Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-01-09
ALEXANDRIA:
FRIDAP, Ji.SUARY 9, 1873.
FROM OUR coRREspoNpE AT WASH
ISCT0N.
IRnrsdnu. ,Jnnnnrn s. 1918

Thursday, january 8, 1918.
Yesterday M. Mercer proposed re-
solution, which was adopted by the House
of Representatives, to appoint commit
tee 70 enquire into the expPdieucy Of
causing to be printed the journals ard
proceedings OF Congress from the year
1875. together with the correspondence
of our government with the ministers and
agents in foreign countries. Also Of
printing the journal of the general cor
vention which framed the constitution of
the United States; and that the commit.
Zee should have leave to report by bill! or
otherwise. A printed publication Of
greater interest, and perhaps utility, has
rarely issued from the press than this
| will be. Ii will be the manual Of Amcii.
can politicians and statesmen.
The most striking feature in yester-
davis proceedings was the disclosure BY
a highly respectable member of the house
# build attempt at bribery. Mr.. VIII
hams, OF N. Carolina, the chairman Of
the committee Of claims, ose in his place,
ard desired leave to lay before the house
a letter addressed and delivered to him
by person called colonel John Ander-
son. In presenting the letter Mr.. Viii
liams observed, that wherever he was
really known such an attempt won d not
have been made upon him but that since
it had been made, he considered it hi,
duty to lay the | tier and a full state.
mept OF the transaction with which it
was connected before the house. lie
said that he declined making any further
remarks upon it, because he was too
much excited to manage the matter as he
could wish, aud because il was the pecu-
liar province of The house to give to the
affair the consideration it deserved, and
to determine what ought to be done in it.
This col. John Anderson, it appears,
was employed by the inhabitants Of the
Michigan terrific Y, who suffered losses
during the late war, 10 urge their salts for
relief at the seat of cove nmeDt, and on-
deayor to get subsIantiated before the
committee OF claims their claims Tor COM
rensation tor the losses they had sustain
ed. In this situation tie colonel seems
to have been suddenly impressed with a
notisn that by the deyterCus application
Of a sum Of money, he might suoorn the
chairman of that committee to favor the
claims Of himself aud HI. clients; and in
the letter now Produced he offered NJ.
Williams present Of five lund'ed dol
lars to secure his good Office, aud he
himself in person delivered the letter -
II is evident that he was aware Of the
crimipaiity Of his attempt, for in his let
ter he erJCined MIR. William. to secrecy
in the msst earnest manner. Sadly, how
ever, WAS he mistaken in lis man, for
Mr.. Williams at once spurned from hin
with ab !crrence and indig' alton the prof
Iced gift and tie siver, and ordered An
der.on to quit his sight, declaring 10 lin
that nc woa!d dIvulse the protiigate at
empt to the House OF representatives,
Anderson rad recourse to the most hum
BILE entreatlcs aud affecting suppications
to persuade NJ. Williams TO suppress the
matter and forgive him; but ali in vain.
The latter, a. in honor and duty bound,
was iEexorable; aud at as early an hour
as the customary routine Of public bust
ness would allow, laid the whole affair
before the house in the manner just
stated.
Upsn the representation Of these facts,
which was read from Mr.. Williams state
ment by the clerk at the table, Mr.. For.
syth moved that the speaker should order
the sergeant at arms to take colonel John
Anderson into custody.
The sensation this incident produced
in the house was so strong. that during
the detail and proceedings that grew out
of il, 81 large a number of members stood
collected near the speakers and clerks
chairs, and in the intermediate space be-
tween them and my seat. that could not
hear one word in five Of the observations
made upon the occasion. 1 could see,
however, that General Harrison, Mr.. ii
vermore, Mr.. Johnson OF Kentucky, and
Mr.. Cushman spoke; but ichat they said,
or indeed any part of it, could not 50
catch with NV ear as to understand it
The order for arresting Anderson, how
ever, was issued by the speaker, and the
sergeant at arms was despatched in pur.
suit of him Nothing further was known
about it when left the house Of congress.
/ must add that most OF the members ma
infested great indignation at the wicked
uess and folly OF the attempt.
The wearisome compensation bill was
then called up to receive third reading,
aud one more attempt was made to re-
verse the decision Of the preceding day.
Gen Harrison moved to recommit the bill
in order to lower the compensation to SIX
dollars day, and Mr.. Williams second
ed the IN tiun- while Mr.O,,e, Nc. Nose