the foundation of
any proceeding for an indictment Of this
offender aud that that contract was the
very thing that the grand jury would get
hold OF.


NJ. Ciymer remarked that that con.
tract was between Caleb 7. Marsh and
John 5. Evans, and that the Secretary Of
War knew nothing Of it when It ""
made nor for two years afterwards.


Mr. Kasson. in the course Of some
further remarks. referred 10


The Interview which Mr.. Blackburn