Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1857-02-28
MasBmgtol Nclus.
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
THE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE.

I'LL lNNtSiiGAllNt COMhlTTfE.
,ur readers had telegraphic announce.
1t yesterday, that the investigating Com-
tee had made their report on "Congres-
val Corruptions" 1t will be perceived that
Committee report directly against four
nbers, singular to relate, and demand their
ulsiop, to wit :--Messrs. Matteson. Gil.
and Edwards, Of New York, and Wech
Connecticut. <'erved them right; but
are small instalment Of the spois and
nder league OF the House, lion. Reverdy
,nsou testiies that the I}on erasmus b.
tteson, of New York, had informed him
There Uerc tccnty or thirty members Of
House ,cho rere associated and pledged
10 the other not to rote foi. any idw or re-
Wton granting lands or money. unless they
&c paid for it" On hearing Of this in!a-
US state OF things Mr.. johnson confesses
IT his calmer judgment was fur overcome
his indignation that he pronounced this
que of the twenty, thirty, or forty thieves,
id outrage" which Mr.. Matteson re-
ouded, also with becoming indignation,
1t they we're indeed "a set Of damned
Rudrels," but as nothing could be got
rough without their assistance The Deg
oines Improvement Company, (of which
r. Johnson was the legal cornsel.) would
d q hundred thousand dollars or so very
eful for lobby services IN behalf OF their
i. Thirty or forty members OF one branch
Congress bound aud pledged to each other
t to vote for any hill or resolution granting
nds or money, unless they are paid for IT
hat basis for spals and plnnder is here
covers everything, and might be made to
lnpsss an extorODn of millions Of lands or
oues 10 a single oil We had supposed
at this lobby system 11s full Of coiruptions
that it involved a money making member
ere and there, snch as the gentlemen from
entucky, who said that if reelected to Con-
ress he could "make great deal Of money"
ut We had no suspicion of this "open seseme"
the forty thieves
The Committee in their report recommend
he adoption Of the following resolutions:
That VIM A. Gilbert. msm6er Of this
louise. from New York. did agree with +. +
). Triplett TO procure the passage OF r-so-
ltion or bill through the present Con ,ress,
or purchase by Congress of certain copies OF
he book of said Tripett, on the Pension and
county Land Laws in consideration that the
aid 'rriplett should allow him TO receive n
ertain sum Of mouey out of the approprln.
ION for the purchase Of the book; that Gil
Dert did cast bis vote on the Iowa Land bill
depending heretofore bsiure this Congress,
or corrupt consideration, consisting Of sew
an square miles of land, andsome stock given
II to be given to him; that Mr. Gilbert be
lorthwith sxpeled from the House.
The three special reports of the committee
ire signed by all the members Of the co onmit
tee, except Mr. Kelsey They embody the
testimony in each case, and conclude with the
following resolutions
That VIM. w. Welch did corruptly com.
bno with VIM. A. Gilbert, Il member of this
House, from New York to procure the pas
sage OF resolution Or bill through the House
fer the purchase Of certain copies OF "Triplett
Oh Pension aud Bounty Land Laws" for mo.
ney to be paid to the said Gilbert, on its pas
sage; that VIM. W. Welch did attem pit to
procure money from James Il Sweeney, t0I
reporting favOrably on the claim Of RoXanu
Kimbal, from the Committee on Invalid
Pensions, at this Congress; that WIN. w
Welch, a member OF this House, from Con
nccticut, be forthwith expelled from this
House.
The Committee in Mr.. Edwards case re
port as follows:
Resolved, That Francis S. Edwards, {
member Of this II ose from the State OF New
York. did, Oh the 23d day of December last
attemt to induce Robert 7. Paine, menhe
of this House from the State Of North Caro-
lima, TO vote contrary TO the dictates OF hi
judgment and conscience on the bill making
a grant of lands TO aid the construction OF
railroad in the Territory of Minnesota, b.
holding out Il pecuniary consideration 10 IN
said Paine for his support OF said bill.
Resolved, That the said Francis >. Eh
wards be, aud he is hereby, expelled from iii
House.
The Committee IN the case Of Mr.. Matte
son report as follows -
Resolved, That Orsmus u. Matteson,
member OF this House from the State ot Ne
York, did incite parties deeply interested
the massage Of Il Joint resolution for securr
the Drs ii Moines grant, to have here anc US
q large SUN Of money and other valuable co
alterations corruptly, for the purpose OF pr
curing the passage OF said joint resoiull
through tins House.
Resolved. That Orsimus b. Matteson,
declaring that a large number OF the me
bers of this House had associated themselv
together and pledged themselves each TO !
other not to vote for any law or resoiutl
granting money or lands unless they W.
paid for it. has falsely and wilEully assai
and DETAINED the character oi this liouse, a
has proved himself unworthy TO be men'
thereof. Al.
Resolved, That Hon Orsimus Is. Mat
son. a member OF this House from the 81,
of New York, be, and hereby is ezpel
therefrom.