Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-07-15
ITHIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
SATURDAY, july 8, 1854.
The SENATE did not sit to-day.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.


grant was taken from the Speakers table ana read twice
Mr.. JONES' Of Louisiana, briefly explained the bill,
and asked its immediate consideration when 1t was read
The following Senate bills were then taken from the
table, read twice. and appropriately referred
"A bill for the relief Of David Myere.
bill for the relief Of Tredwick Vincent administrator
Of james LIE Gaze, survivor Of lie Gaze s Malet.
bill for the relief Of the legal representatives. Of the
late Col. John Anderson.
A bill for the relief Of Phneas NJ Nightingale, ad-
bill for the. relief Of william Brown
bill to authorize the sale Of reserved lands end for
other purposes.
PRIVATE CALENDAR.
On motion Of Mr.. THURSTON the House then went
into Committee Of the Whole the private calendar
Mr STANTON, Of Kentucky in the chair and proceeded
to consider the bills thereon.
The FIRST bill the calendar that for the relief of
Samuel Colt which provides for extension of his patent
for improvement in firearms for seven years from the 25h
February, 1857
The bill and the report having been read
Mr.. CLINGMAN said that he had no doubt very large
sums Of money had been offered gentlemen induce them
either to vote for the bill or be absent II they could not
do So He had no reason to any gentleman would
lbe influenced by such considerations--
| Mr. PRATT (interrupting) inquired what reason the
gentleman from North Carolina had for saying that he
had no doubt large sums Of money had been offered to
secure the passage Of this bill |? 81 atfgs1&|
Mr. CLINGMAN replied that, should the House at any
time rise committee to investigate the question and
call upon him for information, he should be very ready
Ito give answer He would say to the gentleman that
no had been offered to him, (Mr. CO. and yet he
lad doubt that money had been offered than If
had been rendered to him. He had obtained the fact
whom he fully relied He would say that money had
been rendered to members themselves but it might have
been offered to friends, with which to influence gen.
nemen Of the House The streets rife with these
things they had found their way into the papers and
he had doubt Of the fact than that he ad
dressing the Chair he had stated this much He thought
II due to members when the vote should be taken upon
this bill that the House should be FULL and he therefore
gave notice that before the question should be taken he
would move call Of the House. From what he knew Of
members he presumed there not one Of them who
would not show by his conduct be not to be nfu-
-enced in this way.
Mr. c. then made few remarks in reply to the report
accompanying the BILL declaring that there color,
pretext Or reason for the passage Of the measure
Mr.. SEWARD thought it due the House that the gem
leman from North Carolina after the announcement he
had just made should give the names and facts, if any
member had been offered money to control his vote or
action upon this subject.
Mr. ChINGMAN said that he had stated distinctly that
money might have been offered to particular friends of
members the gentleman desired to raise committee
Of inquiry he (Mr-C) would be ready to communicate
what he knew From statements which had appeared in
the public prints from what had been mentioned to him
by two members Of the House, and from what he had
heard from other sources, he satisfied that very be
raj offers had been made particular persons influence
the votes of members on this BILL
Mr.. SEWARD. desire to understand the gentleman,
because If member upon this floor is aware Of such
proceedings and does not expose them he stands
demned before the country
+ 81 Mr.. CLINGMAN. Raise committee.
Mr.. SEWARD. It is not necessary to raise o commit
tee understand the gentleman to say that large sums
of money have been offered members Of this House either
to control their votes to get them to abandon their po
ations as representatives upon this floor.
Mr.. CLINGMAN The gentleman misunderstanding me.
do not say money h4s been offered to members, but to
individuals who sresapposed to have influence them
tell the gentleman again that if he will raise commit
tee will give the committee all know in regard to this
matter, and viii give references 70 ether persons
Mr.. SEWARD. There is no necessity for raising o
committee. We have no jurisdiction over Colt N
Mr.. LETCHER gave notice that as as the commit
zee should rise he would offer resolution TO appoint
committee to inquire whether money other illegal
improper have been used the passage Of
Vie bill to extend the patent Of Samuel Colt for seven
Jears, whether money other illegal or improper
means have been resorted to with view to the
passage Of any bill through Congress-
Mr.. THURSTON then submitted few remarks in sup
brt Of the BILL and gave the which induced the
Committee on Patents to report it.
Mr.. STEVENS, Of Michigan, supported the bill, and
inquired why these charges the honesty integrity and
honor Of the House The gentleman from North Caro-
Ina Mr. CLMGhAN) had intimated that large sums of
money had been offered directly or Indirectly to influence
&c action Of the House this BILL Was that GENTLE
nan entirely dsnteresteds Had no offers been made to
HIM for his vote! Whywas the gentleman 50 very anx
us this sabjecti God forbid he should express the
last doubt to the gentleman's honesty but there
we're persons who anxious that this patent should
not be extended that they might enter the manufac
lure of these articles and food the world with their bogus
arms These persons could afford to come here and fee
gentlemen as attorneys counsel to procure the defeat
81 this BILL He would not say that the gentleman from
North Carolina had been approached in this way. He
you'd not say that approaches had been made to that
gentleman learned able, and eloquent counsellor to
obtain his opposition to this BILL But he had good
to suspect that the gentleman had had his virtue
tempted that gentleman had suspect that others who
in favor " this bill had been bribed support it,
Mr. CLINGMAH said that he had expressly stated that
BE had favorable opinion Of the members Of the
House to believe that they had been operated upon the
means to which he had referred He begged leave to say
Cd his remarks seemed to imply it, that he had in
tended to intimate that the members Of the Committee
Fents had been in the slightest degree influenced by the
efforts made to procure the passage Of this bill.
Mr.. STEVENS said that he based the support of the
bl on its merits II the. merits Of the case were not
With the Committee Patents he did not wish the bill to
pass the committee were not sustained by the facts
hshoped the bill would be promptly rejected.
Mr. BLISS said that this bill before the House
With more than ordinary fairness. He disbceved the
relied upon by tho gentleman from North Carolina
IL did not comport with his own knowledge and expe
rce the knowledge and experience Of other GENTLE
whom he had heard themselves on this SUBJ
ject He gave his views In favor of the measure.
Mr.. ZOLLICOFFER said that he had listened with
regret and surprise to the statement made by the gentle
man rom North Carolina, implying corruption against
members OF the House. There not gentleman here
whose reputation not involved in the nsinuation
was ne to the House and the country that there should
b An Investigation into the charges and he therefore
su8geated that the committee RISE with view Of report
ING 10 favor Of posponing action the bill until all
these alegations could be examined into.
Mr.. CUTTING then briefly gave the reasons which
uould dnooh i'm "a ~rnkA o~.:-n an, a s