Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-03-07
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE STANDARD.

CORRESPONDENCE OF THE STANDARD.
"a. 81 $50 WAsHNGron, Feb 49, 1857.
The consideration Of the cases of corruption re-
cia committee were set for Wednesday, but when
the day arrived it was deemed better to 60 on with
the appropriation bills and get them out Of the way
II possible. They were all disposed of accordingly
and sent to the Senate although with very little if
any examination. 1t was feared that the corruption
sion as to stand in the way of everything else
On Thursday, however, the first case, being that
Of Mr.. Gilbert, was taken up. An amendment was
offered by one of his friends proposing to give him
trial at the bar of the House, and to recall the
witnesses to repeat there the testimony given by
them before the special committee. The House just
ly regarded this course as as totally unnecessary
and designed merely to prolong its proceedings and
perhaps defeat action altogether. The amendment
was rejected after'a long debate Mr.. Gilbert de-
sired to put in defence, but not ready that
evening. On Friday, after addressing the House at
some length, he rendered his resignation. On mo-
ton, the resolutions in his case were laid on the
table.
The case of Mr.. Matteson followed. 1t was an
nounced on his behalf that he had sent his resgna
ton to the Governor of New York. The House,
however, would not permit the matter to be passed
over without an expression of opinion The two
resolutions embody ng t lis opinion accord
ingly passed, and the third directing his expu sion.
laid on the table. Mr.. Wech's case followed. After
long discussion, the report of the committee
amended declaring the evidence to be insufficient,
and that no further proceedings should be had
against him. To-day the fourth and last case, Mr..
Edwards, was taken up when ne submitted state
ment i'll his defence and announced the Transmission
| OF his resignation to the Governor of New York.
| Thus ends these remarkable cases. They are all
! three from the State of New York, and have eva.
ded the condemnation OF the House only by tender
ing their designations. The impression is wide
| spread that corruption abounded among the men,
| bers of Congress- Its existence has been proven
but it cannot be that it has infected any considera
BILE number of its members. There are class Of
men here technically known as agents, who find
interest in creating the impression that bills be
| passed only by corrupt means. 1t brings employ.
ment to them 1t induces interested parties to place
money in their hands, which propably is never used
i'll the manner supposed, but is retained in their
pockets. There is possibility of ascertanng the
use made of the money, and the agent is therefore
secure from the consequences of having perpetrated
fraud. The recent investigation was the most
searching ever executed by Congressional Com.
mittee. II has exposed three guilty parties and
they have shrunk away from their dishonorcd seats
I, like conscious criminals Corruption may still ex-
isl, but the exposures made will be warning
for the future Of the danger of deviating from the
path of rectitude and honor.
The Senate on Wednesday reconsdered the amend
men to the Minnesota BILL adopted the motion of
Col. Bisgs, providing that only citizens of the Uni
ted States should vote in the adoption of the State
Constitution. and it was finally passed in the form
in which it from the House. 1t directs the Ia
king OF census, the election Of delegates to frame
State Constitution and submitting it to the people
for their adoption.
The tariff bill was taken up in the Senate on
Thursday, and after long session, lasting until near
! two O'Clock on Friday morning, it was passed, but
! in shape very different from the bill as it
ceivcd from the House of Representatives. With
out going into detail. it may be stated in general
terms that the principles of the present tariff are
observed in the new one that general reduction of
the rates of duty is provided for, and that it will
produce to the Treasury fifteen millions less than
vo:e and it is believed that it will be accepted by
the House of Representatives in lieu of their own
project
The Senate has now taken up the appropriation
| bills, and will pcrfcc. them and dispose Of them as
rapidly possible. Yesterday the post office ap-
preparation bill was passed An amendment was
! added providing for semi.monthly, weekly, or
scmi-wceky mail by land from the Mississippi river
to California, for the letter mail only, to be carried
in fourhorse post coaches Thus another step is ia.
ken towards facilitating intercourse between the At
lantic and Pacific coast.
The provisions of the treaty with Mexico are
pretty well known. 1t guarantees to the United
States important commercial advantages-in reciy
rorty on the frontier and in reduction of one fifth
of the duty charged on inporations into Mexico on
articles imported from the United States 1t con
templates cession of Territory In consideration
of the commercial advantages granted to the Unitcd
States Mexico asks for loan of fifteen millions q
dollars Accounts from Mexico leave doubt tina
this money must be had, or that the present lbera
government must fall, to give place to dictated
by the Priests. The contiscaton and sale of tht
church property goes on in spite of the camor o
the clergy, yet rebellions frequent got up by
the irtrigues Of the priesthood that assistance is re
Quircd by President Comonfort, or he must sue
cumb to the difficulties surrounding him. In thai
event, Mexico will subside into anarch,
than has yet afflicted her, and it will become ne
ccssity for the United States to administer upon III
effects of the dead man. The treaty is in the hanl
of the President, and it is not known whether i
will oc transmitted to the Senate not. Perhap
it may be bequeathed to the next administration 70
settlement.
The knowing ones of Washington are not yet full
~ advised as to the formation of Mr. Buchanan
Cabinet To-day it is believed Mr.. j. Clancy Jonc
will be assigned to the Navy Department as the sue
cessor of Mr.. Dobbin and that Gov. Brown will b.
Postmaster General. Mr.. Buchanan will be here Of
Monday afternoon, and the precise arrangement q
his Cabinet may not be determined on until after hi
arrival
Last night Gen. Pierce held the last public recep
ton of his administration. The crowd was immense
greater than was ever known before on similar oc
casion, making perfect ovation to the outgon.
President. lie was in fine spirits and received eve
ry ono with the grace and dignity becoming tn
~ ~ MECKLENBURG.
BITTER REBuKE-General Qu1rMAN in his lat
celebrated speech in the House, in speaking of tn
resolution declaring that suggestions to revive tn
slave trade arc shocking to the moral sense, &c.
makes this witty and severe remark:
ut is vain and phar.saical arroc ance of superior
virtue in us, to assume such censorship. Intend
no personal disrespect, while say that this House
constituted as it is, is of the last tribunals tt