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


the passage Of resolution bill through the pres
ent Congress for the purchase Congress copies
land laws in consideration that the said Trple should
allow him to receive certain of money ont Of the
preparation for the purchase of the book.
Resolved That William A. Gilbert did cast his vote
the Iowa land BILL depending heretofore before this
Congress- for corrupt consideration consisting OF
square miles of land and some stock given to be given
to him.
Resoloed 3. That William A. Gilbert a member of this
House from New York, be forthwith expelled from this
House
HENRY WINTER DAVIS,
JAMES l.. ORR,
HIRAM WARNER.
DAVID RITCHIE.
WILLIAM WEIGH, MEMBER STATE OF coSNEc-
TIoUT.
Mr.. II. WINTER DAVIS from the select committee made
the following report.
The select committee appointed pursuance of the reso
luton of the House of the 9th of January 1861 inves
tgate certain charges referred in the preamble that
tion in their Judgment is necessary the part of the
House. submit the following report relative to VIM. W.
Welcb member of this House from the State of Connec
ticut
Two witnesses have testified to two distinct acts of VIM
W. Welch of corrupt characteristic one, attempt to
procure the passage resolution for reward the other
attempt procure brbe for reporting iavorably on
claim depending before the Committee Invalid Pensions
Of which he was member.
The first rests the testimony of f. L. O. Trplett
His testimony will be found pages 6674 of testimony
submitted with the general report
On Friday January l6 Trplett had been asked whether
any conversation took place between him and any other
member, Il. G., beside Mr. Gbert in which he came ont
aud solicited, demanded, or required any pecunary
compensation for voting and he had replied In substance
that there other where there any
such understanding, far he could recollec to
loose talk and suggestions he could not undertake to
answer for them; but there nothing approaching
contract with any else but Mr.. Gilbert.
On Monday, January 10, Tripett was recalled and per-
mitted to make an explanatory statement
He said in reference to the above question and ha
it, that his strongly worded than
subsequent reflection had convinced him it should be- He
meant conne himself and did then conne himself TO
denial of any specific contract with any else IT, e.,
than Mr. Gilbert)
The question then put in different form, to wit;
Whether he knew any other member of Congress
peced share in this money for which the order the
Clerk was given And in reply to that and other qus
tions, he testified follows: sst e4ag
That there another member of Congress who, he
satsed expected to be benefited and that Mr..
Wech, of Connecticut but he had contract with the
witness and he satisfied from what Mr. Welch him
self told the witness that he Mr. Wech, expected to
ceve something from the passage of that bill what it
the witness did not know and be had agreed to pay
him anything. The witness had frequent conversations
with Mr. Wech and he has been present when
tions occurred between Mr. Gilbert and the witness He,
Mr. Wech had spoken to witness about the matter freely
and conhdentaly and he thought had told him that in
the event of the passage of the bill he expected to receive
compensation for it but in what precise language the wit
could not cay. That Mr. Wech that there
with Mr. Gilbert though the witness did
not know that Mr. Welch knew the specific terms of it and
thought that he did not know the There many
to the book but he could not state any than that all
the conversations left doubt the witnesses mind that
Mr. Wech expected to be compensated for the abors which
he expected to perform in the he expected to use his
influence in securing votes in the House and not In
mttee that there many conversations about the
book with Mr.. Welch--he thinks as many dozen
not mentioning thing about compensation in all OF
them however, did Mr.. Welch ever state how much,
the amount he expected TO receive The wtnesss inn
preston was-and it was given simply an impression
that the first conversation that occurred between him and
Mr.. Welch upon the subject of being benefited was in
the room at least in the presence Of Mr. Gilbert and
from the conversation that occurred between them he
should have drawn the deduction that Mr.. Welch had
interest in it. The witness thinks 1T probable that
Mr. Welch asked him what amount had been agreed on
with Mr.. Gilbert but these matters about which he
could not undertake to be accurate the witness did not
know that he had told Mr.. Wech the exact amount but
thinks it probable he told him that it up to certain
amount, without informing him accurately about IT. be-
he supposed Mr. WEIGH, if he to get any
pensaon was to get it from Mr.. Gilbert and that they
would make their arrangements together.
To the question whether Mr. Wech, when Tripett talk
ed to him If 1t fixed in the Witness mind that Mr.
Wech was to receive compensation seemed to talk as
he understood the fact he replied. }a
He had stated definitely he could what had occur
red in those conversations that there no hesitancy
by both parties that il expected that Mr.. Welch
would receive compensation, but witness did not
think he had heard Mr. Gilbert say what amount he
intended to give him.
On the goth January the witness was recalled and
stated
That upon reflection he recolected conversations and
Wech expected to receive portion of the contract about
which he had been estfyng that he and Mr. Wech had
held conversations about it the tenor Of which was based
upon the idea of his receiving part of 1t and he reco
leced that occasion Mr.. Wech asked him, in.ey
event Of their having to distribute money this
had contemplated, whether the witness would dc
right2 under ex-
g. The witness, James r. Sweeny, WI the mind of
animation the llth Of January ladt he knew some
the committee the distinct impressjout which, owing 70
fact which they ought to asceroaess exhibited 10 give
the reluctance with which theIuestions disunctiy caed
any information than OF the particular eircum-
for and their ignomey failed to extract See tes-
stance he had in his mi, 6l-62.)
tmony with gen. refy the witness was recalled in conse
On the 10th Jog in examining the questions and his
quence his convnced that the questions were as pro-
answers ben searching than he had supposed when he
poundedn and on being recalled ne testhed as io
heard
loWat Roxana Kimball had claim involving small
mount of money, pending before one OF the committees
the House which the witness desired to have reported
IN fayoraby and so stated to Mr. Wech the member TO
yhom the claim had been referred for examination Mr.
Welch stated TO him that he had no doubt himself that
was meritorious claim, but that some OK the commoo
scrutnized such matters closely or words 70 nat
and that be fMr Wech) would have to wait favorable
or that perhaps il might be necessary 70 use
a little money 6ffy dollars or so 10 make all right NO
was paid or demanded unless that be into
a demand The bill was reported its merits, without
other consideration known to the witness He does
n know that he made any reply 10 Mr. Welche remark,