Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1857-03-06
THE CHRONICLE.
FRIDAY, MARCH ,, 1857.
Corruption Rebuked in Congress.

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Corruption Rebuked in Congress.
John Wentworth, long time Demo
cratic Member of Congress, said, d,yeurs ago
tha, if the people knew the corrupt mean.
used to carry measures in Washington
they would rise and kick all the Congress
men into the Potomac. He of course was
extravagant III his statement but he vel
knew the morlas operandt of his own party;
and those who have watched Congress the
last twenty years, will not think him far
out of the way. Look at the thousands
of splendid fortunes made by contracts,
yearly the extravagant outlay for Florida
and other Indian wars; vAt appropria.
tions to favorites for navy and army, for.
eign embassies aud books, custom houses
aud post offices; at the Swartwout aud Gal
phin cheats. Look at the promises, brbes
of office, &c, by which Democracy has
carried its measures, such as repeating the
Tariff Of AZ, the Missouri Compromise, &c.,
against the undoubted will of the people.
Look at the land grants of tue last 8 or 10
years-iands worth Twenty or Thirty
Millions Of Dollars, to the Illinois Central
X. II. Company-lands to the New States
By millions-&c. &c. Look at all these
......and any intelligent many must say
that history can hardly find parallel to
the robberies and vicious legislation of the
so-called Democracy Of this Union
The present House of Representatives
in Congress have done themselves honor
by two things-.frs', by voting to expel
two of the Ruiiians of Slavery Brooks
and keitt) who have been heretofore too
much tolerated and second, BY investiga.
ting some of the charges of corruption
which are annually brought against its
members. A committee comprising Messrs
Kelsey of Ny and Richie of Pa, Rep. }
Davis of Nd, Gam aud Orr of S. c. aud
Warner Of Ga (Dem was appointed by
Speaker Banks to examine witnesses and
ascertain if any proof could be found of
these charges. After many weeks, ma
jority reported--not only what they had
gathered, but also resolutions expelling
Messrs. Gilbert, Matteson and Edwards of
n. Y, aud Weici, vr o., [h.-.Ls.s,) aud
Triplett aud Simcnton, (Reporters.) The
Chairman Of the Committee dissentel from
the report, alleging that all they had to do
was to presen. the facts for the action Gf
the House. The members implicated de-
clared themselves innocent; that much of
the testimony (as printed was partial and
garbled that some of the witnesses were
personal enemies, of long date, seeking
their injury that certain facts ELECTED
were misconceived, and capable of satis-
factory explanation; that the testimony
against them was exparte, ald gave them
no proper chance for refutation and, in
conclusion they only asked for a FAIR TRIAL
that time and counsel be allowed them,
and that the witnesses be confronted face
to face before them and their fellow Mem
bers. This was certainly o reasonable re.
quest, but in (what seems to u.s. parox-
ysm of excitement and virtuous resolution
their request for fair trial was refused by
Is majority, and the House decided to
take vote upon expulsion, simply upon
that portion IF the evidence reported Jy
part Of the Committee ! Finding the House
determined to proceed thus hastily, the
three New York member chose to resign
and appeal to their constituents. The
Connecticut member, was declared not
guilty, by vote of l16 to AZ. Triplett
and Simonton, tro Of the ,Oitnessss against
The Members, were then expelled from the
floor as reporters. The House then passed
a bill to guard against future corruption,
l26 to SO, and Immediately reconsidered
the same bill and laid it upon the table,
l2S to Sc!
Whilst we honor the motives Of Mem
bers in ordering this examination, We fear
they have been unjust and precipitate in
their conclusions. The three who resigned /
had an undoubted right to deliberate and
impartial trial before the whole body q
private examination is not sufficient for a
decision upon such grave charge, affect
ing not only those implicated, but also all
their associates and the fact that the 4th
Member who the Com'tee reported against
(the only one passed on by the House, was
by triumphant majority, gives
strong proof that the Committee acted
rather as prejudiced Counsel than as i'm
partial Judges. At best, the Committee
was but Grand Jury, presenting for
trial the real trial sh'd have been before
The whole House.
Most of the testimony was wholly intau.
sible of proof, relying upon the credibllity
& han and