Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-07-22

The following bills 81 the House, heretofore reno,,,
,h;.d .as Uommss o. the Whole were then read Il
bill for the relief Of Captain Georges Symptom Of a.
Q weston. - -
A bill for the relief Of the heirs Of Josrpb gsr.ra
I'll bill for the relief Of Mrs. Helen Mckay vidov :, 81,
late Col Eneas Mckay, deputy quartermaster gensrl
bill for the relief Of D. c. Cash and Giles o. Ems
bill authorizing the payment Of the balance The pro
perry accounts between the United States and the Stat
OF New York. for military stores in the Of 1872
b.i Tor the relief Of Robert Grignon.
bill for the relief Of Pamela Brown, the widow o
Major General jacob Brown, late Of the United State
army, deceased.
i QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE.
Mr. BAYLY Of Virginia, rising to question Of priv
lege, submitted the following resolution:
hesored That the special committee Of which the Hon
Mr. LErcHER is chairman be instructed TO communicate
the House any communication made to that committee ref
ing upon the representative character Of THoxAs H. BArLY
member Of this House, by B. E. Green Others with view
that the House take such action may seem
per- the said committee having decided that not within
| their Jurisdiction.
Mr.. BAYLY said that this was matter in which his
honor was concerned. The special committee had de-
cned to take jurisdiction Of personal mpuation upon
nlman lmputaon upon one Of the oldest members Of
the House, made against him while he enjoyed the high
est favors Of the House during two successive Con-
crosses, being in one Of them chairman Of the Com
mittee on Ways and Means and in the other chairman
of the Committee Foreign Affairs. He had been ad-
vised to take notice Of this mpuaton the ground
that it obviously grew out Of malice but he did
choose to pursue that He had the commu-
ncaton by order Of the committee and he meant that
the House and country should also and he meant
if the House would indulge him. that committee should
appointed to investigate the matter that the brand
infamy might be stamped the brow Of his accuser.
Only FIVE minutes ago he saw this mpuation and was
due to him that it should be investigated with view
| to justice.
Mr. LETCHER did not deem it necessary to say more
present than confirm the statement made by his col
league that the committee had disposed Of this matter
so far they concerned. After the resolution
should be disposed Of he might have something more
to say.
Mr. CAMPBELL did not wish to throw obstacles in the
way Of investigation but desired to learn from the gem
tleman from Virginia mr. LErcHER the reason why the
select committee did take Jurisdiction of this matter
Mr.. HOUSTON suggested to Messrs. CAMPBELL and
LEToHER that if they commenced drawing out informa-
ton from the committee there telling when this
Mr.. CAMPBELL replied TINT he did not propose to
draw from the committee any information except such
would justify the House in yielding to the request Of
the gentleman from Virginia. If that gentleman had
been assaied through the committee why did the
committee take jurisdiction of the matter?
Mr.. LETCHER replied that the charges preferred
the committee did think they had right to con-
sder under the resolution for their appointment matters
connected with any other than the present Congress-
the committee should 60 back five OF six years and bring
their Investigations down to the present Congress- they
would be able to get through with their business
MIR. CAMPBELL understood, then, that the committee
did not think the resolution sufficiently general in its cha-
acter to enable them to make this investigation?
Mr.. LETCHER. Certainly.
Mr.. CAMPBELL said that the House had given too
much weight to outside and newspaper trash
Had he been present when this committee raised he
should have taken the ground that these loose nuendoes
had greater tendency than thing else to bring odum
upon Congress. But, the committee had been ap- |
pointed he trusted they would thoroughly investigate
matters submitted to them. nasmuch the gentleman
from Virginia felt that this mputaton Of sufficient
Importance to bring before the House. he thought it
due to him that his request should be granted
Mr.. GIDDINGS hoped the resolution OF the gentleman
from Virginia would be unanimously adopted as it Ind
been the practice Of the House to allow committees of in
vestigation under similar circumstances Il
Mr.. BAYLY said that if this imputation against him
newspaper CHARGE got up by letter writer
he should have been tempted to say word about
it; but the mputation containedin communication
sent to committee Of the House, signed by that
known-at least in this body. The gentleman from
Ohio might not know, until he should remind him of it,
that this communication substantially the same made
and nays could be had it. But he sensitive about
the matter and wanted brand his he would
be branded should q committee be appointed.
Mr.. LETCHER said that the committee were of the
opinion that the resolution under which they APP
pointed limited their investigations to the present Con-
gress and that they had right to act upon the charges
made against bis colleague, which extended far back
the twenty ninth Congress- If the committee should
extend their abors to previous Congresses it would be
utterly impossible for them to bring their aborsto close
during the session. which they anxious
do If members Of the present Congress were involved
in any way, the committee would in the discharge of
their duty ascertain the facts far they could, and
report them to the House for action.
Mr. CAMPBELL thought the decision of the committee
on the communication very proper and demanded the
previous question; which seconded, and under the
operation thereof the resolution of Mr.. BAYLY was
adopted
Mr.. BAYLY This being question Of privilege, and
being informed that my colleague Mr. LEToHBR ready
produce the communication, ask that be received
at once, that the House may order committee upon it,
The communication was read. 1t bore date Washing
ton, July 10, 1854, signed BENZ. E. Green and adj
dressed to the Hon. JOHN E. LETcHER, the chairman of
other illegal and improper have been used
the passage defeat of any bills before Congress
The writer asserts that W. W. Corcoran the banker offer
ed Thomas H. Bayy, during the 31st Congress, money,
the Of money coupled with the proposition that
the latter would unite with the former for the purpose Of
speculation in United States Government securities but
that Mr. Bayly declined the ground that his fathern
law did not think well Of the proposition. The purpose
and intent he continues, to the passage Of
bill through Congress- while Mr.. Bayy held the position
Of chairman Of the Committee of Ways and Means, in
Of the appropriations of which Mr. Corcoran in
teresed Green also charges that Mr. Bayy in the 81s
and 32d Congresses used improper means-to wit
wful Misrepresentation and alsehood involving breach
of trust Of the securing, in 1850 and
1852 large appropriations for the payment Of indemnity
due to Mexico under the treaty Of Guadalupe Hdago
with full knowledge and purpose that the money thus
appropriated would into the hands of Corcoran and
Others and with further knowledge that nearly half
million would thereby be lost to the United States, which
might have been saved had the wish Of the Mexican
eminent been respected The writer says he could prove
more than he now charges.
Mr.. BAYLY said it was not on his account, as
God knew, but account of the House Of which ,
he Of the oldest members and whose confidence