The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-06-08
CORRUPTION CASES IN CONGRESS.


Our readers will remember that some time ago
committee was appointed by the House to ascer-
tain to what extent members had been bribed to
vote for the Tariff bill of the last Congress That
committee has reported, which report is noticed
by Washington correspondent of the Standard
as follows:
About the richest production yet brought to
light is the lengthy report of the Tariff Investigate
ing Committee. 1t viii be remembered that Wal
colt, the contumacious witness in this was
discharged from the custody of the House and
handed over to the Courts. He indicted by
the grand jury, and held in $1,000 for his appear
ance at the present term of Court. His came
up yesterday, but falling to appear, his recogn-
zance was forfeited. Probably it was well for
him that he was missing for according to the
Committees report he is one Of the most impu-
dent shameless rlscals that ever escaped Z hempen
cravat The Committee declares that the evil
dence of Walcott is acHifuly and corruptIy false,
and that nearly all of the $751; 900 was appropr-
ated to his (Walcott's) use.
The evidence does not incul pate any member of
Congress, save perhaps, Des Moines Matteson.-
Mr. Stone, of the firm Of Lawrence Stone & Co,
states that he was frequently told by the white
washed Matteson that the passage of the tariff bill
could not be procured without the liberal use Of
money, and that the money needed to operate
arih members Of Congress. In answer to the
question asked by the Committee whether or not
any necnaLcr IF Congress proposed to him.
(Stone) that if he would place the sum of S25 600
in the hands of certain party, he should, I" re-
turn, have twcnty,frc votes for his tariff modlfca
ton, he said, 81 ito not remember that distinct
proposition being MADE; but III the conversation
Mr. 4HlHe%on had aciM IN Ncw York, ut the
time lie propo$cd that orr firm Nould use nancy,
lie remorhed that there acre twenty-five rotes IN tie
House that couM he Influenced through their
friends; I>,&Acdh tim uhat he arouted us to do wdh
the moncy, end If Irrm~mbcr rightly he said put
it IN tie hcnds Of lU' Grechy"
Next on the lists is the Hon. Timothy Davis,
who borrowed in 1856, S1O6 from the firm of Law
renee, Stone & Co., which he has far failed to
reimburse. This SlO6 was included i'll the SS7 ,0OO
and mGs charged on the firms looks to the to1TB
account
Next comes Mr. Carbin, "a nice young man" and
formerly clerk to the Committee on Claims, who re-
ceived $1,000 from Mr. Stone for services supposed
to be rendered, though Mr. Carbin states that at
tie tinoe, he doiny all he could to deteot tie
tarB neodifcot'on, and rather sneercd at the ver-
dancy of Mr. Stone for bestOwing on him this fee.
Hon n. I. Banks is also prominent in this
transaction. Mr. Stone had several interviews with
that gentleman in relation to shaping the Commit
tee Of Ways and Means He did not remember
what Mr. Banks said in these interviews, but he
En0ics that the Committee was shaped fttcoru6iy
TO his (Stone's) p,ojcct.
It will be seen by the evidence what means are
resorted to in order to influence legislation now-a-
days and what power combination of wealthy
capitalists exert to the detr;ment of the inter-
ests of the masses
The Committee appointed to investigate the
charges against Il. Il. Hackney late Doorkecper,
has reported. They exoneratc him from all s,1s-
picion Of want Of integrity in the discharge of
his duties but believe that his errors, &C., arose
from incompetency to fulfill the important trusts
confded to him. Poor Hackney, lie is an easy,
goodnatured soul, without guile, and has been led
into the commission of errors in his efforts to obl~e
Others