Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-02-15

read twice and rcrrfrG .. H.,
The bill authorizing the managers and ohce's oi ',e
y ,nr.;.. .i.r.e: 2c.tY Ia cr"cl ;':'1.iisiit 20
the Innu.Y 81 tier. "sington u! tte l'4'"'c H..
The bill 10 uroviie !,r paying certain pensions III Us
caoosa, Alabama: referred 10 Tile Committee o'
slons. -. ,,.
The following bills were severally read the third time
and passed: cr,,
! W. Dnva.
and District Courts of the United States for The Eastern
! District of VTenia held at Richmond; aud
The resolution authorizing the purchase OF certain
books for the of tie committees OF tic SENATE
ORDER OF THE DAY.
The Senate resumed as the unfinished business, the
consideration c the independent Treasury bill; when Mr.
Niles who was entitled the floor, aud addressed
the Senate in an argument Of great length and ni much
force and ability in favor OF the measure Bv"re con-
GLIDING however he yielded the floor at late hour 10
Mr. Kiur on whose motion, the Senate went into the
consideration Of Executive business; alter which
- House OF REPRESENTATIVES.
CHARGE OF CORRUPTluN.
Mr. Wise rose and said, MIR. Speaker, have subject
of the deepest Importance to bring To The attention q"
this luuse-a subject, which involves the honor and the
purity OF Congress and the purity OF The whole Govern
,nrnt Sir bring TO the attention oi this House, d.
rec, and uneqnvnca charge, against member Of the
Courress of tie U. s of cnrruptOn--G charge which
is Openly made By the Editors Of wo Responsible papers
in This country who vouch that The charge can be proved
bv responsible witness or witnesses Sir, WIFI read
il nc Ina ve extracted il from the New York Courier and
Enquirer; and upon this paper, SHALL demand, from tS
House, an investigation. go
Mr. " then read the statement referred to- which VIII
be found reiterated in his motion below. Alter having
read il,
Air, w. resumed MS follows Now sir, this "Spy in
Washing ton is anonymous writer and shall not n,'
lice him in the proceeding but here Responsible rdl-
tor who vouches That this charge can b. proved lie
charnc made in the mos; direct manner ana congress
is called upon To defend its character anu lis o"
honor and therefore ask this House. ut once 10 appoint
committee and rive them full power 10 send Tor these
witnesses to inquire who they are, and who mat member
Of Congress s and let The whole mailer be investigated
and reported upon to the county, firre was al oppor
tuniy Offered. go
n conclusion, Mr.. Speaker, will say that will not
be responsible that this charge can be proved Ia! from
it, hope it may out either 10 be false or mistake
believe myself that corruption, in an Indirect form and
in general sense does exist, but have never supposed
thai uny one had been daring enough TO 0ier 10 sell his
Executive influence Sir, il this be irur-lf influence
is 10 be sold contractors spectators by members o
either HOUSE" will adopt the sentiment have atey
pa reform revolution, liberty or DEATH
Sir hope the House will not refuse 10 grant The COM
mi!ice.
Mr. W. then moved the following resolution
HhcrcaS, the following publication appears III tie NE"
York Courier and Enquirer. 10 wit:
"CcRRuPrIoS Is CuSGREss we yesterday puDIisIl'
ed letter from 'tbc Spy in Washington, directly c'arg
ing member OF Congress with corruption, and Offering
to more the Charge before committee h either mouse
cbarre to-day and call upon Congress promptly 10 in.
s,luIe the investigation thus challenged both an act
Of Justice itself and 10 the country lhc spy IN
WasingtnI, il may be said that he Is not an oscrsi
bic or responsible person but we desire at ouce To OBJ
yiale this difficulty BY stating, we now do. that hr is
known 10 US and that whenever called upon ny coil
mittcc Of Congress- we pledge ourselves that ne sh ii
be forthcoming and that he is whose standing "; r
rants an immediate proceeding the part OF Congres
E,ract from yesterdays Courter and Enqn"@r
"Ihe more bret my statement the better 1t Will he
understood 1t is in my power, 1t brought 10 Inc bar o.
