Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-02-01
THE OORRUPTION CONMITTEE.

The Washington correspondent Of the Louisville
Journal, referring to the action of the House Com
mittes to investigate the charges of corruption,
says;
Mr.. Simonton testified that tt0O members of
Congress, after obtaining his confidence, had ap.
Piled to him to obtain for them valuable considsra.
ton for their votes. Here was q material point.
Simonton refused to reveal the uamss of the allez
ed Congressional hucksters; and hence the invest
cation came to en- sorupt halt The committee,
finding that they could not induce the said corres-
pendent to dIVuge, brought the matter before the
House, who ordered him to be srrested-no diff
cult matter as the energetic gentleman was 10 the
lobby at the time awaiting the attachment; and,
on being brought before the bar Of the House, be
was, after much parliamentary sharp shooting per
mitted, like Paul, 10 speak for himself" but on 6
snbjsot entirely different from that which sgitstt
the spos.e. He denied the powe; Of the House
to punish him for contempt Of the authority in re-
fusDg to tell who are the two members who Wish.
ed 10 engage him 10 traffic away their votes en- ]
ilhuence. His speech occur led st least thirty
minutes and, considering III Z t3is was his Hirs;
appearance on the stage be acquitted himself
with credit "a to the manner OF bis Orstory but
IVES the opinion Of not lew gretCy listeners that
his arguments would not bear The strct test ofogi
cal OF moral rl'e3. The sum of MS speech wss
=
the trumpet throughout the land that corrupt COM
bnstious exist among membe-s Of Congress, tui
to warn Ullcs Sam and bis numerous progeny that
the public domain and the federal excueouer were
IL imminent danger Of being p.undertd; Du', As his
confidence had been secured Ia adylHcs Of the re-
yeIstions OF the aforesaid TWO members OF OJa-
q. be could not tell their names without "a
d.shouorao breach of confidence"
This circumstances connected with this case
make long story, but | believe that / have giVel
above the leading line Of the 'bobbery' Just Occa-
stoned in the House OF Representatives; and no6
it is only Necessary to ado that that toiy did Mt
regard his explanation or defence as satisfa Glory,
on the contrary, they ordered him to lie coLine1
closely By the Sergeant at Arms until the explrs.
ton Cf the present session OF Congress, or until be
shall purge himself of contempt by answering the
important questions prOpounded by the select com
mittee. But Mr. Sm0ntOn said that be wOu d sut-
fer any punishment before he would reveal the
names Of his con6ding Congressional friends.
Another case Of contempt will shortly to be
tried 4 Mr.. Chester, the correspondent of a
Philsdephis paper, refuses 10 answer the summons
to appear before the committee, and hurried off to
that city; but the Sergeant at Arms fastened after
him and took him prisoner. As soon as the state
OF the roads will admit, the reussnt witness will
be brought before the bar of the House to answer
fer contempt
All interest in public business seems to be alb
sorbed by ths proceedings of the seec: committee.
There is but one general opinion upon the subject
namely: that if there ara corrupt men in Congress
linen who sell their influence and votes-lhey
should be exposed to the indignation OF an outraged
constituency and county.