The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1862-02-07
VOL. Nc. u.
REMARKS OF MR.. HOPKINS,
OF WASHINGTON.

COMMITTEE ~ Investigate aifrged corruption.
Mr.. SreAKea-I confess 10 some surprise at
the opposition that has been made TO this rpsoiu-
ton, as well as at the range the discussion upon
1t has taken. When had the honorloi submit
ting it 10 The House on Friday last, Isupposrd
as matter OF course, it would be allowed TO
pass without objection, but 10 this have been
disappointed. Now, sir, what is this resolution,
and what does it propose TO do! The answer to
this lnterrogaiory is 10 the preamble. II afiirms
that il has been alleged, and Is believed by many
OF the ci'iz-ns OF the Commonwealth that in,-
proper iniiaenc-s were. used in procuring the
passage oil an act OF TIE last sesaon, entitled
IAN At for the commuiation ofihe Tonnage
duties. Sir, is this true! 1t Is true, saw, that
these allegations are believed! II so, then sub
m.i, whether it is not, in he language of the
pream5r, "due alike 10 The parties implicated
and the public at large, that an inves, isati,n
should be had, in order that truth NAV be vim
dicated, and justice done to ALL" Well MIR.
Speaker, who doubts that this belief prevails 10
very considerable extent throughout the State!
do not suppose that there can BE- man found
any where, who reads the papers, that does mol
know that these allegations have spread broad
cast over the county for months, and that an i'm.
preston has thereby been made on the public
mind that can only he removed by an investi-
CATION, aud acquitta!, by an impartial committee,
But The gentleman trom Philadelphia (Mr.
Drnnisl DOES not think tina: tie House possesses
the power TO investigate the acis of the Legis-
lature OF 1861. Tha, body the gentleman tells
US, IS dead 10 all ntents and purposes. Sir,hssit
come TO this! s!-Have we Ieal, descended so
low in the scale OF decay that bribery and cor.
ruPlon may run riot 10 our Legislative Halls,
and subsequent Legislatures posses no power
10 investigate the allegations OF fraud, however
gross they may have been. That Legislators
may be bought and old like cattle in the mar
keith word, that the whole revenues of ths 5
Common wealth may be barlered away for the
personal aggrandz.ment OF faithess, corrupt
representatives, and the people have no redress,
because, iorsooih, the House has no power TO
inquire into the acts Of its predecessors. faa u
Sir-this cannot bs. II such monslraus
doctrine can b. sustained, then ask The gen-
ilsman f,om Philadelphia what have we left p
of cur Government worth contending for? Ncih-
ing sir, absolutely nothing. Wicked and un-
usii6lbIe as is the present rebellion, which is
attempting 10 overthrow the Government, what
will We have gained when il shall have been
speedily done, )if it be conceded that there is
mol sufficient vitality IN the Government, Ia
pialicat. its IL ayaiost thu acts OF vpaal
men! But, Mr.. Speaker, subscribe 10 % such Z
a humilia.lng haresy. | maintain that il is a
living, vital principle, possessing all the essen
tial elemeaIs OF seli-rrestr,aiioD, including,
oil coursr, the inherent power 10 investigate
frand, wherever found to exist, and hough
u !. III.
poses," yetihe individual members who compo-
spd the body may .sstill live, and may b. tried
aud, il found gully OF rnisiem.an,rs, may be
punished. This sir, is the only rational Iheo-
ry in well-organizsd society. But ihr eentIe-
man from Philadelphia urges another ot~ciious
to this resolution ''4 asks, with apparent sin-
cp,iiy, "Who are the people demanding this
scrutiny %. The gentleman from Allegheny
(Mr. Williams) has answered this question
mcst tlumphanily. He has pointed 10 the
verdict at the ballot box, where the people
spoke With 40 emphasis that cannot be uisun-
d-istood, ano which may not b. disregardrd.
Sir--cast your eyes over this Hall and see
low many there are who occupy seats on this
floor, who voted for the repeal Of the tonnage
lax You will find that, with the exception
Of Philadelphia, there is but single man, the
gentleman from Warren,) and yet, sir, in the
face of this unmisak.able indication OF The
popular will We are asked: and that too, in
rather defiant tone, "Who are they that de-
mand this scrutiny p W
Another gentleman from Philadelphia fMr.
Abb ~ assalls this resolution 10 acoiher mode.
He thinks that "ii is open to the suspicion hat
il was prompted by other motives than desire
10 make an investigation" Waving, for the
present, comments upon the exceeding good
taste OF the gentleman in making this aIlusion,
will remark hat do not suppose that the
motives which prompted the resolution, what,
ever they may have been, will have much in-
hnence IN making up the judgment OF the
House. may simply observe, however, that
were disposed to impugn motives, ! might,
perhaps, find as strong ground for challenging
the integrity o. bis, IN opposing the resolutions
as he has for suspeciing nine for offering II.
But. this is not my mode Of argument. ! am
ALWAYS willing TO concede TO others the same
integrity of purpose that lclaim ior myself
The only other remark ! have 10 make on
this point is that offered the resolution in good
faith, with no other motive Than TO ascertain
the truth or iasity o: the charges, and II found
to be true, then hope that the investigation
will be followed up BY such steps as will bring
TO condign punishment every rascal. both IN and
out OF the Legislature, who has, in any manner,
been connected with The nefarious business IL
this be done, may we not hope that it wiIibe
the means Of driving from the Capital clsss Of
men, who have for years been proving about
our Halls like SET OF vultures, until legislator
has become reproach in the estimation q All
pure minded men. Ifhowrver, il tnrns QUITO
ihe other hand, that these charges are unioun-
6ed, or cannot Sc sustained, then sir, wiIloe
the first man 10 sign verdict Of acaniti 81; ana
this, elbow me 70 add, would bs much bpees
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