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

suDJeCt
firm me in the opinion that whatever penalty may suffer
cannot answer that question. beg the committee to
understand that have other motive whatever in de
Ginning but the simple that have stated before that
DO not see how can answer il without dshonorable
breach OF confidence The to the question can by
no possibility be supposed to reflect dscred upon myself
and presume that my statement OF that motive corroDo
rated by the facts they appear before the committee
must insist on declining TO answer that question
On the 4th day of February this witness was again
brought before the committee for further examination His
replies to the questions propounded to him were not sats
factory He desired TO alter and explain his former est
mony After being permitted to retire from the commit
three times during his examination for the pur
pose of consulting his counsel and not having given sat
ictory answer any question during two and half
hours that he under examination most of which time
occupied by him in writing down the questions and
his answers and in looking over his notes. the witness was
taken ILL., and his examination was suspended
On the 7th of February this witness recalled and
the following question propounded to him in writing
BY the Chairman. Have you been solicited by any
member of the present Congress- directly indirectly to
make any arrangement by which the member was to re-
ceive any valuable consideration for his support Of any
measure during thepresent Congress
The Witness after writing down his answer answered
as follows III cannot say, under oath that have, and
never have intended to be understood so to mean"
This answer being directly contradictory of the pre-
vious testimony Of this witness satisfied the committee that
they ought not to press his examination any further
1t also appears from the testimony of this witness that
while occupying seat as reporter on the floor of the House.
he personally aided in the passage of the Wisconsin land
BILL under promise of receiving certain compensation if
the bill passed. but he has legal claim for such service
and has not received the fruit Of any such interest He
also aided old friend of his in passing private bill
through the Senate for which service he accepted small
compensation 8E#f af#H #@
In view of all these facts, the committee deem it their
duty to report resolution for his expulsion from the
House as q reporter 1t
From the testimony taken it appears that the general
charges of corrupt combinations in Congress originate
from men who expect to make money by creating the belief
that such combinations exist IL they cause it to be
generally believed that 1t is necessary to large sums OF
money to carry through Congress- it follows that
somebody must be employed to apply it and the man who
knows most about corrupt combinations would be the one
naturally sought for and employed broker to buy up
the votes of members who had entered into such combna
ons. The broker in congressional corruption would re-
ceive money to buy the combination and whether he
puts the money in his pocket pays it to somebody
else be known by the parties who furnish the
money They are all engaged in criminal transaction
in which the broker has decided advantage His employ
must be satisfied without account with any
count ohs agency that he may choose to render and the
probability s that in addition to his stipulated COM
pensation, he will pocket the whole corruption fund 1t
B to be expected that this class OF man will continue their
abors to uphold the belief that the legislation Of Congress
can be controlled by the use Of money.
Newspaper are always on the watch for
news and particularly anxious to be first in giving to
the public piece of startling intelligence or
founding development When informed by PERSONS in
terested perhaps in creating the impression that the story
is true that corrupt have been formed
members of Congress- they Immediately send the
thus started to their respective papers, and it is published
In one form another by every newspaper in the country
with such comments variations the editors of the diff
feren papers may see fit to make Such publications aid
thess brokers in corupton by producing the belief that 1t
Is necessary to money and TO employ agent here
Congress short extract from the estiuo ony of r. F. G.
Tripett witness examined before the committee will
show the Impressions made upon his mind and doubtless
upon the minds of Others by the oftenreerated charges
of corruption in Congress-
Witness. | will say this have never been the in
strument of anybody else for payment to procure the
IL
never approached any member upon any subject with
improper proposition.
"By Mr. Orr. Have you been brought in contact with
any member in that connexion2
"Witness. have. suppose there is nobody who
knows the organization of Congress who expects TO carry
anything through it merely from love of justice.
By Mr. Orr. Is that the general reputation OF Con-
gress?
HWness. That is the general reputation of Congress"
The testimony of Elijah Kngman, George Wood, and
Joseph L. Chester gives clear view of the manner in
which these Wholesale charges against members of Con-
gress manufactured and circulated that the committee
deem II proper to refer to them particularly here.
"Eli jah Kingman sworn:
nBy Mr.. Orr Mr.. Kingman, you are q regular cores
pondent of the press in this city?
witness. Yes SIR
"By Mr. Orr. Has ever any proposition been made to
land or lands in consideration of your aiding the passage
OF any railroad other land grant in Congress through
your correspondence
Witness | never conversed with any member of Con-
gress upon the subject and received any overture
from any member OF Congress on the subject
"By Mr.. Orr Do you know any thing of the combination
which have seen charged in the press amongst mem
bers Of Congress?
Witness Nothing but what have heard here for
twenty years before.
"By Mr.. Orr Then you know nothing of your own
knowledge?
Witness / do not.
By Mr. Orr Do you know of any corrupt influences re-
sorted to to procure the passage of measure during the
present Congress?
Witness / do not; If did l should state it, very
frankly.
"By Mr. Davis Do you know of any member having any
interest direct indirect in any passed pend
ing in Congress
Witness. do not Iknop nothing Of my knowledge
have heard ra'nors for great many years. Of members 6e
irg interested in This thing that thing have seen IL IN
eoery paper The United States, but do not know Of any
fact wch tends TO provc the eaistence Of such matter.
George Wood sworn
By Mr. Orr. Are you the author of letters from Wash
ngton published in the Examiner New York Recorder
or New York Baptist2
Witness Signed r. W. am.
By Mr. Orr Are you the author of the letter No. da-
ted January TO- 1857?
Witness Yes, sir.
1By Mr. Orr In that letter is the following paragraph
This is n most important movement, and one which
will trust be acted upon with and energy by the
committee of five to be selected by Mr. Speaker Banks.
it is it will reveal some astonishing facts to the
try and show the vast paid for the passage OF acts
contracts for grants of lands to railroads and the like
was told by gentleman of standing not long since that
there existed tariff Of brides agreed upon by as many as
thirty members of the House. who pledged to each
other to vote all together ranging from hf dollars 10 hve
thousand dollars according the magnitude of the act
and the benefits it conferred upon the applicants But can
this matter be probed Is il of the labors
Hercules and for which there now no space Of time
left for any real eort3 But it may be the beginning Of
an end
Have you any personal knowledge of the facts contain
ed or set forth in that article :?