Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-02-21
CONGRESS.

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| by the local authorities of Kanzas.
Mr. Weller moved to lay the bill on the ia
bic, as likely to create discussion, aud prevent
action on important matters of legislation =
Agreed to.
The Submarine Telegraph bill with the
House amendments, was then taken M, when
Mr.. Hunter moved to refer it to the Post Of
flee Committee.
Mr.. Thompson of Kentucky hoped that this
would be done, and that the committee would
never report the bill back. Heillustrated his
views by various anecdotes, creating much
merriment.
| Mr. Rusk replied that it was no new thing
for propositions ofthis kind to be assaiIed with
ridicule. Some years ago, when it wa. pro-
! posed to establish telegraph line between
| Washington and Baltimore, an amendment
was offered for telegraph line to the moon
Mr.. Hunter and Mr.. Butler opposed, and
! Mr.. Bell of Tennessee, Mir. Stuart, and Mr..
| Seward advocated the bill.
The debate was not, however, concluded.
Mr.. Wilson offered resolution, which was
adopted, directing the Secretary of the Treas
ury to inform the Senate whether the lands
owned by the United States IN Chelsea, Mass,
have been sold as authorized by the act of
the Sd of March, 1855, and if so, whether
they were sold at public or private sale, to
Adjourned
HoUsE.-Mr. Davis of Nd, by direction of
the Investigating Committee, said he had been
directed to make a sbecial report IN the case Of
William a. Gilbert of New York. He moved
that the report be printed and stated that he
should move, when that question was deter
mined, to postpone the consideration OF the
subject.
MIR. Grow of Pa, denied that the commit.
tee have right to make this report as ques
ton of privilege. They must first obtain leave,
especiallyif the report implicats any member
or members of this House
Mr.. Letcher of Va, and Others, amidst the
excitement, loudly demanded the reading Of
the report.
An excited debate followed, and finally Mr..
Davis read the report, 1t sets forth the evi
dence in Mr.. Gilbert's case, saying the House
can judge for themselves regardless of the
Conclusions Of the committee.
Mr.. Watson interposed, saying that h. I'M
stood the duty of the committee was merely
to report the evidence.
The committee, in conclusion of the report,
offer the following resolutions =
That William A. Gilbert member of this
House from New York did agree with F. T.
Z. ErIplett to procure the passage of resolu-
ton or bill through the present Congress for
purchase by Congress OF certain copies of the
book Of said rrlplett, on the pension and
bounty land laws, in consideration that the
said T.iplett should allow him to receive a GER
tain sum of money out OF the appropriation
for the purchase of the book.
That Gilbert did cast his vote an the Iowa
land bill, pending before this Congress, for
corrupt consideration, consisting of seven
square miles of land and some stock given or
m ha frfr On RI In
That Mr.. Gilbert be forthwith expelled from
this House.
The report is signed by Mr.. Davis of Ma
ryland, MIR. Orr and Mr.. Warner; Mr.. Ritch-
lie and Mr.. Kelsey (the chairman) dissenting.
Mr.. Grow stated that Mr.. Gilbert was not
notified Of the charges against him.
Mr., Orr replied that a complete copy of the
testimony was furnished the accused, aud an
| opportunity given for the defence.
Mr.. Grow said that the reputation of no
member should thus be stabbed, and that he
should be permitted to give his testimony in
his own way. He charged that the Commit
tee had violated the Constitutional privileges
of member in their Star Chamber proceed
ings, in summonmg witnesses from the streets
to blacken his character. He denied that
Mr.. Sweeney was entitled to credit any where.
While the Committee were ready to stab this
member they stood like wall OF fire around
| the character of Mr.. Sweeney. who could sit
there during the examination, while Mr.. Gill
bert was denied that right. 1t was a pro-
ceeding unheard of in the history of the
country. and God grant thut it may be the
last. If men are to be assaiied, let it be in
the daylight. The Committee had taken the
testimony of this witness, who, his neighbors
declare, could not be believed under oath.
As to the other witness, Mr.. Triplett, he was
1 :: s.. IT, ":
was the kind OF testimony adduced In the
case of the Iowa Land bill, Mr.. Sweeney is
the witness, and there is member who be.
lieved that Mr.. Gilbert told him that he was
to receive seven square milee of land and
some stock, for his vote for that measure.
Mr., Bennett of New York did not design tc
attack any member of the Committee, but
questioned their jurisdiction. The 10 "a
report was nothing but an ingenius argument
against the accused, coupled with q resolu.
ton for his expulsion. Was it ever before
heard that, under the resolution for tn cir an.
pointment, they could act as grand and pc
tit jury to condemn him. If the Committee
were angels from Heaven, instead of member.
of Congress- he should object to their iuris.
diction. We have tried nobody, they say
no, but they have condemned the man with
out trial. The Committee should have made
u genera Et pOLt ouIy' 1nefe must lie VIC
tim, and hence the cry of "mad dog il
raised There is an absence of manliness in
such course, and extreme injustice may be
done by this proceeding. The accused should
have fair hearing. He protested against the
course Of the Committee.
Mr.. Wakeman maintained that the Com.
miitee had no right to proceed in the investi
cation Of the charges against his colleague
(Gilbert). They should have reported that
in the course of their examination, they dis.
covered a member implicated and the House
would have directed them how to proceed
The resolution required the Committee to in.
quire as to whether there was directcombin.
alton among members, but they reportec
nothing of the kind. Instead, they have re-
ported an argument winding up with reso
luton to expel my colleague. If the House
act on this resolution, they would expel hin
q withouta fair trial. Let the report go over
the question being on its adoption.
Mr. Davis Of Maryland said there were now
in the hands of the Committee three speeia
reports referring to the testlmany in general
aud final report in possession of the Com.
mittee, with all the testimony, including thu
testimony and answers.
Mr. Richie said there was sort Of mi
norty report, by the chairman of the Com
mittee.
AL the reports were ordered to be printed
only five members objectng, and then fur
ther consideration was postponed to Wednes
day next.
The three special reports of the COMMITTEES
are signed by all the members of the commit
tee except Mr. Kelsey. They embody tn,