The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-04
AFFAIRS AT The NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Private Bills Passed in the House
THE COLT PATENT EXTENSION.
VALUE OF AFTER DINNER TESTIMONY.
Col. Colts Social Eceentrlcltles.
INTER Es STING CORRESPONDENCE,
kc., &C., &c.
Col. Colts Social Eceentrlclties.
INTEREsTIHG CORRESPONDENTS
-TEIIRTYJTHlRD CONGRESS-.
RCOND SESSION.
House Of Representatives.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 1853.
PRIVATE Bills PASSED.
The House passed the ~thirtysix private bills which
were considered In committee yester lay.
THE COLT PATENT TENsIoS-INTEREs DEBATE-CoL.
COLT CHARGED WITH DRUNKENNESS, ETC.
The House then went into Committee Of the Whole on
the private calendar, with Mr.. Greenwood in the chair,
and the first bill on the list being that for extending the
Colt patent, for improvements In FIRE arms, seven years.
Mr.. PICK (dem.) of New York, movee it be passed over
informally.
Mr.. Pratt (dem.) Of Conn, by unanimous consent,
mace an explanation, and said this matter had been
magnifed into such Importance as t, call for q select
committee, which is now acting l. was ooc in which he
that the reputation Of an intimate personal acquaintance
is involved. Renewed laughter J Colonel Colt has q
believes to be Just. He has been charged indirectly. il
not directly, with doing what is unbecoming aa honor
able man-such o. using improper, means and outside
influence. and attempting to bribe members Of this
House. Colonel Colt Is as honorable . man as any
on this hocr-and there is not the slightest par.
t,cle Of truth in the charges. II any gentleman
has been brbed let him rise in his place dsughtor),
either 10 the way of pistols, money, or anthins else.
He (Prattl would say, with all respect for the Select
reflection on the character OF the House. He did not
know a gentleman here who could thus be brioed.
A VoIcr--f so, let him show himself.
Mr.. PRATT, resuming-As to Mr.. Dickersou, Mr.. Colts
agent, he did not believe he would be guilty Of ,ouduct
il that Congress win give it's opinion, one way or the
Other, ON this bill.
A.queston Of order sprung mp as 20 whether tho bill
could be set aside, but the Commit sec refused to do SO,
BY a vote OF ayes, 20; noes not counted.
Mr.. CAMPBELL, Qree soiD Of Ohio, said the charges
fixed the responsibility in NO particular quarter. lie
bad seen nothing to throw corruption on any person.
He was not prepared 10 believe, not even to suspect, any
member Of the House was so base and lost to honor as
70 invoave his character in snch n way. lie had never
seen, nor expected TO see, Mr.. Colt, but was in favor of
the bill, because he believed It to he best for the country
to renew Colts patent. He bad one Of Colts reyolvers
MADE a present 10 him in lsl3, in New Orleans, by a
dear friend, now deceased. He found IT a good iustru-
mens, answering hs purpose very wei; When at home
might reycr find occasion 10 use II Tor q moro serious
purpose.
observed he did not say Mr.. Colt hal acted properly,
because II was a notorious fact that at the time he ap-
peaied before the select CON uittee no was drunk, aud
bis mind obfnscatcd. III gentlemen would take the
trouble to examine his testimony, they would 6ud he
had no definite ideas Of the sum Of money his agent had
distributed.
MI. CHAMBERLAIN, (den,.) OF Ind. DO these questions
ano answers constitute a part of the written reportl
Mr.. LtTcrR-No, SIR. It would have been a hard
matter TO daguerTeotypc the testimony OF a drunken
nan, He read from the testimony IN orier to show that
~Iicsorson had an unlimited power 20 draw on Colt, and
that fifteen thousand dollars On the books OF Colts clerk
docs yn) were unaccountcd FOR AMI further, that tho
money was spent to help the bill along through Con-
gress, as was suspected, though Mr.. Diceer,cn refused to
answer as TO the use o. the money, saying the committee
had no right TO look into his private matters.
Mr. PRATT-Why does the gentleman p,a. any coma
dence in the testimony OF Mr.. Colt, IL he was drupk2
Mr.. LETcHER-The COMMITTEES was convened for his
eonyen ence, and he ought not TO have come before Il In
thbt ccruttion i nave no confidence IN us statement.
Mr.. WALSH, dem Of n. Y. Cnr Letchcr yielding the
Aoor)-nrIing the last election In New York there were
three candidates for Governor aud three for Lieutenant
Governor. ste two OF them present-one OF them, the
gcnts man on the rum ticket, Ia inside OF the hall, AMI
the oilser IA In the gallery. would ask that q con- nit
tee lie sent 10 General Augustus Adolphus Scrogxs, 10.
vitng brm 10 a seat on the floor. Laughter
Mr.. IIrrIHR-Is IL expected | shall defer my remarks
until the committee so out daughter
The GRAMMAR ITO Mr.. wIlsh)-wc are Ia committee
now.
Mr.. wnsu-scnd fhc Sergeant. at.Ar rms.
Mr. LTtnpR CO included By saying the bill should not
he acted on pending the investigation OF the select com.
miii,e.
Mr.. PRATT remarle ed bo certainly undcrsiooi VI.
Ietcher to say, In private conversation, that there wa,
nothing dishonorable in Mr.. Colts conduct. Mr.. Colt
was sick, and had just come ot or his chamber when
he appeared before the committee. his friends tncn fear.
mi for his lf. He vas surprised Mr.. IDtcher had nc.
cused him OF being drunk.
Mr. LETcHER-Tbe gentleman says Mr. Colt was not
drunk. 1arposl 10 my colleagues on the select com
mittee.
hr. EBpy, (dem.) Of lod II regarded Mr.. Cot as in.
toaIcatd. ] do not know any 9TH member who came
10 a different CONCLUSION or expressed a different opinion.
Mr. RUBIN, (dem) Of C-I so considered him.
Mr.. IoLucorrTT, (whig) ofTcnn.-The Impression on
my mind, whie | believed Mr. Colt Intoxicated, was,
that he was IN the hands Of men who might be ~sharpers,
and who would ruin him, but | believed him 70 be an
honorable man.
Mr.. wnKyIER, dem Of Y Mr.. Colt was TO have
teen examined IN the morning, but the committees being
lie npJtarsd before The comrittee directly after dinner,
sha So med 10 DO slightly excited.
br. luUT, Iwbis) Of Mass II feel bound % say what
] am about 10 say, and yet can1o' co-robora'e o. the
fun what the gentleman from Virginia (Lcteber) said. !
would not examine a drunken man. ! should DO 10th 70
,xpmine q nan In the technical sense intoxicated, and
Jet the vitrefs va cot 10 . ~ g-cgc. stst: ?i@gL