The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-02-21

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IN The presence Of Mr. gilbert Whether the witness had
been told beforehand then heard Dr. Welch was TO
be recipient OF part of the money he say but
thinks 1t probable he asked him what amount had been
agreed on with Mr. Gilbert but these matters he
not undertake to be He did know that he
told Dr. Welch the exact amount but thinks il likely he
told him was up TO certain amount without informing
him accurately about it, because he supposed if he
get any compensation he get 10 from Mr. Gilbert
ana tha they would make their arrangements together He
thinks IT was understood b both parties that 1t
he would receive some compensation though he does not
think he heard Mr. Gilbert say what amount In
tended TO give him. In most of the conversations there
was no reference to any pecunary transactions at ALL
The sail Sweeny further testified to the following fact
touching MIR. Gilbert; That the Hon. w. A. Gilbert told
him that the said Gilbert had received square miles
of land and little for his vote and influence
the passage of the Iowa railroad bill Ii was in
weather. they went somewhere about street. and
told the witness that he had received that amount for bis
vote He said he put down for that amount II was
after the passage of the Iowa and his impression
he named Mr. Chase the person with whom he made the
arrangement
To this Mr. Gilbert replied in substance That he
was informed by Sweeny, of Bennetts efforts to procure
the passage OF resolution for the purchase Of his booka
piracy of Tripets work that it would be outrage
encourage such fraud that Trpett had several times
tried and failed get his book purchased but had aban
doned the effort, and confined himself to defeating
Bennett and asked to be allowed to introduce Trplet
he consented Tripett introduced Mr. Gilbert talked
with him about his book and its price, and told Trpe
that he thought his work valuable one for distribution
and that il ought to be adopted in preference Bennet
Trpett said If necessary to defeat Bennett he would be
willing to put his book at cost less than Mr.
Gilbert said that If the book adopted, it should be at
fair remuneratve price and asked him what he could fur
nsh the book for. Trpett afterwards informed Mr. Gill
bert what ne could furnish it for and said he did not
Whdt became Of any excess
He declares himself ignorant of what Sweeny may have
told pett OF his views and purposes as well as of Trip
etts nferences. f#A
That agreement was made with him by Triplett
Sweeny, or any else, whereby he have,
pected to have any benefit from the passage of the
NJ pr had ia remo
the existence of the writing order until after it pro-
duced before the committee
2 That he had not the slightest recollection of any
versaton with Sweeny about his the Iowararoad
bill and he knows he told Sweeny that he to
have seven square miles Of land any other quantity Of
land for his vote and that he stipulated for any
quantity of land other pecunary consideration for his
vote on that or any other bill.
The two witnesses examined separately the same
day in immediate successon and without the chance OF
consultation Neither knew what the other had testified
Neither knew how the committee became possessed of their
names or of the facts they could They both testi
fled reluctantly. They nowhere volunteered any state
ment They gave the names of the gentlemen implicated
with the greatest reluctance and only after repeated reqn
ons by the committee with reiterated expressions the
opinion OF the committee that they would be compelled to
answer If they refused. And both testify to the same
transaction relative to the bargain about the book of Mr.
Trplett with substantial concurrence which puts any
suppostion of Invention out Of the question and leaves
doubt on the minds of the committee of the truth of
their statement.
They concur in stating the following material and de-
cisive facts:
l. That there was bargain or contract made between
A. Gilbert and r. F. G. Trplett in the presence Of
Sweeny verbally relative the procuring the passage of
a resolution for the purchase Of Trplett's book.
That the contract was in form and substance that
Trpett was to have only part Of the money which Con-
q That the residue was to be at the disposal Of W A.
Gilbert II was not stipulated in many words that the
money be paid him. but that the understand
ing at the interview when the bargain made.
4. That the writing was demanded by Sweeny in the
name of Mr. Gilbert in fulflment of the contract pre-
viousy made in his presence between Trpett and Mr. Gil
bert and that Mr. Tpett gave the paper in performance
and evidence of the contract previously made.
g. That the paper indicated the highest to be paid in
the event of the book being taken by Congress at the high
est price named but that under that there was gradu-
ated scale of compensation varying in certain proportions
according to the price obtained
If both witnesses unworthy of belief such
rence in the absence of all coluson would of themselves
prove their own truth and here no collusion is pos
sible
The committee rendered to Mr. Gilbert an opportunity
to confront the witnesses whose testimony related to him.
and have them subjected examination in his presence
but this declined by him. They cannot weigh his
statement evidence against the testimony of wit
nesses &
That statement suggests hypothesis consistent with
the concurrent testimony of the witnesses, which shows
their testimony to be consistent with his innocence.
Mr.. Gilbert has confined himself to taking evidence 10
imPeach the character of Mr.. Swecny. On that point
seventeen witnesses have been examined by the committee
of those witnesses, nine called by Mr. Gilbert and
eight were Summoned on the suggestion of Sweeny
The testimony given by these witnesses will be found
report
is conflicting in character Of the witnesses called by
Mr.. Gilbert two (B Hooe and Captain Darling) had no
such knowledge of his general character as entitled them
to express opinon (Samuel Coe) would believe
him under oath, but where his feelings much interest
ed he would desire to examine his testimony with good
deal of care and TO- b. March said he would be dis
posed to believe him oath he saw anything to
the contrary.
The other witnesses called by Mr. Gilbert all concluded
by stating they would not believe him under oath but the
crossexamnaton revealed the fact that many OF the
pressions of opinion which went to form the witnesses
opinion proceeded from persons who had had controversies
character where harsh mputatons freely induged
and in the vagueness of the suggestion deprived
II of character except that of general abuse and ap
peared that other expressions of opinion relied were
from persons who had differed with him about the political
ntrgues of primary assemblies and conventions involved
but parook Of the bitterness and the generality Of
political abuse. "A
OF the witnesses the part of Sweeny one Robert
Morrs had not such knowledge of his general character
entitled him to testify all the rest declared his charac-
ter good and all but declared they would believe him
oath and the who did not so say was SILENT be-
the question not put to him in that for but he
asked further than touching his general character
which concurred with the others in pronouncng good
OF the witnesses examined by Mr. Gilbert five were
from the county of Sweenys residence in New York. and
other in this city but was not called owing to his
fatigue
O those examined by Sweeny four were from the county
of his residence all Of whom atested well his general
good character his credibty under oath and two
other witnesses from that locality summoned on behalf OF
Sweeny not examined owing to their having failed
to reach this city in time to appear before the committee
On fu1 consideration of this testimony as to character
the committee consider that it is quite apparent that Swec
"a, Ag .tr4 fool ,nd