The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-02-20

| The Lobby Cemmittee-The Witnesses and
the MISUNDERSTANDING Revelations.
The Committee of Congress ON the corruptions
of the lobby, having opened yesterday the bud
get of their reports to the House, we appropriate
the bulk Of our available news columns this
morning to the testimony taken before the
Committee. 1t is voluminous we have been
l compelled to put it in smaller type than
usual, in order to give it to our readers in
the lump but, notwithstanding its length, we
dare say that this mass of testimony on the
Washington lobby will make deeper, more ex-
tensive and more lasting impression upon the
community at large than the Burdell murder
case The revelations of the inside and outside
corruption agents and machinery of the lobby
are altogether the most curious, the most alarm
| ing and astounding of any special inquisition
in the history of this, or perhaps any other
| government on the face of the earth, and espe-
cially against the black republicans.
The Committee report directly against four
members, singular to relate, all Seward republi-
licans, and demand their expulsion, to witt
Messrs Matteson Gilbert and Edwards, of New
York, and WEIGH of Connecticut. Served them
right; but by reference to the testimony it will
be seen that, though decidedly guilty of bribery
and corruption, they are but small install
ment of the spoils and plumber league of the
House. Hon. Reverdy johnson testi6es that
the Hon. Orsamus B. Matteson, of New York,
had informed him that there tcere ttreay or
thirty members Of the House uho wae associated and
pledged each 10 the other not 10 vote for any ldW or
resolution granting lands money, unless they scre
paid for H." On hearing Of this infamous state of
things Mr.. johnson confesses that his calmer
judgment was 20 far overcome by his indignation
| that he pronounced this league Of the twenty,
thirty or forty thieves, "a damned outrage" to
which Mr.. Matteson responded, also with be-
coming indignation, that they were indeed "a
set of damned scoundrels," but as nothing could
be got through without their assistance the Des
Moines Improvement Company (of which Mr..
johnson was the legal counsel, would find
hundred thousand dollars or so very useful for
lobby services in behalf Of their bill.
What think our heretofore incredulous readers
concerning these lobby enormities, as disclosed
in these shocking and startling revelations?
gress bound and pledged to each other not TO
vote for any bill or resolution granting lands or
money unless they were paid for it! What
basis for spoils and plumber is here! 1t covers
everything, and might be made TO compass an
extortion Of millions Of lands or money In sin
gle bill We had supposed that this lobby sys-
tenn was full Of corruptions-that il involved
money making member here and there, such a.
the gentleman from Kentucky, who said that if
reelected TO Congress be could make a great
| deal of money! but we had no suspicion
of this " open soseune" Of the forty thieves.
But this Is only the inside branch of the lobby
machinery. The outside department is more di-
verti6ed, and involves numerous body Of CAPT
talists spectators, managers, buffers and blow
ers, brokers, stool pigeons, poor friends, and
| what not Among these outside influences IRE
marksble TO tell black republican exmembers
| Of Congress and newspaper editors and CORES.
| pondents Icon up into bold relief Horace Gree
ley, the incorruptible champion Of bleeding
| Kansas and Watts nervous sntidote," IL ap-
| pears from the evidence, is bought and sold to
the service Of the Dee Moines improvement Com
| pany, at the low figure Of one thousand dollars.
| the average price Of a common Virginia Niger
| A thousand dollarsl-the draft is psd-Greeley
| pockets the money, the company think il safe
investment but plead guilty in the end of dealing
with confidence" man.
A thousand dollars bought and sold. and 20,
the money Thus much for the chief editor aud
| principal proprietor Of the New York Tribune
| gone westward on a course Of moral lectures and
a suit for libel Next comes the Dray 7spes. the
lesser New York satellite Of Sewardsm. Mr. ST.
monitor, one Of its proprietors editors and It's
Washington correspondent, "whips the devil
around the stump" in pitiful way, but makes
some damaging and conclusive confessions withal.
| First, he knows all about these lobby corrup-
tone-then, called 10 testify, be says that he has
been corTuptly approached by several mem
beers Of Congress; he would die before
| be would mention their names-it was matter
| of conidence-enother confidence game; and
| yet, in round about way Mr.. Simonton. as upon
a secondary matter mentions the unfortunate
names Of Edwards Welch and Gilbert Refusing
| to answer directly, however, q law is passed to
compel him, and then, being brought up, Mr. ST.
monton pleads, substantially, that his life aud
death confidence game was all gammon-he
knows nothing TO tell upon the main issue Of
these corrupt advances Of members of the House.
For himself, be says he was promised little sop
in Wisconsin land bill, and that he did realize
an honest penny from bill which was passed
through in behalf of an old friend. That will do
for Mr.. Simonton and the Times.
Mr.. Pike, of the Tribune smiled at the offer of
whole section of valuable land for bis lobby