Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1854-08-11
Ccrruptions as washington.


The question raised the other day in the
House ol Representatives about alterations
made m the Minnesota Land bill after it
had passed the House is likely TO disclose
to the people some Of the corruption at the
seat Of Government. This bill as we rec
ollect it, gives TO Minnesota IA large amount
Of land to aid in the construction Of rail
roads Since its introduction, companies
have been hastily organized on the usual
speculative basis Of such operations uow-a-
days, to wit, to build roads with other peo-
ple's money; and that they might be
brought within the provisions Of the bill,
certain little alterations were necessary
such as substituting "and" for on, and
some other trBiag changes, Just TO suit
SPECTATORS, but which could make no diff
ferance with the Government, which was
bound to be cheated any wayl In the
course of the debate it appeared that II
resolution, fixing the compensation Of of.
fcerS Of tie House, had been altcterd
| 1t seems that Forney, the Clerk of the
! House, is some way mixed up with the al
tcrtons Of the land bill This Forncy j.
one of the Presidents kitchen cabinet, and
lis known as precious scamp from bis con.
uecJion with the Forrest divorce case.
The following confession of Mr. Stevens,
OF Michigan, will throw little light on the
manner Of doing the public business. is
it not time honest and capable men were
sent to Washington - Clereland Herold.
Mr.. Stevens, of Michigan, rose toa per-
sonal explanation with referance to the
subject or which SPECIAL committee had a
short time since been ordered to be appoint.
ed. He intended TO make his staement on
honor After the Minnesota Land bill had
been sent to the committee on Public
! Lands, Of which he is member, it was re.
! ferred to him for bis individual action upon
it. Gentlemen who were connected with
them called on him and requested that
certain alterations might be made in the
third section before he returned the bill to
the committee. The alterations desired
were explained. One of them was to eff
feet the subject Of legislation in Minneso-
ia in relation to lands granted by Congress,
and he with his own hands struck from the
original bill the word future" The eth
eT WAS the alteration OF the word cor" to
"an3," ard he thought proper it should be
made, and he supposed be made it. He
presented the bill with some explanation
to the committee on public Lands, which
approved it. He then reported it to the
House. 1t pissed, and was sent to the
Senate. After getting there, his attention
was called 10 she bill 1t vas remarked
the alteration which he said he had made
he did not make, or that the bill did not
contain the alteration.
He conferred with one or two gentlemen
Of the Senate, and told them frankly when
lie reported the bill to the Committee on
Public Lands, he made the alterations, or
intended to do so. Subsequently. one OF
the Senate Clerks came 10 him in the lob
by fronting the centre door. lie meant
General Patten, who held out the bill, and
pointing out the third section, asked him
whether it was right. TO which he (Sie-
vens,) replied that il was not right as i; pas
scd from he committee on the public lands
and aceoid dng TO his recollection, be further
said: You will find if you look at the orig
inal draft the word "and" instead of ''or'' is
there. He went to the desk Of the engros
sing clerk of the House (Sprole), where
the matter was talked over He there sta.
ted he had supposed he had made the al
ieraton in the original draft and thought
he voted for the bill as thus amended
The question came up as to whether the
alteration could be made and several Sen
ators said it was a mere verbal alteration
and they frequently made such Cries
"Give their names" s"-"Give their names"
He would not give them as those gentle.
men are not implicated. He would dc
what is honorable, but would 90 no farth.
er The matter was adjourned to Colonel
Forney's room, where he made a similar
statement
MIR Forney said he did not know wheth
er the bill could be altered, but Mr. Patter
said we Frequently make such alterations
Whereupon Mr. Forney remarked: 81
would be better then the alteration shoulC
be made" He (Stevens) left, and the al
iteration was made in consequence Of wha
had taken place. He wished to withhold
nothing, but to state the facts, howeve
much he may have erred He wished tc
state them frankly, If he bad snned i
was an error of judgment, nothing more.