Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-02-20
Report of the Investigating Committee.

Report OF the Investigating Gommlttee'
Our readers will remember that, at the
time of the election of United States Sena-
tor, much was said in certain classes OF news
papers in Pennsylvania, about fraud and cor
ruption in connection with said election, and
the appointment of joint committee. by the
Legislature to investigate the charges made.
The Committee have just made their report,
which is as follows
The undersigned, committee appointed
under joint resolution by the Legislature,
passed January Sth, A. ID. 1867, and charg
ed with the duty of investigating alleged mn
proper influences in connection with the e.ee-
tion of a United States Senator, on the 10Th
ult, report the following as the result OF
their investigation in the premises:
On the day upon which the committee was
appointed. they met and organized, and at
once proceeded to the examination OF WIT
nesses. The committee continued to meet
from day to day until all the witnesses, sug-
gested to Them had been examined.
They then gave general invitation to any
person to appear before the committee, and
give such information as he might possess
touching the subject under inquiry, and al
ter waiting some ten days or more inc one
appearing the committee ceased their Ia
bors
No evidence was produced to implicate
any member of this Legislature in the al
legged corruption nor were any of the distln-
guished persons named in connection with
the Office OF United States Senator in any
manner therein involved.
The evidence in detail taken by the com
mittee is herewith presented tor the lntor-
nation of the two Houses. All of which Is
respectfully submitted.
F. S. STUMBAUGH, j. n. MARKS,
L. WEsTBRooK, Com. on part of House.
M.B. LOWRY, 7. b. SEARIGHT,
j. L. GRAHAM, Com. on part OF Senate
twill be observed that, according to the
report, the committee have been unable to
discover any evidence whatever which I'M
plicates any one with using improper in
huences in connection with the q. s. Sena-
torship, notwithstanding the frequent charges
of bribery and corruption. The committee
proceeded to examine quite number of wit
nesses suggested to it, (some of whom were
brought before it by an officer, but not being
able to elicit any evidence from those wit
nesses, to implicate any one, they 1.-THE COM
mittee) gave general invitation to all who
professed to know all about the frauds to APP
pear and testify; but no one appeared.
Now, the fair inference is, that all this great
cry of bribery and corruption was false, and
unwarranted That such charges should be
indulged in by the Copperhead papers, is
but natural but that respectable Repub-
lican Journals should make such unguarded
assaults upon members of their own party,
without the shadow of fact to sustain their
onslaught, is, to say the least, uncalled for;
and, we hope, the like may not occur again.
But, while We say this much by way of ad-
monition, we do not wish to be understood
as desiring to shield wrong doing. By no
means We are now, and have always been,
in favor of Furnishing evil-doers, whether
they profess to adhere to the Republican
party or not. But, our motto is, 'be sure
you are right and then go ahead other
wise ''hold your peace" False accusations
can only accrue to the advantage of our po
litical opponents.