The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1843-04-15
HOUSE OF REPRESENT ATlvEs.
MONDAY, April 3, ls4S.
RRJRERv REPORT.

dlet Oh MaTCis lofoi w UAdWino Wuotuoi
certain members Of The Board Of Canal
Commissioners C have held ou. inducements
and bribes, TO members Of the Legislature 10
corrupt them, and thereby influence their
votes on certain measures pending before the
Legislature" "7beg most respectfully TO re.
port:
The committee TO whom the above sub.
;ect was referred, submit, to ,heS House, the
evidence touching The charge which il was
raised TO investigate. The committee con-
fned their investigations to the individual
case which eliciled ,he attention of the
House. 10 the charges OF interference on
sthe part OF the officers of Government;wi,h
the votes and opinions Of members OF the
Legislature. They did not feel themselves
authorized to extend their inquiry beyond
she instance alluded to. Enough, however
has been giyer in evidence on oath before
them, 10 show that a member Of the Board
OF Canal Commissioners did improperly
,smper with, and enieavour by corrupt
promises, to influence the vote OF a men,
.ber of the House of Representatives.
However incredible the fact may appear,
and however reluctant the committee were
10 come 10 such conclusion, tits none the
less true, if the sworn testimony Of mem.
Der Of this House can be believed, that
William Over6eld one Of the Board Of Ca
nal Commissioners, did promise to Jacob
Hill, a Representative from Armstrong
county, an appointment for friend Of his.
provided he would sustain the Governors
veto Of the Canal Commissioners Bill.
From the testimony annexed, it will be
seen that Mr.. Hill had two conversations
concerning the appointment he was solicit
1ous of obtaining, from both OF which he was
led to believe that the condition of his OBJ
,ainug the Office would be to support the
Canal Commissioners, and sustain the veto.
Gen. McCulloch, who appears only as an
intimate friend to have preferred his assls-
tance TO Mr.. Hill, and who, according to
his sworn declaration, spoke without author
ity, nevertheless gave il as his opinion, that
if Mr.. Hill was successful in the applica
tion, he would be expected to support the
Canal Commissioners. In his testimony
before the committee, Gen. McCuilock
said; Mr.. Hill came over TO my desk,
either in the morning or evening, am no:
certain which, and asked me what the Ca
nal Commissioners would require Of him,
provided he made application for that ap
pointment. told him could not tell, bu!
j presumed they would expect him to sup
port shem.'
The committee, in referring TO ihis &c
a.i1ss mai Es acrnTg Dy authority Il I'm of
the Canal Board. in expressing such an
opinion 10 MIR. Hill, on the certrary, he
declares under oath that he was not. They
merely refer 10 it, 10 show that in The opin
ION OF friend of the Canal Commissioners.
mey would expect the support of any
member OF the Legislature, who obtained
from them an appointment for one of his
friends. This simple declaration of Gen.
McCullooh, unauthorized as it was. The
committee cannot bur regard as corrobora
terry OF the opinion they have formed,a 10
.ne IMPROPER influences exercised by the
Board OF Canal Commissioners, over mem
bers Of the Legislature.
When department OF Government Laws
u down as rule Of action, for The dispensa
non OF It's patronage, that the members of
inc Legislature, al whose request il NAV
oes'ow an Office are to support its measures
when such slayish requisiiions are made bv |
me Executive upon The Representative
branch OF the Government, tAe time has
come Tor radical change in the deposi,or
es OF power,and spprehensious NAV Justly |
De excited, as TO the purity OF Legislation.
'ronghs about under such influences.
. The committee refer more particularly 10
ne evidence Of Mr.. Hill, in relation 10 The
'.veriures of the Canal Commissioners. In
|ietailing The conversation held al Buebler's
|Ilh MI. Oyer6eld, concerning the ColIec.
Pfsh'P at Freeport, Mr.. Hill swears TO the
PhowIng efect:-'After talking about one
Eing and another, mentioned what nm.
krslood from Gen. M'Cullock thai tbev
pc Canal Commissioners1were willing to
axe new appointment at Freeport. He
pa ne was not informed of the aproint.
Pm. at firss--he then said that the legisla.
2 had got them into tight place, and if |
you'd help them through, and sustain the
'veTnors Veto, they would appoint any
y wanted
hr. Hill upon being again questioned bv
eh'oer OF ihe Committee as 10 the Ian
ge used by Mr. Oyerfeld on this occas.
said 4 understood distinctly if would
an 'he veto, could get the appojn,
he committee deem il unnecessary n
q further citations from ,bs