Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-09-06
Bribery and Corruption Exposed Washing
ton Letter Writer'S &c

Bribery and Corruption Exposed Washing
ton Letter Writer'S &c
Rnnors aud assertions that bribery had been
used II SECURE the passage of the bull for the eA
tension of Colts Patent. at the last session OF
Congress. caused the House Of Representatives
10 take action IN the case. Accordingly, Com
mittee was appointed, with Mr.. Letehcr, of va,
a. lis Chairman, aud after due investigation,
report was made on the 81 inst. Members OF
Congress, Editors, and Washington Letter MI
ters are implicated in the corruptions disclosed
the hitter acting as lobby members, and using
rather debasing their position Tor pay from
the highest bidder for advocating or depressing
this or that scheme for robbng the treasury or
delrauding the people of their rights. 1t would
seem from the tenor Of the report that the friends
of the Colt Patent Extension, the Minnesota AMI
Wisconsin Railroad bill, and the India Rubber
Patent Extension, had agreed to log-roll together
for the success of the various measures, and that
the friends in Congress OF each OF these bulls
promised the support of the friends OF the other
for their several measures for this reciprocity OF
service.
The Committee state that the means ndappli-
anees which are resorted to by interested parties
to secure the success of their measures, are nu-
merous; and such "a are supposed 10 be adapted
to the character views, necessities and Objects
Of those who are to be influenced Ambitious
views are held up to tempt some, pecuniary con
sideration- have their influence upon others; and
third class who possess in n high degree social
qualities, who cultivate and enjoy the pleasures
of socinl intercourse, have such temptations
spread before them in the greatest profusion and
richest abundance. Those who are employed III
the prosecution of claims or cndeayorlng To Sc
cure the success of measures Of II personal or
private MIXTURE, are generally shrewd. experienced
and intelligent; who have seen much Of the world
and way and who have schooled theirthoughts
and askcd their energies 10 devise the best means
of comprising their ends. Such men, by their
tact and talent. know what means can be used
most effectively what appliances will be most
likely TO secure the end they seeking 10 at
tain; and, MS their profits are most general y con
tingent, they are ready to use such as will, in
their view, apply to the ease Of ench individual.
The evidence before the Committee also dis
closes the important fact that the Washington
letter writers to the daily press who receive from
50 10 - for eaeh letter they forward for publ
cntlon some corresponding for three or more pa
pcrs. and who hayo been admttsd to desks on
the floor of the House, are very generally regar-
dcd us the most efficient agents who can be en-
ployed by those who have measure to advance
Although these letter writer's, before they can
Obtain seat within the House, required to
give Il personal pledge of honor that they are
not "empuprd as agents to prosecute any claim
pending before Congress" yet the Committee
find that IN utter disregard of this pledge and
its spirit. they have been employed in many of
the railroad, patent, and other schemes which
have engaged the attention of Congress during
the present session.
llis class of men, controlling the newspaper
correspondence of the country, moulding public
oplalon and fixing the public estimate Of men,
can eNart power over those DESTROYS OF notorie-
ty more injurious and destructive than social in
ilucnees or venal temptations.
The testimony OF Mr.. Clingmun, who nude
the call for the investigating Committee, is given
at great lcngth, and although his disclosures are
very conclusive rs to corruption practicrd, they
are scarcely definite enough TO warrant any dl-
rect action by Congress even against its own
member. \ large amount of money has been
used, as the evidence shows, in paying the costs
and charges incurred III getting up costly and
cStralupunt entertainments given daily by Mr..
T.. \. Dlckerson, the agent OF Mr.. Colt, to which
Indies md members OF Congress and others were
invited, with view of fmthering the success Of
this measure. The ladies, having been first du-
~ impressed with the importance of Colts ps-
tol extension by presents of Partisan gloves, are
invited 10 these ntcrtuiuments; aud the evidence
shows that, while there, members of Congress
are appealed 10 by them to favor this particular
measure: In the language of II witness, "A dead
srtt' WAS made at the Hon. Gilbert Dem 10 in
duce him "to 90 for the renewal OF Colts pat
emit Whether the same sort of social infu-
cuec and appliance was brought to bear upon o
theirs who we're invited 10 dine sup at that
handsome cstah shmcnt. the Committee have no
means ot asccrtaiuing, us Mr.. Dickerson has not
given the names of his guests and has ot,there-
tore furnished the means of getting ut the facts
MIR. Diekcrson seems to have adopted the rule
that
To reach the heart or get the vote
The surcst way is down the throat"
a /
associated with Mr.. Dickcrson, rs agents OF Col.
Colt, but it appears that they operated ON the
floor Of the House, whilst MIR. Diekerson devoted
himself almost exclusively to gastronomies aud
finance.
Among the testimoney indicating that efforts
had been made to bride members of Congress the
Hon. 6. w. Jones, Of the House of Representa-
tives stated that MIR. Nicholson, the editor Of the
Union, on one occasion, addressed him as fol
lows "joues, heard man say you could get
S5O,o00 if you would vote for the Colt hill"
True. Mr.. Jones testihes that he did not inquire
who made the remark, OF whether ii IN lest
or earnest. The Hon. Air. Mace having made Il
speech against the Colt bill, in the House. on the
next morning. \ gentleman placed in the
hands Of hi, son, youth about eleven years of
agca handsome Colts pistol MS a present y
clerk in one Of the departments told Mr. Noble,
of Michigan, that he would receive 5000 if the
Colt bill passed. and solicited his vote for the
measure. Mr.. Noble said that he "jocosey and
laughingly remarked to the clerk, that if the SUN
$1,000 it might be an object, but that 5000
was too small
Mr. Dickorson examined at great length.
He says Horace II. Day applied To him, through
a third party, for $4,000, rs condition that he
and his friends would not oppose the Colt patent
extension. lie refused To treat with the third
party. ana subsequently nal personal inter
view with Mr.. Day, when the latter said that he
represented certain parties in Washington, in
and out of Congress, who had the power to pass