Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-02-20

In TIE House, the report made BIZ Mr.
Davis, Of Md, from the Investigating Com.
mittee, was discussed at length by many
members. In the course Of this debate
Mr. Bennett, Of N. Y, did not design any
reflection upon any member Of the committee
but what he designed to do was 10 question
their jurisdiction. In his opinion, the report
OF the committee Ia this case was unconstitu-
tional, and was nothing but gu artful argu-
ment against the accused. The committee
had exceeded their powers; and if they had
not tried any man, they had condemned the
accused without trial. He thought it was dis
honorable to take advantage of a mans sb.
sence for this purpose, and contended that the
charge ought to have been, indiscreet CONVEX
satiOn as member Of Congress. lie protest d
against this proceeding, as it VIOLATED tbs
constitutional rights Of member Of Congress
and thought that the public would Judge more
correctly Of the matter than the committee
bad DONE. He begged, therefore, that the
House would recommit this subject to the com.
mittee with instructions.
Mr.. Orr was not surprised that the commit.
tee had been arra;gnsd, for he had expected
that they would be. The object Or purpose Of
the committee wac to present the report and
ask that it might be printed, and that the con-
sidoration should be postponed till Monday
next, by which time the report and all the
evidence might be printed and laid upon the
tables Of the members, so that they could form
just conclusions Of the whole subject He
would say that there had not been, in the his
tory Of the government, a single instance OF
precedent Inconsistent with the course pur-
sued by the committee, and be would chal
!enge gentlemen to contradict the statement
The case of the Cilley duel lad been referred
to The resolution adopted in that case au
th0riZed the appointment Of a committee to
investigate the causes which led to his death,
and the circumstances connected Herewith,
and report to the House, but it did not instruct
them to report any action. He desired to call
the attention Of the House TO another fact. He
disiked exceedingly TO make the allusiop, but
it was necessary that the precedent which he
held in his hand should 60 before the House
and the country. 1t was only at the last ses.
sion CT Congress that resolution was tffered
for the expulsion OF bis late colleague from
South Carolina Tho committee had investi-
gated the matter: and had Implicated others,
but the Honse had heard then no virtuous in.
dignation from the member from Pennsy lvania
The gentleman from New York wanted the
committee to conLne the report merely to the
evidence. The committee relied upon the
uniform practice CT the House to sus stain them,
and the resolution urder which they had been
authorized to act superseded the rule in the
Manual for the time being lie had never
spent forty days more disageeeably than in
investigating charges against men who had
heretofore sustained high characters but he
h sd done it firmly. He would submit to the
House that there ought to have bsen no dis
cussion On the evidence in this case, &c only
the friends Of the accused had been permitted
to see it, and the majority Of tie House knew
nothing about it
Gentlemen spoke about the character of he
witnesses. The committee had weighed the
testimony and the character Of these witnesee {;
and he would have been glad, indeed, if he
could state that they were unworthy; but he
could not do il. Gentlemen said that enc Of
the witnesses in this case was turned of as a
dsOIkeeper. lie would state that only one
year ago this witness was appointed door
keeper Of the House BY the influence If the
gentleman from New York himself With
reference to tho other witness, it was said
that MIR. Triplett was dismissed for malfea.
sance in Office. He would ask where was the
evidence that he was so disnis Ell He would
undertake to say that it was the first time be
had heard any such charge made against him
Messrs A Il. and IL Marsh all Of kentucky,
each In few remarks, gave the witness, Mr.
Triplett, high character.
At the conclusion of this debate all the re
ports from the said Committee were ordered TO
be printed, and made special order for We'd
nesday next
The general report closes with the following
paragraph in explanation Of a bill which the
committee submitted for the consideration Of
Congress
"To meet and remedy, or a; east to investigate
these evils, the committee have unanimously ordtr
cd the following bill 10 be reported " tn re quest
that II De printed and referred 10 the CoE.mlttes
OF the whole on the state o! TIE Union They do
not ask its consideration matter OF pivleee be-
cause CT the advanced period OF the session, but
they are unwilling to close their invt s;is alton
withou. submitting to the confederation OF the
House ana the country nlealure which tie next
Cong 'ess may &c enabled TO perfect ana enact in
to law, which, with the IL - of iSs3 and the
law touching Tecrs1nt witnesses Of this sessiCn,
throws all the guards aTOuCd tie government
against corruption that can DE aGJrled by any
legislation -
A BILL to protect the people against corrupt and
secret ihtuence Ia matters OF legislation.
Be az enacted, &c, That he person snail, d.
recty or indirectly, efrsr agree to give any mon
ey, or other valuable thing, OF security for envy
money, or other valuable thing, to a1y terson for
the service OF such person OF any other person,
In aiding or advocating or prOcuIiig the passage
or defeat OF any measure before elIner house Of
Congress, or any CON mittee OF either house 10 be
paid or delivered on the contingency Of tie pas.
sage o! defeat Of my measure before either house
Of Congress, or before any committee Of either
house, and that NJ person shall agree to accept
or receive, or shall accept or receive, any money
or other valuable thing Tor aiding or I'D vocatin2,
or procuring the passage or defeat Of any measure
before eitter house Of Congress, or before sny
committee Of either hOuEe and that every bar
gain, contract, or security for any such cOmpen-
sat!on, or any such contingency, and all shifts and
contIivancts to cover or conceal such bargain, are
hereby declared null and void and tae parties 10
any such bargain, contract, or agreement, or ur-
derstanding, rs well as the parry to pay as the
party TO receive the mo: o. or other valuable thing
or security therefor, on any such contingency as
Is above indicated. ale hereby declared guilty
Ct a misdemeaaor, and, on conviction thereof b.
fore any court OF the United States having juris-
dicton Of the said offence shall suffer imprison-
nent In the common jail for Tot less than Elk
months nor more than one year, and be suojec to
a fne Of not less than one hundred dollars nor
more than one thousand dollars.
sKc.-. And % it JSythsr enacted, That no
person having any inters st In the passage ur de.
feat OF any measure before either house Of Con-
gress and nc agent or person acting for or repre-.
senting any other person agent or attorney In
law, or in fact for procurir aiding or ad voca
tue passage or defeat q any before Ell
house Of Congress, or before any committee Of
either house, shall approach, COW ere with, or
e. plain TO, or in any manner attempt to In uence
any member Of either house relative to such
measure without dIst distinctly disclos ny to sue
ne NH VIZ ,bcrb no IA tpta