Mr. ALLEY. I will not ask for the reading of the testimony, as it is very volumine us, but I will state as briefly as may be the facts of the case. [Severalmembers, lH Oh, no; let us vote.”] It seems to me that this is a very important matter, and that it should not be disposed of without some reference to the testimony, involving as it does the liberty of a citizen. As a member of this House, I cannot reconcile it to my sense of duty and propriety to allow the question to be taken without some explanation, but I will be brief and endeavor to say what I have to say in a very few words, for no one appreciates more than I do the value of time at this late stage of the session. I will simply remark that the testimony shows that Mr. Painter was on his way to the committee room in the lower halls of the Capitol, and was engaged in conversation with a friend, when he was met by this man Beveridge, knocked down, kicked several times in the head and leg, and, in the Opinion of some of the witnesses, but for the interference of some who were present, as well as those who came to his assistance, he would have been killed. such briefly are the facts, as the evidence will show. Now, in regard to the authority fbr arresting and keepin in custody Beveri ge, I will remark that there are a rest many precedents for the action of the house, which I will not trouble the House by now referring to. In innumerable instances have Congress and the Legislatures of the States, when a breach of privilege has been committed, arrested and imprisoned the person committing the breach of privilege. The most prominent case of the kind that has come under the observation of the committee, is the case of Anderson cs. Dunn, which was taken up to the SCOTUS and there decided. The decision sets forth the authority of congress at length. As to the duration of impris onment, the court says: "And evento the duration of imprisonmenta period is imposed by the nature ofth in gs.sincethe existenceof the powerthatimprisonsisindispensable to its continuance, andalthoughthe legislative body ceasesto exist on the momentof its aifiournmentor dissolution. It followsthat imprisonmentmustter minatewith that mhourninent.’ This language seems to besusceptibleof 2 constructions, and lawyers are not agreedu on the proper construction to be pntupon it. The committee are ofopinion that we have not the power to imprison this man beyond the present session ofCongress; and that unless some measureis adopted, such as I have reported from the select committee, this man must be released when the present session of Congress shall terminate, and thus receive no adequate punishment. In view of that fact it was deemed best to report the resolution I have submitted, to have this person turned over to the civil authorities to e prosecuted for this assault.