The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-02-20
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Mr. PERRY of Maine presented resolutions adopted by
the legislature Of that State relating to the affairs Of Kan
sas Territory.
Mr. LET6HER, of Virginia, from the Committee of
Ways and Means reported bill for the relief OF the Norfolk
and Petersburg Railroad Company and at his request il
was taken up and put upon its passage.
This bill grants an extension of time TO this railroad
company in which to pay duties ON railroad iron]
After a brief debate Messrs LETCHER and MlLLSON,
of Virginia. advocating its passage, and Mr.. CAMPBELL,
of Pennsylvania, speaking in opposition thereto,
Mr.. CAMPBELL, of Pennsylvania moved that the bill
be laid the tabei which motion was agreed to-yeas
Mr. CAMPBELL, of Ohio then moved that the rules be
suspended and the House resolve itself into Committee of
the Whole on the state Of the Union upon which motion
the and nays were ordered but before the roll was
| called,
He stated that he instructed by the select committee
appointed the 9th u TO investigate the alleged corrupt
combinations OF members Of Congress- TO submit special
report in reference to the of Hon. WIN A. GILBERT Of
New York He was further directed to that that
port printed and that its further consideration be post
poned until Monday next
Mr. BENNETT, of New York, objected to the reception
of the report
Mr. GROW OF Pennsylvania contended that the report
implicated members of House who not before the
committee to examine the witnesses by whose testimony
they implicated and that the committee had exceed
Ell the authority given TO it by the House. and therefore
eRtited TO submit its report question Of priv
ilege.
House to the report before being called upon de-
termine the question of its reception during which the inn
patience of members frequently manifested BY repeated
| and yociferous cries of Read, read p
The SPEAKER stated that he of opinion that the
report the House. order that the body
might determine whether or not the committee had ex-
| ceeded its jurisdiction.
Mr.. DAVIS OF Maryland then read from the Clerks
desk the report Of the committee.
The report reviews the testimony in the of Mr. Gil
BERT, and concludes by offering the following resoluons
L. Resolved, That WILLIAM A. GLBEnT, member of the
House from New York, did agree with r. O. Tripett to
procure passage of resolution bill through the pres
k
Of the boos Of The SAID Tripes on tie Pension and Bounty
Land Laws in consideration that the said Trpett should al
low him to receive certain Of money out Of the appro
priation for the purchase Of the book
2. Resooed, That WiLLIAM A. GpErr did cast his vote
the Iowa land bill depending heretofore before this Con-
gre for consideration consisting Of square
miles Ct land and somS stock given or to be given him
House from New York be forthwith expelled from the
| House.
The SPEAKER then decided that the report must be
ceived TO the extent that implicated member of the
| House in the subject referred to the committee
Mr. GROW, OF Pennsylvania, raised APPOINT OF order
that under parliamentary law, the committee could
take testimony after member was implicated without first
coming before the House aud obtaining authority for that
purpose He wished to know if when Sweeney gave tho
lon the committee suspended the examination and noti-
fed chat member in order that he might appear before
| them and confront the witness.
Mr. ORR OF South Carolina thought that the report just
read should have relieved the mind of the gentleman upon
the subject Of the inquiry In the OF the nvesga
ton with which the committee had been charged witness
! (Mr. Sweeney implicated of the members of the
House The committee proceeded take his testimony
and that of such other witnesses they found
rial to the understanding OF the whole They then
caused to be made ont and placed in tho possession of
such member complete copy of every portion of the s
tmony which affected him. with the notification that the
party could cros,-examine tho Witnesses and produce ex
planatory exculpatory testimony and argument That
done in the of Mr. GnERT but he declined to ex
Mr. GROW replied that after they had stabbed the rep
u'aon OF the member after they had blackened his char
acter the committee had notified him that he might appear
He IN cn nuriffa thatx
ted the privileges OF the House and the
| rights of its members. sr5 -auuonai
| vbat sonrce ~ -..spp, desired to know from
VIZ: $50 ssntlcman had procured this testimony
j Mr. GROW replied that he held in his hands copy Of
the testimony which had been served upon Mr. GiLBKRf
some eighteen aays After it wins taken.
j Mr. RITCHIE, of Pennsylvania, here desired to make
The SPEAKER stated that the gentleman from Pennsyl-
vania was entitled to the floor without interruption.
Mr. GROW agan charged upon the committee that they
had violated tie privileges of the House. aud referred
the Manual to prove it. He thought this proceeding
heard of in the history of the country If corruption
listed, he would cay bring to the public gaze He had
voted for the proposed by this committee pur
sue this investigation thoroughly but he had voted with
great reluctance for the that it violated the safe
| guards of liberty.
Mr. ORR Of South Carolina, inquired the precise state
The SPEAKER replied that be had stated TO the House
that under the rules competent for the House
eeive the report far as 1t Implicated member of the
House, ana Inc GueSuon now was what acuon would De
| taken upoh it,
Mr. GROW inquired whether the point he made was sus-
| tanned by the Chair
The SPEAKER stated that it was competent for the
| House to vote upon it.
Mr. DAVIS, Of Maryland, moved that the report be
printed.
Mr. GROW of Pennsylvania objected to the reception of
the report for the that the committee had exceeded
| their authority.
The SPEAKER thought il was competent for the COM
mee to investigate this subject and report TO the House
They bad done and the question was whether or
| not the House would receive the report.
After further discussion
Mr.. DAVIS, OF Maryland said that the motion to re-
ceve the whole report and print it. lie understood that
the gentleman from Pennsylvania arguing against the
reception OF the report and had stated that the committee
had placed member upon TRIAL He would say that they
bad not pretended to place any upon trial. but bad
simply done what the House had ordered them to doa
task that they most cheeruy would have washed their
hands or They had examined TO whether not there
were combinations among members That ordered by
the resolution for which almost the whole House voted
They bad also taken testimony and reported it TO the
House. and it not to be printed because il implicated
it's members2 Was the evidence the only portion
of the report that the House would recognise TIE
luton authorizing the appointment of the committee said
that they should report the House what action in their
Judgment was proper to he taken. The House might or
might not concur in that udgment it might be just
unjust; but the committee bound to report it He
would ask where the rational that this report
should not be received II a singular compliment
the distinguished and competent members who composed
that committee to say that il packed II it packed
you packed IL. II due to charge of that kind that
the honorable member should do something than
merely to suggest that it packed But he would pass
the imputation by with contempt Was the commit