New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-03-29

Jc,u Hu,ler ofE j. samue l. Car III va sad Wl'm u
u -ltp p" Core.
lMe..r. Grow Curl, are R,pGt6csr' ~ o'1e- o.H
cip; bit 1o'cs o. psI 70 ~, a. 49, 'h-i nav '-'
Ihueuc- IL ion otiAe lonn.!-re
This Committee, after due d-iberanon' avn
receiving stateme1t from the Member ireu'pated
IL ade its Report on the 22d lust, which was acted
CD and approved ou Saturday. MeSsr'' seward
Grow md Huyler, the majority, concur N tue ne
pot bich set- forth that
l. No legal or cor stItrtloaal disqualification on
tie pa,, of Mr. MattesOr il even alleged.
> Expulsion by one House is no disqualification
70 1T ~ . subs, queut House. la proof Il this, the
Comu.ittee cite tie femous care OF Join likes
repes,efiv expell,d from armament for sedi'iou-
liteIs on that body, and fnaIy declared incapable
ot .ittirp: until at length Mr LuttIell. minority
c,nol6aie against Wilkes, was seated 10 bis plic';
but in l7e2. the vote of Feb. Il, 1902 admitting
Ir.treU. was ordered to be expunged from the
inrtal. "as subversive Of the rights OF the whole
"body Of the electors of this kingdom
2 Tie rules Of tee House pros:de for aOexpulsiou
Of NJ inter on any such ground az 8 alleged IN
thi. case.
a.
sg.iLst the present House, por aoy misconduct
since il was oreauized; wtia his alleged ofens,
against the last House was pus shed BY that House
; TIE fact sttt.ted by Johnson tina. bis letter to
Jotrsou proposing to &c: up cert>:n factory stock
aid distribute it among outsider TO silence
tter opposition to the Des Nonss grant, was cir
eulated spd used against him in the canvass which
returned him to tbe present House, IS urged bs Toe
Committee in reply TO the statement that Mr N. s
reelt ci:on took place before tee developments aud
vote Of censure of the last House.
d. If the proceedings Of the last House are cal
.ulsttd 70 work a disqualification for or forfeiture
or. a seat in Congress thereafter. that House
should have 70 declared.
7. The Comm conc ude as ioliows:
The power. and privie, Of tn. ou,e defs by the
Constitution formed ~ TIE Po PIE; lac :. or COW
IN this "a is bit entering rpm fearful contest tn tue Amed
can people deprive them Of ,hir rights and Privileges 10
10 hi. bod7 md un siely aun'ac The po"e OF die
peore in the ,h cPTesn'aiives Is quesloh Of
nrpaton upon the side, and American freedom upon The
bile this House should .crapuou,ly guard aud prots rs
OWL privilege purity should 6e elgsly cautious not TO
invade tie prveeso The people. ord a ,tas'hAo '"re'
,sia viii ne people Who wisely Of govern
mrut are copded ah the duty OF selecting tuef representa-
i,eS every Two years
Col. Curtis alone signs the Minority Report: it
is upder.tood that Mr. Bishop (who signs neither
concurs in the general doctrines of this Report but
does not hold that SIR. Matteson's case is such as
to require their application. Col. C.'s points are
!. Self.preseryation and protection is natural
law, which pertains to corporate bodies rs well as
to natural persons This power is, in the nature
Of the case, plenary; out, in regard to EXCURSIONS
from Congress, is restrained by thu constitutional
shows that the power to expel for crime inheres
10 Parliament; Gushing IL. S. afirms that it re-
sides in our Anne rican legislative bodies
9. This power to expel is not merely power to
inict punirhment it is to obstacle to the
progress Of legitimate business, and secure the
wholesome exercise of Legislative functions Prop
erly exercised, it would not dsfranchse constitu-
ency, but give to district the power to return a
member qualified to represent the people.
3. The ease of Wilkes proves that libel on Par
lament ras and is valid ground of expulsion; but
that former typuision is not.
4. Tie irdiDg of a former Congress in the
premises is only testimony of fact that must be
proved 1t creates presumption of Disqualified
tion-rases question of competency, TO be deci-
ded by proof upon fair trial.
5. Col. Curtis, therefore, proposes to open the
whole csse-to take testimony on both sides as to
what Mr.. Matteson actually did write or say with
regard to applications for Land-Grants before the
last Congress, to report the facts thus elected,
and solicit thereon full and fair trial Of the in.
cupated Member
6. The Constitution and the Rules of the House
alike presume that Member may be fairly elected
and yet disqualified to sit. They both plate
and provide for that contingency. Due respect
should be accorded to the will of Il constituency;
snd if the people of district, after Congress shall
have voted an expulsion, shall reclect the expelled
Member, the House, as hitherto would probably
take no further notice Of the disqualification. I'm
til such reelection, however it may fairly be pre-
sumed that the constituency accords with toe
House in desiring to be- Represented by one whose
reputation is unspotted, and that the House is serv
ING and obeing that constituency in purgng itself
of adjudged contamination.
!. Col. Curtis concludes as follows:
A.ue action of the la. only ccnsd rod pfen
questions undermined will refrain from for ming
ps OPINION the merts leaving as' Determination 10 the
hei dsyeorDsn: Of the pPo's ct the hoa aud the s'
Avodrs any hssty h.edes doubtful determination Agsin
the member the urderssred believe. the oase snout
NO. .hIius from the exercise delet. asd painful
responsibility The character q the House tas hnor 81 nrr
5' and toe IN s.o.p, OF corlapns TIE pos nave
vested IN Congress the Ut the state eothrd
with Spls power and rusd. duty p'oct aud
Aiyuify