The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-01-24
Charge of Corruption Ina Congress.

The following are the proceedings in the
House which Immediately preceded the
charge of ''Bribery" made by Mr. Paine:
HOUsE.-1he House passed twentv-one
private bills. An adjournment was about
being effected when Mr.. Kelsey introduced
a subject which caused much excitelment.-
Tie presented it as question of privilege,
| first causing to be read at the Clerks table,
an editorial from the New York Times Of
the 9th inst, charging members of Congress
and lobby agents with gross corruption.
mentioning the Minnesota bill in the con-
nection, and saying that evidence can be pro-
| !uced to carry conviction to every honest
heart, and that the criminals should be driv-
ell from the high places which they h We
dishonOred. Mr.. Kelsey remarked that the
| charges contained IN this article app cared to
have been baSc., on letter from this civ 10
the Times Un1er ordinary circnn stanc
1t would be waste of time TO notice articles
OF tbs Character appearing III newsl :.ers,
but the editor of the Times occupied posi-
ton before the country which entities his
sentiments to credit. If he is in possession
Of the facts lie Il erein charges he should
substantiate them before committee of this
House, that members who may be guilty of
such conduct should be known to the coun-
try. As the case now stands he OK, lSey)
could neither vote for or against the prOpo-
Siton without placing himself directly under
the charges of that article. If there exist
such combination rs is alleged he wanted
to know it, and have the facts go before the
people. He concluded by offering the fol
lowing:
Whereas, As certain statements charging
the membt rs of this House with entering in
corrupt combination for the purpose efpas-
sing and OF preventing the passin Of certain
measures now before Congress, therefore
Res@red, That a committee Of five men,
berS be appointed by the Speaker with pow
er to send persons and papers to investi
gate such charges, and that the committee
report the evidence SO taken and what ac-
ton. in their Judgment, is necessary on the
part Of the House without unnecessary de-
lay.
Mr.. Paine-I scarcely know whether
ought to say anything or not. | know moth
ing about that editor or his journal know
nothing about any communication to it.
l. now not how the editor got his information.
l know not whether it is true or false, bnt
do know there has been proposition made
in the House, by members of the House. on
the subject. [Sensatlon and cries of who
is he? expose hm.''] shall not name the
gent. lCries of ''down in front stand out
OF the aisles ; we can't sect l shall men
ton no member by name voice-You
ought to do it, 1t was with feelings of ir-
dignat on heard the proposition [Cries of
what was it tell it'll The reason why
did not announce it to the House was that
pending the orea..i zation Of this body, when
a member is in his place and stated fell
low member had made an attempt to tanner
with him for vote for Speaker. The only
credit he received was that he was laughed
at and that it was charged that he did n
accept the prOfered bride because no such
profitable place was to be had | saw dis
tnctly, there is not a want of truth in the
contained in the Times articles.