Washington sentinel., 1854-07-25

sofa chartered railroad company with most ex-
traordinary powers, granting 10 il all the lands
which have been, or which may hereafter DO
donated 70 that territory, 10 aid in the construc-
ton of railroads therein. The charter was SO ex-
traordinary, in this respect, thatt was supposed
by him and Others that the bill would never pass
the House. But provision was inserted IN the
bill the effect that the said lands hereby granted
10 said territory shall be subject 10 the disposition
of any future legislature thereof for the purpose
aforesaid, and no other; nor shall they nure TO
The benefit of any company heretofore constituted
or organized. This, he repeated, was 10 prevent
the company from receiving the benefit Of the
grant The first alteration he noticed was the
omission Of the word future" but this, he under
stood, was made by the committee. The second
alteration, however, was the more important one.
Instead OF " constituted or organized company,
the word " or had been altered to the word and
BY this alteration, the Minnesota company not be-
ing constituted and organized, expects 10 hold un-
der the bill, and hence he charged the object OF
the alteration. The word aud was written in a
hand different from that ofthe engrossed bill.
This was matter which affected the character
of the proceedings of the House, and therefore
should be examined thoroughly TO ascertain all the
facts. He had been asked whether the alteration
makes difference, and had 10 say that il is con-
10 the company. He held that it did nct; but that
this was the object OF the alteration, he had no
doubt. II was iDutilation Of the record.
Mr. HEM, being member Of the engrossing
committee, made statement, 10 the effect that he
was astonished TO discover that the word future
was omitted from the engrossed bill, ii appearing
in the original. But he abcertained that il had
been struck out the latter. As to the substitil-
iion the word and for that Of orr he recol-
lected nothing about IT,
question by Mr.. HEM, said he understood The bill
had been altered after il was sent from the House
10 the Senate. He then offered resoution--that
especial committee be appointed for the purpo 9
Of inquiring whether the text Of the Minnesota
land bill had been altered in any way or changed
in lang uage subsequent to or aer its engrossment
or passage by this House, without the authority
Of the House and if SO, by whom and under what
authority it was made, with power TO send for
persons and papers, and 10 examine Witnesses
under oath.
Mr.. CAMPBELL offered an amendment TO the
resolution--aand that the said committee be also
required 10 inquire into all of the interpola-
lion Of bills of this House His reason for sug-
gestng this was, as the House would well re-
member, that few days ago an important inter-
lineation was made in The resolution fixing the
compensation of some of the officers ofthis House.
He did not say fraud was intended, but It was
due TO the integrity Of the House that such things
should be stopped.
Mr.. LETCHER said he merely rose TO say that
he should tomorrow introduce bill TO repeal the
Minnesota land act.
Mr.. McMULLEN said il was due to the char
acter of the clerks, as well as of the House, thar
this matter should be fully Investigated
The resolution, with Mr.. CAMPBELL's amend
ment, was adopted, and Messrs. WAsHBuRNE, of
Illinois. BREcKINRDGE, CAMPBELL, BARRY, and
DAVIS, Of Indiana, were appointed on the com
mittee.
Mr.. MACE made an Intellectual effort to introduce
a resolution, for the select committee 10 inquire
what amount Of land has been purchased, and by
whom, at the terminus of said railroad, since the
Minnesota land bill was passed.
Mr.. STEVENS, of Michigan, (at subsequent
siege Of the proceedings) made personal expla-
nation, which, he said, was rendered necessary
by recent occurrences. Being member Of the
Committee on Public Lands, which reported the
Minnesota bill, he felt called on TO make state
ment which he did upon his honor, in relation 10
the alteration, far the facts had come TO his
knowledge. After the bill had been sent TO the
Committee on Public Lands, and after it had been
referred to him for his individual action upon it,
gentlemen WHO were connected with the bill
called on him, and requested that before it was
presented TO the Committee certain alterations
should be made in the third section.
Explanations Were made with regard TO the al
terations designed, Of the objects Of which he
was at that time ignorant and did not know Of
them until he was recently informed, If, indeed,
he now knew. One Of the amendments was to
affect the subject Of legislation in the Territory Of
Minnesota, relative TO the lands granted by Con-
gress, and 10 make that alteration, he himself
struck out the word "futuren The other altera-
ton desired was the insertion of the word q and
instead of "or,n and he supposed he had done this
likewise. He then presented the bill with some
explanations to the Committee on Public Lands,
which approved the BILL and he reported il to the
House. il was passed, and went 10 the Senate.
His attention was called to the BILL and 1t was re-
marked that the alteration which he had said he
had made was not made, or that the bill did not
contain the alteration. He conferred with one or
two gentlemen of the Senate, and told them frank
ly that when he reported the bill TO the committee
he made the alteration, and that he intended 10 dc
so. Subsequently, one of the clerks of the Sen
ate, General Patten, came TO him in the lobby in
front of the centre door, and asked him whether
the wording Of the bill was right TO which he
tMr. STRvENs) replied il was not right as the bill
passed the committee, and he thought that he said
10 the clerk that if he would look at the origina
drah, he would there find the word and" instead
Of "or."
He, (Mr. STEvENs,) then went to the desk Of Mr.
Sproe, where the matter was talked over, and
there he made the statement that he had supposed
he had thus altered the original draft, and thought
he had voted for the bill with that amendment in
IL. The question came up as TO whether the en-
crossed bill could be altered, and several senators
said il was mere verbal alteration such as
which they had frequently made. There were
cries for the names Of the scnators] He said he
would not give them now, because they are not
implicated. He would do what is honorable, but
go no further. The sub-clerk said at once thai
they had not the power 10 make the alteration
The matter was adjourned 10 Mr.. Forneys room
whittier he went with General Paiien, and, per
hsps Mr.. Sprole accompanied them. He there
made similar statementt TO Mr.. Forney, who sait
he did not know whether the alteration could be
made General Patten, in reply TO question BY
Mr.. Forney, said they frequently make alterations
Mr.. Forney then remarked, perhaps il would bs
better the alteration should be made" He, tMr
STEvKSs,) supposed the alteration was made il
consequence Of what had taken place.
He wished TO withhold nothing, but TO state all
however much he may have erred. II he hst
snned, il was an error of fJudgment--nothing more
He was perfectly certain that Mr.. Forney, in Civ
ing his assent to the alteration, supposed he wal
right, and was justified in doing so. He wishes
10 say here that this was the first and the last in
ierview he had with Colonel Forney on this sub
ject. So help him God he did not then know thu
design Of the gentleman who had spoken 10 hin
in having the bill changed from its original form.
To a question from one Of the members, as e
whether Mr.. STEVENS gave the order for the al
ieration, the last named gentleman replied: :"
haid if tho thing could be done, should be graft
lied to have ii DONE" The alteration simply give
10 companies which are now organized but whicl
,r.r> ,ot oroo cd fhef finae 4 he hill WI