The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1857-02-26
Debaae on Congregational Corrap
non. e
WksHIHeroE, Feb le.


extending the time for the Norfolk and Pc.
tersburgh Railroad to pay duty on iron, in
consequence OF embarrassment in its fjnon.
ces, ocessioned BY the late preyalence, OF
yellow fever. -'-N
the bill. Agreed to by four msiorlty.
Mr.. Davis, Of Md, by direction Of the In.
Vestigating Committee, said he had been d.
Fected to make special report In the case
OF William A. Gilbert, OF N. Y, and moved
thR ne report be printed, and stated shat be
should move when that question was deter.
mined, to postpone further consideration till
Monday next.
Mr.. Grow denied that the Committee had
any righttO this ~ a question Of privilege,
they must frst obtain leave. .especially ifthe
report duplicates members Of tEis House.
Mr.. Letther and others, saifdgreat excite
meni, loudly demanded The reading Of the
report, 81 i5 l.rlt ,ssi,..sE .'i e. ~, A.. %
Mr. 'Growfesumed and said the eommittee
have exceeded their authority ana violated
constitutionaiTight OF members. - le''
+ The Spetser and MIR. Davis ifrfest know
tho charac,erofthe report. ieRenewsd cries
of let Il be read.9 .,l.f 4 gvt..5i,g,s
Mr.. Smith, ofVa ,understocd'the commit.
tee were 'instructedto'make areport and not
statement merely. shE aT.h'f' f3 ''cT
Orr remarked, IL the House wished to
know the contents Of The report, let it be
read.
Grow resumed his speech with much ear.
nestaess, and ca!led'to order several mem.
bers. 'ia $500 aAe r'dl'a atatga2s .-,'
Speaker said the report could not be read
because il was in nature of debate.
Amid cor. fusion, Bennett, Of N. Y. moved
the report be re-committed. He was oppos.
ed to thus proposing to cxpel members by
resolution, without due pot!ce. >ff
Mr.. Florence--We don't know what is
proposed until we hear the report read. OBJ
ject to the motion.
Half dozen members struggled for the
Hoor. sg igtflle 'a a5f1 af.Taef e. ~
Houston insisted on reading the report.
Alter further proceedings, Bennett said
q report was OF grave import, and efft cted
one Of his colleagues. No man in the land
could be accused, tried and condemned with.
out hearing, much less judgment sgainst
member being brought in there and put
through under pressure OF the previous ques.
tion. The committee were appointed in
consequence Of an oTticie in the N. Y. !
Times charging corrupt coabias1'nps of
members. ...a.., .,......4
Harris, Of Illinois, called Bennelt to or.
der. Speaker ruled Harris oSt Of order, but
Harris continued speaking amA cries Of or.
der, during which the Speaker said that he
would direct the Sergeant at Arms to arrest
him or any other person vielaulAg the rules.
Harris was not heard. Conversation ensued
as to the duties Of the committee under the
utsthoriiy OF the resolution BY which they
were appointed. Finally Davis, of Md, read
the report in the case of Gilbert. Special
report concludes with resolution for the
expulsion OF Gilbert. -t'"
Report sets forth the evidence in Gilbert's
case, saying the House can Judge for them
selves Instances the conclusions of the
committee.
Watson interposed, saying he understood
tae dufy OF the committee was merely to re.
port evidence, and that Gilbert had had no
opportunity to confront his accusers.
Orr replied, the gentleman was not cor
rectly informed. Every facility was offered.
Davis resumed reatiBg report, showing
Sweeney and Tripleit were witnesses against
GilbertS both having been examined sepa
rately, aud given tkeir Testimony reluctant
ly.
Allesioh Was aAa&e TO summoning witnes.
ses to discredh the testimony Of Sweeney,
by letter, to ssstain his character. 4sai
The comHAittee gave their evidence in "a.
Vor Of the trutAtHiness Of Sweeney's state.
ment made as4er oatA, ana Offer the follow.
ing resolutions: TAat Wilii1M A.. Gilbert
mezsSer of the House from New York, did
agree with F. F. g. Triplett to procure the
passage Of the resolution OF AilI through
present Congress for purchase by Congress
Of certain copies Of book of said Triplett's
on Pension end Bounty hand Laws; in con.
sideration said Triplett shcu4d allow him TO
receive certain sum Of money out of appro.
priation for the purchase Of the books; that
Gilbert did cast his vote for iowa Land Bill,
depenSing heretofore before this Congress,
Tor a corrupt consideration consisting of
reyen square miles OF land and some stock 4
given or to be given TO aim; that Gilbert :
be forthwith expelled from, this House.
The report is signed by Duvis, Nd, War. '
aer, Nitchie, Kelsey; the chair dissenting. ,
Mr. Grow stated that Gilbert was aot no. e
lifted of charges aguinst him. i
MIR. Orr replied that a complete copy of \
ae testimony was furnished the accused, b
md opportunity given for defease. aa IA .
M. Grow said j. the, reputation of that r
member should thus be stabbed, who should
be permitted to give his testimony in his o
,wn way. He charged the committee had q
'iolated the constitutional privileges of mem- n
,ers, in their star chamber proceedings, in y
witnesses from the streets to Il
,laeken his character. He denied Sweeney h
vas entitled to credit anywhere, nDd while c
he committee was ready to stab the reputa. |,
ion Of this member, they stood as a wall of
ire around the character Of Sweeney, who e.
;ould cit there during the examination while o
Hilbert was denied that right. twas pro. ii
'eediHg unheard OF in the history of this G
:osntfy, and God grant it may be the last.-- D
I men are to be assailed, let it be in. day. d
ight; the committee had taken testimony OF 8,
bis witness, who, his neighbor declared, 4
'ould not be beiieved under oath. As toi Il
thef witness, Triplett he was discharged Il
rom office for malfeasance. His was the il
lind Of testimony adduced. In the case OF II
he iowa Land Bill, Sweeney is witness. Ii
Mas there a meaaAer who believed shati q
Silbert told hiM he was to receive sevepI e
quare miles and stock for bis votel If, bel b
vas informed correctly Chase did cosseto. d
ate ii. s'aFs a"' ~1h1 .. '@''i%@ WIZ '@i7 a
Mr. Davis, Nd, replied che committee i.
nd not proposed to put any man on tsial.a-I s
They he'd done what the House had ordered
hem to do, q task OF which they most cheer-
ully would have relieved themselves. They
Iod examined as 70 whether there were cor.