The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-02-13
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
MONDAY, Feb H.


After the reading of the journal,
Mr. WISE and said he had subject to bring
before the House which involved the purity and honor
of Congress. direct and unequvocal charge Of cor
rupon had been made against member Of Congress.
The charge was made by two editors Of responsible
newspapers in the country, He would read, extract
ed from the Courier & Enquirer, the charge to which
he referred
CoRRuprIoN IN CoNGREss.-We yesterday publish
ed letter from the Spy in Washington" directly
charging member of Congress with corruption, and
offering to prone the charge before Committee Of Ell
Their House, when called upon for that purpose We
repubsh the charge to-day, and call upon Congress,
promptly institute the investigation thus challenged
both act OF justice TO itself and to the country
"The Spy in Washington, itmay be said, is not
tensbe responsible person. but desire at once to
Obvate this difficulty by stating as we now do that he
is known 10 US, and that whenever called upon by
Committee of Congress, pledge ourselves that he
shall be forthcomng and that he is one, whose standing
warrants an immediate proceeding the part Of Con-
gress
Extract from yesterdays Cour. & Eng.
The more brief my statement the better 1t Will be
understood II is in my power, If brought to the bar
Of either HOUSE, or before Committee, and process
allowed compel the attendance Of witnesses, to
prove, by the oath Of respectable and unmpeacha-
" BILE citizen, well by written documentary evil
dence, that hcrci al least member Of Congress
oho has offered 10 barter his and his influence
:" ioith department departments for compensation
Why, sir, said the applicant for contract, if my pro-
opposition has mer: 1t will be received. II It has not,
g do not expect it will be accepted And what do you
/" think was the answer Of the honorable membert
I" will give it 10 you in his emphatic language,
MERIT said he, phy things do not go here By merit,
" bu BY pulling the righ strings Make tiny interest
" and toiA puA NE strings for yon"
THE SPY IN WASHINGTON"
Mr. WISE said Congress was called upon to defend
its character and honor. He accordingly offered
the following resolution
Whereas, the following article has appeared in the
New York Courier and Enquirer: Here follows the
article of the Courier g. Enquirer;l
Resolved, That select committee be appointed with
power TO send for persons and papers to inquire into the
truth Of the charge.
turn out to be false, mistake. He did not believe
that corruption existed here to the indicated by
this charge; if it did, reform revolution would be
necessary.
Mr. CILI.EY said charge put forth in this way was
unworthy Of notice Before the House would take it
up, the editor should make the charge distinctly and
upon oath.
Mr. BRIGGS called the yeas and nays the reso-
luton, and they ordered
Mr. WISE said the gentleman from Maine sung the
old tune. Whenever charges were made against the
House the Executive, proof was demanded in adj
vance ofany investigation.
After remarks from Messrs. Bouldn, Boon,
Whtesey Glascock Dawson, and Hopkins,
Mr. DROMGOOLE moved to amend the resolution
so as to require the investigation to be made at the
bar OF the House
After some remarks from Messrs Jenifer, Cillcy,
and Wise,
Mr. LOOMS moved to amend the resolution so as
to require the Spy Matthew J., Davis to be brought
to the bar Of the House, to any question IN re-
gard the subject matter Of the charge and the source
OF his information.
After some remarks from Mr. DUNCAN,
Mr. FRY moved to lay the whole subject on the
table.
Mr. WISE asked the yeas and nays, and they were
yeas l79, nays H.
So, the House refused to lay the motion on the table.
The debate was continued by Messrs. Pope, Tho
mas LOOMS. Bynum, and Jenlfcr
The debate was continued by Messrs. Fillmore,
Reed, Mckay Wise, Rives, and Boon,
Mr. WISE modified his resolution so as to require
the Speaker to subpoena Matthew L. Davis, aud to ask
him, at the bar Of the House, what he knows as to
the Of the member implicated, and to the facts
charged.
On motion Of Mr. RIvES the words " il member
ofthis House" were inserted after The word "impli-
Gated"
After some remarks from Mr.. TOUCEY, and the re-
lection Of motion from Mr.. THOMAS to adjourn,
Mr. UNDERWOOD moved to amend the resolu-
ton BY substituting for il the original resolution Of tho
gentleman from Virginia (Mr WrsE)
Mr. CUSHMAN moved the previous question.
The previous question not sustained the vote be-
ing SO TO IS.
A motion was made to adjourn and lost.
Mr. WISE moved to strike out the words al
member Of this House"
Mr. UNDERWOOD modified his motion so as to
omit the above words.
Mr. HAYNES moved TO reinsert them.
MIR THOMAS called Tor the yeas and nays.
Mr. MERCER said, in case the facts alleged were
found TO be true in regard to the member Of another
House. it would be the parliamentary duty Of this
House 10 report the fact 10 the other House.
Mossrs Dromgoole and Haynes differed from the