Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1858-06-01
Testimony of Amasa Cobb before the In
vestlgating Committee

y
l. egislature of 1856, and if so. were YOU
present during the adjourned or extra
session III September and October of that
yeara
Answer.-I was a memSer of the State
Senate Car the years 1866, and was
present at the adjourned session, in the
months of September and October, of
1856.
Question.-Were any offers of any
stock, bonds or other valuable things made
10 you by any persons or corporation DUR
ing such adjourned or extra session, TO
influence you TO support or oppose, or to
give your and or influence To proeare the
passage or defeat of any measure pending
before the Legislature, relating 10 the dis
position of the lands granted by Congress
to this State to aid in the constructions of
railroads! If SO, state when, where, and
by whom such offers were made.
Answer.-Some five or SIX DAYS before
the final adiournmeni of the said adjourn
ed session, Mr. W William Pitt Dewey, who
was then the assistant clerk of the Assem-
bly,, invited me to take walk with him,
and while walking around the capital
square in the city of Madison, he dewey
introduced the subject of the bill granting
the land which had been granted TO the
State of Wisconsin 10 aid in the construc-
hon of certain railroads, to the La Crosse
and Milwaukee Railroad Company, and
which bill was then pending before the
Legislature. Daring said conversation he
Informed me that should said bill pass, he
would get quantity of bonds. He stat
ed the amount that he was to receive, and
TO the best of the recollection Of tins de-
ponent, 1t was ten thousand dollars. He
asked me what amount would induce me
10 cease my opposition and support the
bill, or come into the arrangement. ask
ed him why, or by what authority he
made the inquiry He replied that he
had come right from Kiltourn and was
authorized by him 10 say that | might
make my own terms. He further stated
that . we had had a consultation at the
Capital House, and concluded that /,
dewey being well acquainted with you
(deponent,) } and we having been around
together a good deal, thatI could be more
likely TO come to an understanding, or ar
rangement with you, than any one else
could He further stated tha. 's they
were bound to carry 1t through any how,
and that | might as we'll make something
out of it, as the rest of them" This, as
near as this deponent can remember, was
the language used.
Quesllon.-What reply, if any, did you
make to his proposition.
Deponent declined to answer this ques-
ton bat upon the same being pressed by
the committee, under protest, he answer
ed.
Answer asked HIM what was the
amount OF the capital stock of the compa-
ny He replied ten million dollars. |
told him to say to Byron Kilbourn, that if
he would multiply the capital stock of the
company by the number of leaves in tie
Capital Park, and give Inc that amount III
money, and then have himself, kilbourn,
Moses NJ. Strong, and Mitchell BLAcKEp,
and give him clear title to them as SER
wants for life, | would take the matter IN
TO consideration. | was strongly solicited
several different times during the pen
dency of said bill before the Legislature
10y the Hon. VIM. Chappell, then a mem
ber OF the Assembly, to support the bill
and on one occasion he stated to me, that
if the said bill passed, he, Chappell, would
make $50 ,0O6 by it, or out of 1t, and that
he wanted to see me do the same. / ask
ed him how ! could make it ! He replied
that my position as a senator would COM
mand that sum from the La Crosse Com
pany, or words to that effect. He did not
pretent to be authorized by any one to
make any proposition, but did give me to
unGersta nd that there was an arrangement
TO the effect, that those senators who came
into ii should receive that amount.
Question.-Did YOU, while a member
of such Legislature, or at any time after
wards, receive or accept, either directly
or indirectly, or did any person receive or
accept for you, from any person or eorpor-
alton, any stock, bonds, money, or other
thing IN consideration. or az a re-
ward for your official vote, or your official
or personal influence in favor or againsl
any such measure or measures, or as q
gratuity, gift or presentl II so, state
when, and from whom?
Answer-I did not at any time.
Guestion.-Did you have, during such /
session, or have you since had any conver-
sation with any, and what members Of |
that Legislature, relative to accepting or
receiving, or having accepted or received, |
or having been procured, or expecting to
receive any bonds, stock, money, or other |
thing in consideration for voting, or using /
their influence in procuring, or opposing /
the passage Of any measure or bill relat- I
ing to the disP- sition of lands granted to |
this State to aid IN the construction of rail- |
roads? If so, state with whom such con-
versation occurred, and what was the sub /
stance of itz
Answer have had repeated conver-
sations with Hon. Robert Aiken, MEM
Der of said Legislature (Assembly) from (
Richia cd county, In relation TO certain |
bonds w.ich he had received from the La |
Crosse and Milwaukee Railroad Compa- |
ny. Deponent was retained by said AK |
en- TO prosecute suit against one Shoe |
maker fer the price of two of said bonds |
which Aiken had entrusted him with for |
a certain purpose, and which Shoemaker /