The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-01-27

vAe-Nsw Law ~ Ce~gress ana The Invesea-
eating Oommattee.
Webeg to say, for cur part, that We are not
afraid of being garroted by the new law Of Con-
sress to compel witnesses to testify. We are a.
great stcklers for the rights of the press a. any
one else; indeed, we have fought some battles for
the press when the other members of the profess
sion took the side against the press to spite us;
but really we do not see anything to alarm our
selves about in this law. Nor can we, with the
best Of intentions, feel much enthusiasm over Mr..
simonten's persistence in being martyr.
Thefacts are simply that the attention of Con-
gress being arrested, and the tender copsciences
of members unpleasantly rasped by articles in
the press .generally-and more especially in
the HERALD-on the subject Of the notorious cor
rupion attending patent bills and land grants, 1t
occurred to some members to institute an inves
tigation after the fashion of the one which we
ucceeded inextorting from Congress last year In
connection with the Colt patent ease. The mo-
nent this resolution was made, particular
friend of an aspiring contemporary of ours made
haste to move that the proposed inquiry should
be based upon the statements Of that journal.
The trick was too gross to delude Congress;
members declined being made posters of,
to circulate the wares of Mr.. Wesley; but
the resolution was passed, and . committee
of investigation appointed. The inquiry was
pursued with some success and great spirit, until
the correspondent of the contemporary aforesaid
came to the stand. This parsonage, who cannot
be suspected of want of selfrespect or self
esteem, and who no doubt knows the value of q
Congressional advertisement as well as Mr.. Wes-
ley himself, made haste to tender to the CON-
mittee the volunteer statement that he had been
improperly approached and that members took
him pretty generally for q broker in bribery.
But when called upon to specify the names of
the corrupters of his innocence Mr.. Simonton de-
clared that his honor forbade him to speak, The
only parallel on record is that of the girl, who
laid charge of seduction before q magistrate,
but avowed, with tears, that her ''feelinx" would
not permit her to name her seducer.
Thus placed in conspicuous position, Mr..
Simonten has borne up under his notoriety with
laudable fortitude The journal with which he
is affiliated has taken care that the public shall
not be in darkness as to his feelings, and condi-
ton: no convict or burglar on the point of
execution was ever more studiously published
than this little gentleman. Nor is there any
harm in this, if Mr.. Wesley and the rest of them
like it.
We merely take exception to Mr.. Simonton's
notion that he is an embodiment of all
the journalistic virtue and courage and
genius in the country, and that Congress must
be regarded as quenching the press when the
Sergeant alarms locks him up in an attic. We
do not go view it. We are not aware that the Of
fence for which Mr.. Simonton is now-very justly
confined, was committed in q professional capa-
city. If it is usual for metropolitan newspapers
to keep in their pay . regular bribery broker,
the plan is new to us; Mr.. Wesley must have the
credit of the invention. II Mr.. Simonton had been
committed to custody because he obtained early
news for his paper, or because he spoke fearlesly
on this or that subject we should of course defend
him. 30 long as he allowed himself to be reasona-
bly, advised but really it is too much to ask us to
lake up the cudgel In favor of this gentleman,
who is screening two notorious rogues from pun
shment, and whose only claim upon our sympathy
g that when his other business left him leisure,
ne wrote letters for New York journal He
must fight his own battle and sink or swim &C
,ording TO his merits
For our part we are glad that Congress has |
passed law to make witnesses speak. Our only |
car is that It will not be stringent enough The |
men who have committed the rogueries charged |
BY the press will not confess save under tremen-
lous pressure. Fine and imprisonment will not |
pry upon their lips.
When we hear that this or that witness will |
Lefty the committee, and stand upon his honor, |
We may make up our mind that he is an accom- |
plice, and dare not speak for his own sake This |
honor" Is merely iiimy cover for roguery.
Every honest man will tell the truth. We trust,
however, that in spite of "honor,D and contu- |
nacious witnesses, the committee will persevere |
md will make full and fair report of all that |
hey can learn. We beg to direct their especial |
attention to the Woodwork Patent and the Min |
lesota Land cases, and 10 suggest that the agents
# these concerns in and out Of Congress be ex-
mined. If Simonton's mouth can be got open,
question or two on these matters to him might |
,e followed by beneficial disclosures
rhe United States Senatorial Question as /