Litchfield enquirer., 1857-02-26
The Charges of Bribery against Dr. .- Wolch.

The Charges of Bribery against Dr - Welch.
 A feeling of indignation on the part of the friend o the Member of Congress from this district, man
 ss itself in all directions Several of the delegates to the Convention lately held at New Milford assert that, could they recall their votes. that there should be but one record of them-and that, an ad hcrence to Dr. Welch at every ballot.
 In his natter little reflection will do no harm. Sc far as Dr. Welchs private life in this community, if known it is pure and blameless :; and with tho ex cepion of this accusation of bribery his public is that of which any honest man might be emulous He has ever been found at his post voting unifor, in accordance with the desires of his constituents ard the welfare of the country always a hard working and diiigent member, always ready to lis ten to argument, and to conccde those points which the good of the country demanded, and firm in his opposition % the aggressive and sectional course o the South. Thus much we can tluly say of ouI Representative.
 And yet it must be regarded as fortunate thing fortunate for our friend personally fortunate for our party and for the great principles which We sustain, that this question has not been brought up for popular adjudication by the nomination of Dr. Wclch. Not that we doubt the verdict which the true heart of Connecticut would render on fair ex hibit of the evidence but that it is not we'll that ing question of national duty and policy, to any personal and private issues.
 In the minds of large portion of community he stands to-day pure from charge of malfeasance in office, as any man on the floor of Congress.
 With the most careful attention, we have wadcd through the mass of testimony fully and acrimo- niousiy reported in the New York Herald, and it does seem that the testimony of the man Sweeney, given voluntarily, i've quote it below) is malicious ia its nature, if not entirely false.
 From general knowledge of the disinterested char acter of Dr. Welch his friends feared when the tion was first preached, that he might in sympathy for some child or widow, have excrted himself too earnestly. But the testimony of the witnesses, and his own statement under oath, they feel assured, will convince any reasonable person of his entire innocence of the acts laid to his charge The whole evidence, they say, docs not show one move 1nent which he should not be proud to repeat.
 
 fsrcical It is not proved, that in single instance any of the measures which it is charged the accused members received pay, to assist in passing, sue ceeded and from all the horrid plots embodyng so much corruption, no ono seems to have derived any benefit whatever
 The charge against Mr. Gilbert is tbat he entered into corrupt bargain with Triplett to assist in getting book p,iuted, and was to receive certain san of money from the funds which Triplett hoped to procure through resolution of Congress No such resolution was ever introduced into Congress, however; and of course, nothing was ever received There is another charge resting entirely upon Mr. Gilbert's voluntary statement, in which he was to receive sundry portions of land for voting for certain bill. There is no evidence, notwithstanding that he did receive such lands.
 Our business, however, is with Dr. Welch. Let us read his own statement:
 I reported the bill for the relief of Roxana Kim hall, upon itS merits only. q utterly dcny," that ever stated to the witness, Swceney,~ -s" any other person. that it might Dc necessary to use any ann of money whatever for tho procuring of such report never understood from TrPlett or any other person, that myself or any other Member of Congress. would receive any pecnnary benefit from 1t whatever. No lapgnage used by me to Mr. Tripls4t, cosld have justly implied such thing, whatever construction he might put upon it for repest, no such thing was in my mind. had scv- era conversations with him upon the subject of his hook and no doubt expressed what fclt--a desi,e that he might be enumerated for his labor and that his hook might be purchased for distribution but nothing was further from my mind than any cor TuuA bargain or understanding with respect to it."
 Now this statement is given under oath, and 1t would seem should receive equal credit with the following affidavit made volun tarily hy the man Sweeney, after he had nos reluctantly testified regarding acts which crim mated himself. The fact of the business is, Swec neys immaculate heart .conld not bear the burden of carrying about more frauds than he got roundl, raid for and so he became suddenly shocked witt the acts of r WeacA. jn attempting to assist poo widow in obtaining pension. Here is his testi mcny:
 "J. B. Sweeney being recalled was permitted k make the following explanation to his tcsumon. previously given:
 .At the time, supposed all my answers wer' correct, to all the questions put. Now, however on hearing the questions and my answers read over expression, especially as tho question seems to m' td hsve wider application than whom they wer' verbally put"
 Wonderful evidence of conscience this !-th scoundrel, who but a short time previous, had tes tiAsd to having been interested in bribery to tn amount of $I5, 900! To proceed, however:
 "Therc was claim involving small amount c rooney pending before one of tho Committees of tn MoSss. which desired b have favorahly reported ana so stated to ono of the Members, to whom the papsrs were referred for Examination. He said | me, hs had no doubt that it was meritoIcus claim but thet sosne of tho Gozanittee scrutinised suc uattsuc closely, and that he would haye 70 wat 1syorabs opportunity, or that 1t might be necessar tp use e little rsoney 1850 CT sol to make It al dght This Is all I Trememhcr to have been said De tween tn relative to the subject no 7saoney wa rayd q demanded, unless that be constrned mo- S<ss---. XXX.