Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1857-03-05


our House have agreed to report your resolu.
ton in Minnesota to 1000 "a, or as you
wish it, but there is much trouble in the way.
Some outsiders make mischief. Are YOU will
ing to let your one quarter of the factory be cot
vp and used 10 cal ~ Il through, in addition to
what Striker arranged? | can have some
agent to promise outsiders stock in a new facto-
nv. Let me know without fail by return mail.
"Truly, o. B. NJ.
wv. C.. JOHNSON, Esq"
John Striker states that he is a director and
a member of the executive committee Of this
company. 1.-THE land and mail company al the
aTrGngemfHfS this witness did make here in re-
lstion 10 the passage of the bill or resolution,
other than what has airea,y been stated by
him. was to draw a draft in favor OF Horace
Greeley for 81 900, enclosing it in a letter to
him through the National Hotel Office, where
they were both stopping, for the doing of which
he received the sanction Of the executive COM
mittee Of the company. The money was to be
used entirely at the discretion Of Mr.. Greeley,
to aid in the passage Of this bill or resolution.
II the bill or resolution passed the House,
then the company we're willing to pay the
1000, but the money was not to be paid unless
the bill or resolution passed the House. The
money was used, but witness did not know il
until four months afterwards does not know
what became of it has bis suspicious.
Greeley never exhibited any vouchers, OF
made any returns to witness Of the expendi-
lures of the money had not the slightest idea
the money had been used until October then
learned from a gentleman, for the first time, it
had been paid. Met Mr.. Greeley in New
York some three weeks ago, who told him be
had received the money, but had no personal in
terest in It. He did not volunteer to tell wit
ness where the money bad gone, and he did not
like TO ask him, because he thought be could
ascertain in some other way. Thought the
treasurer Of the company would know, but be
did not. The treasurer Of the company paid
the draft. Believes Mr.. Greeley misapplied
the money, according 10 the instructions given
him, but did not ask him specifically who the
man was that got the money. 1t was in his
own room, and he thought be could ascertain
in some other way. There were no limitations
to Mr.. Greeley, except that the money wa,
not 10 be paid only in the event of action upon
the bill or resolution and, in that event, Mr..
Greeley was to determine Gbsolafely to whom
the money was to be paid. Mr.. Mattesor
kBsw Of this arrangement with Mr.. Greeley
and that the draft had been deposited in his
hands; knew everything that witness cid, from
beginning 10 end.
Some eight or ten days before the close Of
the first session of the present Congress, Mr.
Matteson met the Hon. ReVerdy Johnson in III,
AA1Alk "a , 9AA GU ~ "
c. johnson, the President of the company, anC
expressed very great surprise at his having lief
the city said be must come back, and bav'
here 100000 to carry his bill or resolution
giving as a reason therefor that there wert
from twenty to thirty members of the Hous,
who would not vote for any law OF resolution
granting lands OF money, unless they were p0ic
for it.
The committee states to a Mr.. Greeley's coz
cern in the matter:
1t is quite apparent to your committee, from
the evidence, that the one thousand dollars wal
placed in the hands of Mr.. Greeley by the au.
thorized agent Of this company, to aid the pas
sage of the bill OF resolution for the relief Of
that company, through Congress that Greeley
was a mere stakeholder of that money fOl
somebody, be having no personal interest in it
that it has been paid, but to trhom it has heeI
paid your committee have not been able to as.
certain.
The committee charge Mr.. M4tteson first
that it was his object and intention to procure
money and other valuable considerations fol
himself and others who might share it with
him second, that it was his object and inten
ton to procure money and other valuable con,
siderations to be used upon " outsiders " to cor
ruptly influence members Of Congress; third
that it was the object and intention to incitt
persons who were deeply interested in meas
ures pending before the House to bring money
here to corrupt members Of Congress.
The committee that made this extraordinary
investigation was appointed by Speaker Banks
who designedly so constituted it as to make i
efficient and the Republican Congressman wit
fail to face the music, will find no sympathy
among those who elevated them to their seats
The investigation for once is not a sham, ant
while it is impossible to say that it has thor
oughly probed the great cancer of corruption
at Washington, the sore has at least been Gu
open and set running.