Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1857-02-26
Proceedings of Congress.

The Congressional Committee appointed to
inAestigatc rome alleged cases Of bribery and
cUrruptiun, made their report last week.
There are but two topics Of legislation con-
cernng which anything like corruption is
niade cut One is the sale Of book on the
Pension aud Bounty Land laws, and the 9th
er is Il bill apPropriating lands for the Des
Moinrs Navigation and Railroad Company.
In regard to she former, Mr.. j. Il. Sweeney
testiicS that Hon. W. 4. Gilbert, of New
York. entered into Il contract, in his presence,
with Capt. TripIett. the author and proprietor
Of the book, 10y which the SUM of Sl4,500
was tt he paid 70 him as condition Of secu
ring the passage Of the bill making the pur
chase His testimony is sustained by that of
Capt Triplett himself, and also by the pro-
ductinn of written order drawn 10y Triplett
fup,n the Clerk of the House for the said sum
Of $l45UO to be paid to Sweeney out of the
appropriation, Whenever it should be made.
SIR. Sweeney also testitcs that Gilbert told
dim he had received seven square miles Of
land and some stock" for his efforts in aid Of
the passage Of the Iowa Railroad bill.
Mr. Gilbert denies all these allegations, but
fails SO far aS appears. 10 explain the singu
lar condolences which seem 10 sustain the
evidence given. 1t is reported that he has
.endeavored to impeach the veracity of the
witness; but no hing of this appears in the
abstract of testimony, which is thus far all
chat is given. Hon. Mr. WEIGH, of Connec-
ticut, is also charged by ;he same witness
with having tnIi him that .ffty doLidrs would
be required tu pass Il pension claim Of q wild
ow kimbalI through the Committee IF which
he WAS a member. This, also, is denied by
Mr.. Welch.
In regard to the ether matter, Hon. Rever-
dy Johnson testifies that Hon. o. b. Matteson
aold him that 100000 would be required to
pa4s the bill giving certain lands to the Des
MoInes Company. AZ there were ttoenty or
Atrty nt'ntJcrs of tie House who had agreed
not to vote for any such bills ualess hey oere
p0id for Il. \ private letter was also intro
duced from Mr. VI. 70 the President Of the
Company proposing payments in addition to
Those already promised ~ the only way in
which the bill could be carried through Mr.
Matteson also denies the charges thus made
against him. Hon. Mr. Paine made in Com
mttce the same stat ;ment which he made in
the House-that Mr. Edwards Of New York,
teld him he was interested in the passage IF
bill making grants to Western Railroad,
and Offering hiR 81, 800 if lhe would vote for
it. Hon. Mr. Walk testifes to conversations
Ia which Mr.. Edwards acknowledged he had
pecunlary interest in the passage of certain
bills. Mr.. Edwards also denies the imputa-
tons Of corrupt conduct thus made against
him
1t will be seen from these statements that
the Committee went just far enough in their
examinations, to show that there were good
grounds for believing that corrupt practices
had been resorted to in each of these cases
and there they stopped. Probably the shor
time within which they were required to close
their labOrs affords a sufficient explanation O.
their incompleteness.
The Committee recommend the expulsion
of the four members implicated by their tes
timony-Gilbert, WEIGH. Edwards and Mat
teson, and also the exclusion of Mr.. Simonton
the New York Times correspondent, from
the floor Of the House.
The Senate on Saturday passed the House
bill to authorize the people Of the Territory
Of Minnesota to form a constitution and State
government, preparatory to their admission
INTO the Union on an equal footing with tht
original States, first, however, adding to i
the very proper provision that none but citi
gems of the United States should be entitled
20 vote IN reference to the formation Of
State constitution and the establishment of ,
State government.