Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-01-19


was about 10 adjourn when Mr.. Kelsey introduced
a subject which caused much excitement. he
presented Il as question of privilege, ffs5Causng
to be read st the Clerks table an editorial from
the New York Times, of the 9th inst, which
charged members of Congress and lobby agents
with gross corruption, mentioning the Minnesota
land bin 10 the connection, and saying that evil
dence can be produced to carry conviction 20 eve
~ honest heart-that the criminals should be driv.
en- from the high places which they have dishonor-
ed. Mr.. Kelsey remarked that the charges con-
tanned in this article appeared to have been based
on letter from this CRY to the Times.
| Under ordinary circumstances it would, per-
haps be waste Of time TO notice articles of this char
acter appearing in newspapers. But the editor Of
the Times occupied a position before the country
which entitled his sentiments to credit III he is ia
the possession of the fiets he therein charges be
should substantiate them before a committee Of
this house, that the members who may be guilty Of
the conduct should be known to the country. AS
the case now stood, he Mr. Kelsey, could neither
vote for against certain proportion without
bringing himself directly under the charges in that
article. II there exists such a combination as al
! lodged be wsnted 60 know it and the fact to 60
before the people. lie concluded by Offering the
| following:
Whereas, Certain statements have been pub,
shed charging the members Of this House with
llbD corrupt lOi tue purpose
of ,ssng aud Of preventing The passage Of certain
measures nov before Congress; therefore,
| Resolved, That committee of FIVE members be
appointed by the Speaker with powers TO send for
persons and papers, 10 investigate said charges /;
and that the committee report the evidence to be
taken, and what action in their judgment is neces.
ssry the part of the House, without unnecessary
delay.
Mr. Paine. scarcely know whetherI ought to
4 II. Il
editor nor his journal. l know nothing about any
communication made TO it. / know not how be
obtained the information. | know not whether it
is true false. But do know that there has been
a proposition made in the House by members of
the House on the subject (Sensation and cries Of
who is he" Expose him!') / shall lot name the
gentleman Cries Of down in 'front.' stand out
the aises' 'we can't see) shall mention no
member by name. "A voice, you ought to do it,
1t with feelings of indignation that heard the
proposition. Impatient demand of what was iI!'
tell i'm
The reason why did not announce it to the
House was that pending the organization of this
body, when member rose it his place and stated
that fellow member had directly made an attempt
to tamper with him for bis vote for speaker the
only credit he received was that be was laughed al;
and it was Charged that be did not accept the prot
fered bribe because there such profitable
place to be had. say distinctly that there is no
want OF truth in the allegation contained in the
Times article. distinct proposition was made
to me by member of this House, 10 regard to the
Minnesota bill; aud that 81 800 would be given in
consideration of vote tor that bill. IL the pros
posed committee shall be raised, and am call, on
as a witness | shall give my evidence.
A. X. Marshall. | am extremely unwilling TO
base the action of the House on charges made in
any newspaper of the day. l had determined to
vote against the resolution; but the position OF
Affairs is totally different. member has
ced that there is truth in the article. He states
this of his own knowledge, a proposition having
been made to him. On this statement alone We
hould base our action do not wish 10 bring the
N York papers into thet sort of respectfully
" ich our action on their conduct would bestow.
.aach contemplate things should not be so hOno
ored.
Mi. Phelps If | understand correctly, the
charges read from the Times were made in the
dtOria columns OF that paper. l learn that the
editor Of the Times was an ex>Lieutenant Governor
Of New York. and when gentlemen of such stand
ing make such charges, | ask whether 1t is not
worth our while TO make the inquiry, especially,
after the statement thus made by the gentleman
from North Carolina.
Mr. A. X. Marshall, resumng. I don't care what
character the editor had-I don't care whether he
was Lieutenant Governor, Governor not.
Partisan editors are influenced are controlled by
positions aud interest which do not control men in
other pursuits / ask whether it does not more be-
come our character and dignity, to base our action
on the statement Of one of our own members rath-
than on that of ex-Leutenant Governor, or
Governor, or that OF an editor Of paper. There
have been other matters and intimations thrown
out besides those in the editorial articles. a dis
iinct charge has been made of an attempt to cor
rupt the members OF this House Let the commits
tees inquire into all the alleged corruptions. sup
pose the resolution is sufficiently broad for that
purpose.
Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio. During the past eight
years it has been my lot to serve at this House,
aud have generally been present when important
votes were taken. With but single exception,
have voted for bills granting lands in alternate
tons for railroad purposes. / have given my rea0
sons for so doing on former occasions. We are
startled now by the gentleman from New York vino
sends to the Clerks desk an editorial article from
the New York Times. The gentleman from Mis-
souri, Mr.. Phelps) attempts to dignity it by saying
that il was written by an Ex Lieutenant Governor
Of the State Of New York.
Il is, however at best, but an article from a
newspaper / don't care whether it comes from
the West or the East; every intelligent member Of
this body ought to have learned that it is not be-
coming in the American Congress, especially
SNORT session IKE THIS, WHEN D5 aUbcIluR the III
terests of the whole country are at stake to stop
and inquire into charges of this kind, which
based solely on the idea that some editor or assiss
tant, or newspaper "peuny-a-liner," has ft to
malign this body.
Having felt, in my own person, within the last
two years the weight of assaults of this kind, 0c>
cupying the relations | do to this body or 70 the
country, should not favor the investigation pre-
Dictated on the charge made by the writer, through
manufactured rags and lampblack and oil, were it
not for the statement distinctly mide by the gentle.
men from North Carolina. | concur with the gene
tleman from Kentucky (Mr. Marshal) that this
places the whole matter on a different footing. AS
the gentleman from North Carolina says he knows
there was proposition Of corruption made 10 him
/ am for the investigation. / move to amend tue
preamble, by adding and whereas, member OF
this House has stated his authority that the
article is not wanting In truth"
MIR. Orr. ! think this debate is an unnecessary
consumption Of time Charges OF a similar charac-
ter have been SO frequently made relative to the
members of Congress, | think the whole Of them
should now be Investigated. do not see how the
House consistently with its dignity and sef>respect
can refuse investigation, after the statement OF
the gentleman from North Carolina. IL is due to
the character oft this body and constituents that
the enquiry should be as broad possible. II true
the editor OF the Times can give information IN sup
port of the charges. The House win have authority
aud the right TO require him to come here and tss-
tfy Voices That's right" your right
Mr. Grow. ] agree with the gentleman from
South Carolina Mr.. Orr that grave charge direct
ly made by the editor OF a newspaper OF any char.
acter or position, on the integrity of deiberative
body is proper subject for Investigation. There
fore raise no question as to its propriety while
would not stop 10 notice newspaper inuendoes.
Mr. Houston I understand the editorial nrtic lie
10 based on the Washington letter OF les correspon>
dent, one who is admitted here as a matter Of pri'
vilege
Mr.. Grow resumed, and in reply to Mr.. Paine,
who tad referred TO Mr. Pearce Of Pennsylvania
annroaching NJ MiIlward peniine The eleclion Of