Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1854-09-02
pIymnuth Mdsrtissr.
Plymouth, Ohio, Saturday, Sept. q.
Notwithstanding for Voters Il
think about this Fall.

The evidence before the committee of
Congress, 10 enquire into the means used
TO obtain an extension Of Colts Patent,
now being published, has made public
some items of decided interest 10 the peo-
pie who believe that the principal bust.
ness of Congressman is 10 represent their
Districts. Everybody knows that Wash.
ington is as corrupt place as the world
has seen since the days Of Sodom and
Gomorrah, and that it contains a most
precious set Of scamps, bu, we hardly be-
iIeve everybody thought they had the ef.
frontery to sell their votes, openly, and
even boast Of il.
The parties concerned in this affair
were Horace H. Day, the extensive man.
ufaclurer Of India Rubber Goods, and
Gel. Colt, the inventor OF the Revolving
Pistol, as principals, while the editor of
the Washington Union, some dozen or
two members Of Congress and letter.writ.
ers figured secondarily.
The facts in the case are as follows !;
Colt was endeavoring to procure an ex>
tension Of his patent, but not understand.
ing the arguments used to convince Con.
gressmen of the justice Of his claim, met
with but poor success. At this crisis he
met Day, who was also engaged in boring
for an extension Of his patent, Colt pro-
posed co-partnership in the business,
offering $4,000 down. which Day ac-
cePted. By his advice the plan Of oper.
ations was changed. Forty or fifty beau
tifully ornamented revolvers were pre-
sented to members supposed to be vul>
nerable, aud very large amour. of mo-
ney expended in bribes. One member
| got $4,000 for his vote and influence.
The letter.writers received from So, 500
down 10 $500, each, according 10 their
character and standing.
By such means, the extension of the
paten. was procured. A few Of those
who were offered bribes, were homes,
enough TO reject them, and through these
the affair leaked out. One member tes-
tilted that ''lady" had impof:uned him
to vote for the bill. She afterwards con.
fessed that she had received valuable
presents from Colt, for her influence
among other things box of kid gloves.
How far that influence was exerted with
others, does not appear, but it may be
imagined that handsome and not too
prudish Fomen might be used 10 advan-
tage in forwarding such schemes. There
are many Potiphar's wives in Washing.
ton, but too few Josephs. None but mar
ried men should be sent to Congress, and
their wives should, by all means, accom-.
pany them Another member was at the
time tbs vote was being taken, called into
the ladies gallery by two fair creatures,
and coaxed very hard to remain till after
the bill had passed.-but tore himself
away in time TO vote against it.
Although the committee failed to pro-
cure sufficient evidence 10 fasten the
charge upon the members implicated, yet
the whole testimony shows that corrup-
tion taints the atmosphere at Washington
to such an extent that an honest man is
the exception, not the rule, and that the
necessity for sending men 10 Congress
who are above suspicion, is imperative.
Let the character of the candidate for
Congressional honors, be the test. Vote
for none but strictly honest men-men of
stern integrity-refuse 10 support all 9TH
'ers--no matter under wha, circumstances
they may come before the people, and
bribery will be driven from the halls of
legislation, andrepresentatives will devote
more time to the peoples interests, and
less to their own.