The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-02-21


close Of the first session Of the present Congress the IN
siders created the difficulty. In July quarter OF the
factory stock necessary 10 carry II through, ana
outsiders were to be promised stock in factory, in
addition to what Syker had arranged. In August there
were inside the House set of damned scoundres 10 use
the language OF the member, and nobody could get
anything of this sort through saoM them and johnson
tAe president of the company must have hre Sl0OOOO
10 carry this BILL The member evidently an1tons
to impress upon the mind OF the Hon Reyedy Johnson the
counsel Of the company the necessity which existed for
having that of money here in order 10 carry the
measure through Congress- 1t would be lost what was
that necessity represented by the member in this conf
"That there from twenty to thirty members Of the
House who had associated themselves together and pledged
each to the other not TO vote for any law or resolution
granting money lands unless they were pad yor a.
And this statement of the member not pretended to
have been made upon ruaor. The member assumed to
speak from his personal knowledge OF the corrupt
praviy of his ellowmembers in the House II this state
of the member true what bis Obvious duty to
the House aud to the country In the opinion OF your
committee 1t his paramount duty as member OF the
House. promptly have exposed those members who had
tered such and corrupt combination Ii his state
men not true then he has been guilty Of falsely and
wlfuy assang and defamng the character of the House
of Representatives. OF which he is member lnasmuch
the memser from New York has not attempted to prove
the truth of this statement before your committee but
the contrary in his written communication addressed to
the committee herewith submitted most explicitly denies
that he has any time known of any combination among
members to obtain money other reward for their favor
able unfayorabe action upon measures, that MEM
pensaon for their votes your committee forced to the
conclusion that the statement of the member to the Hon.
Revedy Johnson in regard TO the corrupt combination of
twenty thirty members of this House. is totally inbound
ed in fact and calculated destroy the confidence of
public in the integrity OF the House of Representatives and
to subject the conduct of the members thereof to suspicion
and contempt
In the Judgment of your committee the conduct Of the
member from New York'in relation to the money and
other valuable considerations referred to in his letter of
the 18th July TO w. c. Johnson and in his conversation
with the Hon. Reyerdy Johnson may be viewed in three
different aspects first that his object and intention
to procure money and other valuable considerations for
himself and Others who might share it with him second
that it his object and intention to procure money and
other valuable considerations be used upon "outsders
to corrupty influence members of Congress- third that ii
was his object and intention to ncte persons who
deeply interested in pending before the House
bring money here to corrupt members of Congress What
ever may be the opinion of others in relation to the
first and second aspect of the case presented your
committee entertain doubt from careful review of
all the evidence duplicating the member from New
FORK, as well as from careful examination of his writ
ten communication, that it his object and inten-
ton to incite persons who deeply interested in
measures pending before the House to bring money here
to be used as corrnptve fund to corrupt members OF
Congress The law abhors the least tendency corruption
the part of all public fnnctionaries and agents of the
government. Public policy well as public aud private
morality forbid it and 1t deserves to receive the
demnaton of all good and especially those who are
nusted with enactment of the laws of the United
States in Congress assembled In forming their Judgment
upon the evidence herewith submitted duplicating the
committee have adopted the mdes construction which, in
their opinion that evidence is entitled to receive As it
regards the object and intention of the memberprer-
ring to give TO him the benefit f any reasonable doubt
which might egtmaely arise from impartial consia-
Grafton thereoyour committee therefore recommend the
adoption of the following resolutions:
Resolred That Orsamus b Matteson, member of this
House from the State of New York, did ncite parties
deeply interested in the passage of joint resolution for
constituting the Des Mones grant to have here and use
large sum of money and other valuable considerations
corrupy for the purpose procuring the passage of said
joint resolution through this House
Resolved That 0rsamus B. Mateson, in declaring that
large number of the members of this House had asso-
caed themselves together and pledged themselves each
to the other not TO vote for any law or resolution grant
ing money lands unless they paid for it, has
falsely and wfu assaed and detained the character of
this House and has proved himself unworthy be
Der thereof
Resolved That Orsamus d. Matteson member of this
House from the State of New York be- and hereby
YELLED thererom HIRAM WARNER.
JAMES L. ORR.
HENRY WINTER DAVIS.
DAVID RITCHIE.