The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-03-05

he might think proper in the the bill passed See
stykeIS evidence upon TINS point THIS state Of things
Gated arragned the committee for their proceeding
this before the House for what he Gays was their
member Of that committee to the committee to the
try and 10 the House. to have direct vote on this ques
ton whether these outside proceedings are right and
to eorrup Ssre a. 10 oan
tsin-head Sir no vote of mine shall make record
here in favor of any such transactions let who will contend
becomes corrupted either BY inside influence or outside in
uence it will not be org before the people will be
rupted Every man - entitled to here aud represent
his constituency and to vote according TO his Judgment
according tie best intellect God given him. and he
entitled to here aud enjoy that privilege without
being annoyed by outsiders either armed with shares in
factory in money deposited in the hands Of third parties
having 100000 brought here for the purpose aid
ing in the passage of any bill or resolution
And just here desire to make remark in relation
to the 81 900 deposited In the hands of Mr. Greeley In
the letter of Mr. Meson to Mr. Johnson which he asks
him whether he Is willing have his one-fourth of the
factory cut and used to carry the bill through, In ad
diton to what Stryker arranged, he says 81 have
agent TO promise outsiders stock in new factory
Now when the money is deposited in the hands of Mr.
Greeley with the knogedge OF member of Congress- Is
just as easy for him to have agent to draw Mr.
Greeley for that money to have agent to promise out
sidsrs stock in factory The process is exactly the
same Every body understands it. Nobody misunderstands
these things unless they want to. II s TO accomplish the
passage OF bills by unlawful aud improper means and TO
avoid detection And this is striking Illustration of the
indirect cunning devices of shrewd, experienced men
TO corrupt legislation at its fountan-head add If gem
tlemen suppose they decsving anybody who under
stands the motives and conduct of men, and who has
been accustomed to investigate their fraudulent trans
actions they mistaken They deceive only themselves
and those who to be deceived And let it be remem
bered that in bis letter. he wants know whether he
willing to furnish that oneourth of the factory in add
ton to what Sryker has arranged He did say what
Stryker had paid but what he had arranged Stryker
tells what arrangements he had made--that the $1,000
which he placed in Mr. Greeeys hands alb the arrange
IL of
tion of members OF Congress by the of money or
other means will always be difficult to prove hence
our duty to deal promptly and summary with every one
who proved have done such tend oaccompsh
That result, and especially members OF this body.
Mr.. Sryker, II appears, member of the executive
committee of this company. On the I'd day of July
der passed by that executive committee pay this
draft of o0o expressing upon the face of 1t that
for the retainer Of counsel in the prosecution of the bill for
the benefit of the company before Congress In another
part Of his testimony he says that Greeley ought not to
have paid this money because 1t only to be paid
condition that the law passed. and not having been passed.
1t ought not to have been paid and il he had been
emit at the board it would not have been paid without his
knowing something about it. The resolution order
ing 1t paid has the of this John Stryker at
tached to it, He there then, when it passed. and
1t expresses upon its face that it for the retainer Of
connsA When he Is examined before the committee he
makes that first Statements but when the matter Is inves-
gated it turns out that Greeley had the right to do just
what he pleased with it. SO this preee that 1t was for
the retainer OF counsel merely colorado No can
look at the transaction without seeing the track of the
animal all along there As the old hunters say there is
peny Of sign along there There is evadng ii and
what is the defence? When called upon for defence,
what does he do Does he deny He admits that he
wrote the letter. and he does deny the conversation
with Hon. Revedy Johnson what defence, then, does he
makef He turns round and attacks the committee and
puts them trial for usupng authority and doing every
thing which is outrageous and against decsncy and for
sitting a secret mguisition.
Sir who ordered that inquisition This House ordered
1t There complaint that the privileges OF members
had been invaded by improper Influences and this
QUESTION which the member denonnces ordered by
this House aud when they do not perform their dues
exactly in which is agreeable TO the gentlemen
implicated then instead Of denying the allegations they
turn around and make upon the committee and GEEK
10 put the committee trial instead of themselves have
no apologies said the other day, for my action When
went upan that committee knew nothing of these out
side Influences did not know that any such thing
sted had heard of no complaint in any quarter, and
was not in the House when the resolution raising the
committee passed aud the first intimstion had of
my appointment was from the chairman, who came TO my
desk and notified me Of the fact My first impression was
to ask to be excused from what knew must be labori
GUS and unpleasant duty. immt datey went to OF
my colleagues upon the committee and inquired whether
he intended to serve upon the committee, and inquired
about some other members of the committee with whom
was not acquainted then consented to serve and did
serve without knowing single individual who would
be implicated So lar from that did not suppose any
body would be implicated; but the investigation pro-
gressed facts duplicating members disclosed and the
committee then discharged their duties in such manner
posed the House desired that they should without regard
to the person implicated. And far fairness is
cerned, felt it due to ourselves protect members
And when 1t is charged against that sat in secret
reply that did much protection of members
for any other purpose great number of
communications sent to us, pointing to individuals
almost directly and If had held meetings in pub
lie these would have TO the knowledge of the public
giving rise and reproaces against member In
reference to which had right institute invest
cation. We never acted upon of those anonymous
communications. We burned them up. We careful
to guard individual members of Congress- and report
nothing which would not be evidence. Every will
what would be the result of pursuing different
The committee felt 1t due members of the House to pur
sue the course we did.
Mr.. ORR At this particular point of the gentleman's
argument, wish to say word in reply remarks
in the written letter Of the gentleman from New York
have no word OF unkndness for the gentleman from New
York but that portion of his letter which charges that his
district ransacked for testimony requires that should
state the facts in justice to the committee.
The FIRST intmaton that any improper influences had
been resorted TO in reference the Des Mones bill
veyed TO me by gentleman from the State of Iowa. who
sdes In that State He named the fact and furnished
me the of William O. johnson. At that time did
not know where Mr. johnson resided On inquiry ascer-
tanned He summoned before the committee and In the
progress Of his examination certain letter traced into
his possession. He stated that that letter home We
despatched the Sergeanat-Arms with after his
clerk to bring the letter. When the letter produced
other arrangement That induced the committee
send for Syke and in the progress of the investigation it
appeared that Reverdy johnson had been the counsel for
that company and the committee deemed il their duty to
send for and examine him.
That is the way |, member of the committee, came
Dictated to my colleagues the first meeting after the infor
nation reached me-
Mr.. WARNER What the gentleman from South Caro-
lina has stated Is entirely true could other facts IL