Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-04-09

The Canal Lease Bul-Exciting Time.
The last day Of the session was an exciting
one The final adjournment was fixed at the
hour Of noon on the 9Th AZ 10 A. M, the
Senate committee had not reported back the bill
fof leasing the Public Works, and no appropria.
tions had been made for the Canals for the cur
rent year. Without the passage Of the Appro-
pration bill an extra session was inevitable, and
soon after 10, Mr., Stafford, member Of the com
mittee, stated that the Canal bill was so care
lessy got up that alnsw one was necessary,
which could not be prepared in less than two
hours He, therefore, moved to extend the ses-
sion twelve hours longer, on which motion a
warm debate arose. It was stated that the Ga.
nal contractors were assisting in preparing the
bill, that E s. Hsmlin had a deep finger in It.
Senator Winans stated that he was authorized
to say that E. s. Hamlin had approached a
member with corrupt proposition, to the ef.
feet that if the member would use his influence
with Republican members in favor of the meas
ure, he should have an interest in the leases
The session was finally extended to IL o'clock
Wednesday night. $500 Hrie
Mr.. Parsons, of Cuyahoga, said he desired to
to state the ground on which the Republicans
must oppose this Resolution. IL was the well
known fact that this bill for leasing the canals
was prepared and matured for the purpose OF
carrying out the ends of certain contractors
f. s Hamlin and other muskrats were here,
interested in getting the measure through, and
lfthis General Assembly was to be held in the
pockets Of these contractors the sooner it was
ended the better
Here number Of Democratic members rose
to deny that E. s Hsmin had anything to do
with this bill.
now HANLIN TRIED TO Bur A MEMBER.
As soon as order was restored Mr Parsons
said:
81 state on my own responsibility, here in my
place, that Republican member Of the House
has been approached by Mr. Z S Hdmn unthe
subject of this very measure, and was offered an
interest in the contracts with Hamlin and his
associates if he would support the bill. That
gentleman is now present, aud is Mr.. Raymond,
OF Lucas"
Ash to prevent further Developments, the
previous question was Immediately moved and
sustained By a strict party vote-the Democrats
voting tor, and the Republicans against 1t -
The amendmentsto the adjournment resolution
we're lost and the resolution passed about half.
past eleven O'Clock, just as it came from the Sem
ate.
Mr.. RAYMOND TELLS WHAT HE KNOWS or &.
HAMLlN.
Mr. Raymond desired, as his name had been
mentioned, 20 make statement
Last Sunday evening, he had conversation
with Mr. E. 5. Hamlin, in which the gentleman
spoke OF the Bill to Lease the Public Works,
aud said that, considering Mr. Raymond's pos
ition as Legislator, he could not, of course,
make any proposition to him in regard to it, but
were the circumstances different, he would be
glad to assure him that if he would use his in
iluence for the passage of the bill, he (Hamliu)
and his associates, would let him in, that is,
give him an interest in the contracts.
Mr. Raymond said that he did not regard this
as proposition to corrupt him, or he should
have resented it as such. 1t wax indirect
and vague that he did not at that Time, think it
necessary to take any notice of it, Had he look
ed upon it at the time, as an attempt TO bribe or
influence his vote he should have most certainly
risen to question of privilege, on Monday
morning, and made a statement of the whole
matter to the House.
He would say, however, that he believed Mr.
Hamlin's interference and influence had been
paramount throughout, in this effort to lease
the canals. He believed this from the tenor Of
lut tOllNENSdblOu AAt Aldu WIN llllAA'
In the afternoon MIR. Andrews, of Auglaize,
read letter from Mr.. Hamlin to the House, in
reference to the charges made against him, and
asking for an opportunity to defend himself
fom the charges before the House Dir. A.
moved that leave be granted, which motion pro
vailed. The journal says: ...
Accordingly, Mr.. Hamlin appeared, took the
rostruln, and members and audience all gather
ed promiscously around. Mr.. Hamlin stated
how great his anxiety had been that some way
should be devised for disposng of the canals;
expressed his SGat6, and especially of the pub
lie works, and then stated his conversation with
Mr. Raymond, substantially confirming his
statement. and essentially taking the wind out
of the bubble democracy had inflated. To the
direct question whether he asked Mr. Raymond
to use his influence with the Republican men,
bers to pass the bill to lease to the contractors,
he replied that be did not recollect certainly
about that
Then the gentleman proceeded to yindicate
his past life. Upon this some one raised the
question whether he could go into otEer ques-
tlOns. The Speaker read Mr.. Hamlins memo
rial and found that instead of referring to the
particular charge, as was naturally supposed, it
was general in its reference to charges" the
little gentleman having got up the thing with
his usual sharpness
This was more than democracy bargained
for. MI ii. then walked into the treasury in
vestigating report, conolusively vindicating
himself from the charge of taking money from
the treasury TO assist Col Schouler in his pur.
chase ofthe State Journal and from borrowing
money from the treasury for the LewistoNn
Reservoir, and gave history of his connection
with that affair Then he went back 10 the
Canal contracts, explained his connection with
them; took exceptions to the investigating re-
port ON the public works. but really did not
differ materially from the statements in that re
port.
In conclusion, the gentleman was eloquent
on his wrongs from public opinion, Paul's de- |
fence before Festus was not superior to his ap- |
peal for justice 10 outraged innocence; and the |
speech OF Logan, the Mingo Chief, did not ex
eel it in pathos.
When he closed, Mr. Plants mentioned his
old acquaintance with Mr.. Hamlin, and that he |
had never Joined in the cry against him. He
was also favofably acquainted with the member |
from Lucas He considered the speech of Mr.. |
llamlin as coHoborating fully the statement of
Mr. Raymond, and moved that he be requested |
to furnish the House with copy for publica- |
ton, which passed with but two or three dis |
senting votes.
Upon this, the House subsided into its usual |
iecorum, the democracy rather perplexed to |
decide whether they had made or lost by the |
novel performance,
Action Of an American state Council.
a dispatch from Baltimore the 9TH, states
that the American State Council has adopted |
resolntion in favor of tho TT,,;o,, oF ou H. n, |