either House, before committee, and process allowed
me 10 compel the attendance OF Witnesses 10 prove by
the cath Of u respectable and unimpcachabe citizen, AS
we'll as by written documentary evidence, THAT THERE
| Is AT LEAST ONE MEMBER OF CONGRESS- WHO HAS Of
. FrElD TO BAXTER HIS SERVICES ASD Ills lSfLyEHcE
WITH DEPARTMENT OR DEPARTMENTS FOR cohrhHsA a,
-rIoy sWhy, sir said the upplican. for contract II
nv proposition has merit, it will be received. II
! it has not do not expect it will be accepted And
what do you think was the answer OF the honorapse
member? will give to you IN his own eInphhtc 'ah'
guage: 'MERIT said he; WHY THINGS poNor co HERE
M MERIT BUT BY PULLING THE RIGHT STRINGS. MAKE
1T NY INTEREST, AsD l WILL PULL the STRINGS fot
YOU
! Therefore, Resoired, That select committee Of
members with power send for persons ons papers, DC
appointed 10 inquire into the charge of corruption therein
contained against member of Congress, and they re
port 10 this House, that as soon as lhe coEi''re asce
tain the Of the person accused they give MN no
tce appear before themand attend such examination
and that they report 10 this House
Mr. Cry said, that the course proposed 10 be pur
sued this occasion was novel and eAtfaoronary, nc
hoped the House would pause before 1t embarked IN I'M
business on such authority produced Tins charge
comes from Editor Of newspaper, and we all kno"
that in II country where the press is i7ee le" lEeI
can expect 10 escape abuse and charges OF sm.'a
description. Ordinarily, when we Dic ABOUT entering
upon business Of this kind before magstrate-a con
srvaor ni The peace-lhr charges submitted are obliged
10 be made distinctly clearly, aad under the soiemnit)
of an oath and why should we now depart from I'M
well known and well settled rule: lie knew nothing
of this editor but if il the same editor who had once
made grave charges against an institution Of TINS couh
try and afterwards was said 10 have received laclhl!e
to the OF 12 600 from the same lnssi,n
ton and gave il his hearty support he did not think Una
his charges entitled to much credit IN an AhieFlca'
Congress. If he has charges 10 make, let MN iiaht
them distinctly, aud not vaguely. Let HIM make lDeH
under the soemnily Of OATH and then 1t Will he qns
time enough 10 act. lie trusted the House would NJ
go into investigation Of this kind, on mere new"
paper statement, without any proof
Ii we look, we will see what had heen said by Inc
public press against Washington. Jefferson, Madison
The two Adnmscs, jackson, aud Van Buren,, yet Inc
people passed upon the merits OF all these len, ana AZ
forwards lie press relTacicd much that IL Fac sa'u
against them If The House thought differently from
hin it could pursue different course; bu' seemed 70
him that definite charge than ms ought 10
be made out before it acted II was giving 100 uCh
Importance, in his opinion 10 this newspaper edlor JOY
this House to institute investigation upon his mere
statement, without any proof whatever lie considered
that all public were liable 10 have charges OF ihis
kind made against them; and if their characters were
sufficient to bear il without investigators into Inc
matter before committee of the House, they were no
fit to be the representatives OF the people II MAI
slandeed in this way, the people would do him JUS
ce aud afterwards the press would do HIM Justce be
cause truth is mighty and will prevail He was il
favor Of the utmost freedom Of the press; hut THIS wa
an Inconvenience attending its freedom, which ever,
man ought, I've prepared hear. He thong tt gen
,cman from Virginia himself, upon reflection, wou'
come TO the conclusion that this charge was Too vagu
and Underlined to warrant the action Of The Hous
upon il. - =.
Mr. Briggs said that after the very extraordinary AM
unaccouna6e opposition which the gen.lema iron
Maine had made this resolution, and the veri Singh
lar reasons he had ndduced in opposition 10 it, he mus
call for the yeas and nays on its adoption.
The yeas and NAYS were thercupon ordered.