Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1862-02-01

L
Nernment to vindicate itself against the acts
Of venal men But, Mr.. Speaker, sub
scribe to no such huniliating heresy -
l maintain that it is living, vital princi,
pie, possessing all the essential elements
ofself-preservaton, including, Of course,
the inherent power to Investigate fraud,
wherever found to exist, and although the
"body' may "be dead to all intents and
purposes" yet the individual msmbers
who composed the body may "still livs,"
and may be tried, and, if found guilty Of
misdemeauors, may be punished. This,
sir, is the only rational theory in well or.
gauized society. But the gentleman from
Philadelphia urges another objection to
this resolotion. He asks, with apparent
sincerity, "Who are the people demand
ing this serutiynl" The gentleman from
Allegheny (Mr. Williams) has answered
this question most trumphaptly. He has
pointed to the verdict at the ballot box,
where the people spoke with an emphasis
that cannot be misunderstood, which may
not be disregarded,
Sire asst your eye over this Hall and
see how many there are who occupy seats
on this floor, who voted for the repeal Of
the tonnage taxi You will find that, With
the exception of Philadelphia, there is but
a single man, (tbe gentleman from War.
. ren y and yet, sir, in the face of this un-
mistakeable indication of the popular will,
we are asked, and that too, in rather 6
, defiant tone, "Who are they that demand
this scrutiny
Another gentleman from Philadelphls
(Mr. Abbott) assails tb is resolution in ane
other mode. He thinks that "it is opsn
to the suspicion that it was prompted BY
other motives than desire 10 make On
Investigation" Waving for the present,
comments upon the e1ceeci"g good .asse Of
the gentleman in making this allusion, ]
will remark that do not suppose that tho
motives which prompted the resolution,
whatever they may have been, will have
much influence in making up the judge
mens of the House. may simply observe
hoFever, that were | iisposei to impugl
motives, ! might. perhaps, find as strong
ground for challenging the integrity Of
his, in opposing the resolution as he has
for suspecting mine for offering it. But,
this is not my mode Of argument. I am
', always willing to concede to others the
: same integrity of purpose that claim for
. myself.
The only other remark I have to mako
on this is, that | offered the resolution in
good faith, with no other motive than to
ascertain the truth or falsity of the char
:, gcs, and if found to be true, then l hope
that the Investigation will be followed up
by such steps as will bring to condign
. punishment every rascal, both in and GU.
OF the Legislature, who has, in any man.
ner, been connected with the nefarious
business. If this be done, may we not
y hope that it gill be the means of driving
from the Capitol class Of men, who have
for years been proving about our Halls,
like set of ofvultures, until legislation has
! become reprcach in the estimation Of all
y pure.minded men. If, however, ii turns
out on the other hand, that these charges
= are untounded, or cannot be sustained
; then sir, ! will be the first man to sign .
verdict of acquittal and this, allow me
, to add, wauld be a much more agreeabl,
duty for me to perform, provided the facts
would justify, than could the converse,
:. Mr. Speaker, | have not deemed il
proper to discuss the merits of the act up
on which this resolution is based. have
chosen to reserve anything may have to
~ say on that subject until the bill for the
, - repeal of that act comes up for the COR
sderatiou of the House. shall then hold
myself prepared to demonstrate, beyond
= the possibility of eavil, that the repeal O.
; the tonnage tax, with kindred measure
% which have been carried through the Leg
. islaturc, within the past two or three years
y has taken from he people some eighteel
or twenty millions Of dollars, and bestowet
% it upon two corporations.
- But, as have before intimated, thi
- question does not, in my judgement, aris
- here. Let us then, sir, have this commit
=. tee. 1t is demanded by every considsra
ton of justice, patriotism and public duty
and trust that We shall not be drive
from our purpose by the JFattfring q
s0owndsd pigeons, either in the other 90
'r -, Of the Capitol or elsewhere
alu WANNA Ia, s4,S