The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-14
'G EDITION----FRIDAY, JANUARY ID, 1856;

league i would be very wrong to drive OF active mem
Der OF the committee and struck him ii this should be
done there would be no work performed
Mr STEVENS (whigl Of Pal hope the gentleman from
to be on the COMMITTEES on Of great
military services. (Iaughter.) For four mornings /
have been at the committee three efourths OF
hour before the time, and have always found the gen
teman there alone.
Mr. WILCOX insist my request to be discharged.
Mr.. FLORENCE (dem.) Of Pa desire my colleague to
answer me question He says the Speaker appointed
him the committee because he desired to vindicate
the truth Of history Now, in what my colleague
engaged
Mr. sTEvEss-He placed me the committee on ac
count Of my examination Of fortifcations circumvaa
tions gradatons, and other things, the terms of which
the gentleman knows at Christiana. Gaughter)
[t may be stated that Mr. Florence the foreman of
the Grand Jury who examined into the Chrstana riots
The question was taken, and Mr. Wilcox not ex
cused.
FRAUDS ON THE rREAsuRY-rE CASE OF MEssRs. GARDINER
AND CoRwIN.
The House resumed the consideration of the bill to pre-
vent frauds on the Treasury of the United States.
Mr. STEPHENS, Of Ca, free to state he Thought
the investigation by the select committee into the
Gardiner claim fully and completely exonerated
Connection e WITH it. Hs nsy rosd & an 10
marks of Mr. Johnson of Tenn controverted the re
marks Of the last named gentleman that it is NAHUM
before any tribunal in the prosecution of claims They
had always done and he had heard of any mpu
taton cast upon their character for doing He had
been informed that Col Benton appeared before the Mex
can Board ALSO Daniel Webster and Senator's Soue and
Bright; and members of the House, Messrs. Howard,
Phelps and Ewing, the last not now member. He did
not make this assertion to cast any mputaon for there
is no law against any such thing.
Mr. PHELPS, (dem.) of Mo-. said he merely handed in
papers to the Board for constituent got compensa
tion for it, and did not appear counsel.
Mr.. HOWARD, (dem.) Of Texas made similar explana-
ton.
Mr.. STANTON (dem of Tenn, said he appeared before
the Board for a constituent who employed him
counsel and paid him for it. He had attended to thou
sands of for his constituents and received
compensation, although he had been offered it,
Mr.. STEPHENS replied that the explanations amount to
ths:The gentlemen did not charge their constituents;
but if money had been offered it would not have been
considered improper to take it, than for prose
cutting before the Supreme Court His point
thsup to this time in history such connection has
never been deemed improper There is law against it.
In the of his remarks he alluded the Galphn
claim giving its history and insisting it was an honest
and in conclusion he would vote for the bill
original proposition and not with reference to past tran
saotions
Mr.. STANTON of Tenn, did not see anything improper
in appearing before tribunal established by Congress
for the adjudication of claims but Congress chose to
establish this rule and say member OF Congress shall
not thus engage, he would be content.
would justify Secretary Corwn in retaining the money
if it was established beyond controversy that the Gar
diner claim allowed forged papers, supported by
Mr.. STANTON thought if such the case the money
ought to be refunded He had been told that Secretary
Corwn pledged himself to refund the money if the fact Of
fraud is proved.
Mr.. JOHNSON of Tcnn.--I had no doubt that such an
answer would be made by my colleague for such the
Mr.. ORR, dem.) of $. c. briefly defended the connec-
tion of Waddy Thompson with the Gardiner claim,
counsel
Mr.. HOWARD. in his remarks said there was no evi-
dence before the committee that Corwin Thompson
knew the claim fraud.
PRESTON KING (dem.) of n. Y, briefly explained the
provisions of the BILL and the under which
it was framed when the House agreed to the several
amendments pending, and the b presents the fol-
lowing features First all transfers and assignments
hereafter made of any claim upon the United States
any part or share thereof or interest therein, whether
ahs Olutp nd all NJ
ders other authorities for receiving payment of any
such claim, any part share thereof shall be abso
uely null and void unless the shall be freely made
witnesses after the allowance of such claim the
men of the amount and the issuing Of warrant for the
payment thereof Secondary officer of the United States
person holding place of trust profit dscharg
ing any official function under in connection with any
executive department Of the government of the United
States, under the Senate " House ."
who afeg tue Of this act shall receive any claim
against the United States, shall in any manner,
or by means otherwise than in the discharge OF his
proper Official duties aid assist in the prosecution
support of any such claim claims shall be liable to in
States having jurisdiction for the trial of crimes and mis-
demeanors and on conviction shall fine not exceed
ing twice the amount OF gratuity fee compensation
eeiyed by the person SO convicted or suffer mpr
in the penitentary not exceeding year. boh the
court in is discretion, shall aduge. Thrd-Any Senator
who shall receive any gratuity from
claimant certain contingent prosecuting agent,
in any way assisting shall be liable to Indictment for
misdemeanor and conviction pay fine not exceeding
TWICE the amount OF tne OF coHpeH>uhoh
ceived by him, suffer imprisonment in the penitenary
not exceeding year. both at the discretion OF the
court Persons having claims by inheritance, bequest,
marriage exempt from the above penalties Fourth
Any person taking away with intent to steal records OF
a court of Justice shall be indicted for larceny, and on
conviction shall be subject to fine of 81 600, or suffer
imprisonment in the penitentiary three years. or both
Fifth-Any officer having custody of official papers, who
shall destroy Them shall receive the punishment as
the above and shall forfeit his office and be forever dis
qualified from holding Office under the government OF the
United States. Sxth-For the prevention OF bribes, any
of the above named offenders conviction, are to be
fined exceeding three times the amount offered,
promised given, and imprisonment in penitentary
not exceeding three years and the membcr, officer or
person convicted Of accepting receiving the same
any part thereof shall forfeit his Office and place and
person convicted under this section shall forever
be disqualified to hold any Office of honor, trust or profit
under the United States. SevenhThe bill applies to all
claims against the United States
The question stated on the bill.
Mr. SwEErsER, (dem of Ohio moved that i lay on the
table, which negatved, by yeas ii, nays l+o
The affirmative votes were Messrs Holiday Johnson
(Arkansas) Meade Mison, Polk Stanton (ky Strother
Swoctser, Toombs, Welch, and White, (Ky.)
The bin was then read third time and, pending the