American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-02-28
80 From the WAse'ins Daily Times.
Corruption in Congress--Report cfthe
Investigating Committee, &c.


We have already stated that the
committee Of Investigation appointed
by Congress to inquire into the charg.
es of corruption made through the col
umns of the New York Times, and sus-
tanned, in one particular instance, by
Mr.. Paine of North Carolina, had re-.
ported to the House the evidence adj
duced and recommending the expulsion
Of William A. Gilbert, Francis S. Ed
wards, Orsamus b.. Matteson, of New
York, and William w. Welch of Con-
necticut. The report is so long as to
preclude its publication in onrcolumns,
but the following abstract Of the con-
Guiding portion will be read with inter
est:
Resolved, That William w. Welsh
did corruptly combine with William a.
Gilbert, member Of this House, from
New York, to procure tho passage of a
resolution or bill through this House
for thepurchase of certain copies of the
work of Mr.. Triplett on the pension &
bounty land laws, for money to be paid
the said Gilbert on it's passage. 9aH
Resolvea, That William w. Welsh
dld attempt to procure money from
James r. Sweeney, for reporting favor
! ably on the claim of Roxana Kimball,
from the committee on invalid pensions
at this Congress. ot 5GIab,iw al
Resolved, That William w. Welsh,
member Of this House from Connecti-
cut, be forthwith expelled from this
House. gDI l4e "aa.
They report in the case of Mr.. Ed
wards, of New York, as follows: "
Resolved, That Francis S. Edwards
member of this House, from the State
OF New York, did, on the 22nd day of
December last, attempt to induce Rob
ertT. Paine, a member Of this House,
from the State of North Carolina, TO
vote contrary to the dictates ofhis iudg-
ment and conscience, on a bill making
q grant of lands to aid in the construc.
ton of a rail road in the territory of
| Minnesota, by holding out pecuniary
consideration to said Paine for his sup
port of said bill.
Resolved, That said Francis S. Ed
wards be and he is hereby expelled
from this House. ,..:.''..
They report in the case of Mr.. O. b.
Matteson as follows: .uo,.
ReSOloed, That Orsamus B. Matte
son, a member of this House, from the
State of New York, did incite parties
deeply interested in the passage of n
Joint resolution for constructing the
Des MONIES grant, to have here and
use large sum of money and other
valuable considerations corruptly, for
the purpose of procuring the passage
of said joint resolutions through this
House. .u.tr. y a
Reso2ped, That Orsamus B. Matte
son, in declaring that q large number
OF members of this House, lad associ-
ated themselves together, ana pledged
themselves each to the other, not to
vote for any law or resolution granting
money or lands unless they were paid
for, has falsely and wilfnlly assailcd &
DETAINED the character of this House,
and has proved himself unworthy to be
member thereof. s.5.
Resolyea, That Orsamus B. Matte
son, amcmber of this House, from the
State Of New York, be and he is hereby
expelled therefrom.
y report was also made in relation
to ). W. Simonton, the reporter of the
New York Times. 1t appears, they
remark, from his testimony, that while
occupying n. seat as reporter on the
floor of the House, he personally aided
In the passage of the Wisconsin land
bill, under the promise of receiving
certain compensation if the bill passed.
He also an old friend of his in passing
a private bill through the Senate, for
which service he accepted small COM
pensation. They therefore recommend
his expulsion from the floor Of the
House as a reporter. .... .....
In regard to the subject of general
bribery and corruption, the committee
say that from the testimony taken it
appears that the general charges of
corrupt combination in Congress, orr
ginate from men who expect to make
money by creating the belief that such
combinations exist. If they can cause
ito be generally believed that it is ne
cessary to use large sums Of money to
carry measures throuob Conoross -
follows that some body must be employ
ed to apply it, and the man who knows
most about the corrupt combinations,
would be the one naturally sought for
and employed 40 broker to buy up the
votes ofmembers who had entered into
such combinations. The broker in
! Congressional corruption would receive