New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-05-21
FROM WASHINGTON.
From Our Own Correspondent

WASHINGTON, Wednesday, May IL, 1858.
Though there seems to be no reasonable ground
for doubling the justice Of the action of the House
that they acted in an exceedingly summary manner,
and without giving Mr. Hackney full opportunity
to be eard in his defense. lie had however, been
beard by Committee and that Committee wa,
unar morsy aud very 1ecisively of opinion that ne
was guilty Relyiog GA the statement of the Com
mitiee, the House, without further Investigation,
oismisstd him. Mr. Stephens alone spoke in his
behalf The Distinguished member from Georgia
was greatly shocked at the idea Of condemniug
nan without he irrp all that could be alleged in hs
defenle, and without confronting him with his ac-
cusers. His speech in defense of the D0Orkeeper
was striking exemph6catIon of the maxim that cur
cumstances alter cases. These who remember the
action Of the investigating Committee OF the last
Congress will TecOllect that when the Members of
the House who implicated by the report of the
Committee demanded a trial before the House,
or befre Committee sitting publicly, in which
they could confront the witnesses against them,
face TO face, Mr.. Stephens voted No, with almost
his entire party. Then, the rights of Members of
Congress and the rights and powers of great cOnsti
tueDcies were at stake. No,r only the maor ques-
ton whether the House should continue one of its
servants in Office. Then, Mr.. Stephens would not
consent TO allow any time or any further trial to
fellow Members who happened to sit on different
eide Of the House from himself No,c, he exerts
himself TO the utmost and demands a new trial for
en- employee of the Houte, whose guilt no one dis
believe, and who had already been heard before a
Committee and had been allowed to examine and
rebut the charges against him as far as be could
rebut them. Evidently, it WIS the OK Of Mr..
Stephens that was gored on this occasion. Ills
sympathy with the DOOrkeeper is to be accounted
for by sympathy Of political principles, and by
partisan policy. The credit of the Democratic party
has been seriously damaged by the misconduct of the
official whom its representatives IN Washington
with entire uDsnimity selected but six months ago
to fill lucrative and responsible position. Mr..
Stephens was Of course anxious to ward of as much
of the force Of the blow as he could.
In connection with this subject of Congressional
and Democratic corruption have found something
worthy of attention in relation to the land specua-
ton of Messrs. Bright, English and Foley at Coun-
Gil Bluffs. Gen. Spinner of New.YOrk, who first
called the attention of the House to the matter and
moved for Committee of Investigation, received a
few days since the following letter from Council
Bluffs ON person whose respec liability is vOuched
for by Members OF Congress from Iowa:
Hon FRANCIS f. SPINNER L. S. House Of Rrpresentatpe.
"DYAR SIR: l notice that GU have recently called
the attention Of the House AID the country to the
cumstaaces ate sding the purchase OF large body OF
land by the Hon. Jesse ID Bright and others q; the
Land Office in this city, as detailed 10 letter puo-
lished in The Burlington Harhese, and written by
myself From the proceedings of the House, think
the facts vera not clearly understood, and the resl
point of ccmpaiot IL the matter was passed over un-
IOtced. desire, therefore, TO detail the facts 70 yon
as they occurred, a l have learned them from the
Registers and Receivers offices at this place and ss
they we've announced at the time OF the occurrence
at should be understood, a. the outset that for
four weeks after the Land Office in this city was
opened fer private entry ON the I'D OF February tue
number of persons desiring TO enter ands WAS 30 great
that the Register adopted rule requiring every per
sop wishing to ebter land to enter his name on regis
fer kent for the purpose and each name was then
called in its re eular turn order and each person
was ao we'd to enter Secton or 64O acres OF land
only when his name was thus reached. Ii the appA
cant desired sud he put his name at the 1901 OF
the register and then waited three four or even We
DAYS, before it could be reached again. This rule
worked hard upon those desiring to enter large IAN
tty of land, but as it served all alike, ali cheerfully
acquie SOC IN its continuance.
1.-THE re guar hour of opening tie office OF the keg-
lister, in which the entries were made, was O'Clock
in the morning; but on the morning OF the oth OF
March, he doors were kept closed tor nearly an hour
after that tine although the crowd OF applicants 10
attendance was as large and all felt surprised
and some indignant that the commencement OF the
DAYS work should be 50 long delayed. Bat finally the
doors were opened aud the crowd admitted and we
were then tod by the clerks that they bad been eas
engaged all the morning entering 5000 acres OF lsnd
for the Hon. Jesse ID. Bright by special order Oh the
Commissioner Of the General Land Office received
the evening before. On further inquiry, 1t appears
that the orders of the Commissioner were 70 enter
The iard for MT Bright and Messrs English and
Foley Immediately on the receipt OF the order ana
the Register therefore felt himself compelled 10 over
rde the rule he had made and enter tue iands IN tn
manner have stated with the doors locked, ana
without giving others an opportunity W onei 0onPo'
ing applications.
"The amount thus entered was:
For Mr.. Bright. lO0 acres
Fer Mr. English. @oO acies
NJ Eala