The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1873-02-11

that II Is for extra trouble.
i will make out n statement and present
the same TO the committee, which will be
supported BY general Harrison, colonel
johnson, Mr.. Hulnurd, MIR. Mcigs, post
master general, Governor Cass' report as
commissioner, and others. Relying on
your honor as to keeping this secret, and
your exertion in passing these claims as
soon as possible, 1 need not inform you
that we are as poor unfortunate orphan
children, having no representation in con.
gress, so must look on your honorable
body as our guardian. Pardon this liber-
ty from stranger.
l am, with nigh esteem, your most obedi-
ent and humble servant.
Jouy ANDERSON.
The Hon. Lewis Williams.
Mr.. Williams submitted the letter 10
tho house, and Speaker Clay issued LIS
warrant Tor tho arrest of Anderson. a
few members took the ground that the
house could not take jurisdiction of u case
of bribery, and that the latter could only
DO punished by the courts. Anderson
appealed TO tue house through letters TO
the speaker, disclaiming any intention to
bride, and Offering testimony OF his char.
acter. Gen. w. III. Harrison, Col X. VI.
johnson, Gen. Cas-, Postmaster General
Meigs, and numerous members Of con-
gress, testified to bis meritorous services
in the war, and his personal integrity.
The house then, by u resolution, declared
that Anderson had committed a contempt
of tho house, and, under an order, he was
brought to the bar and publicly repri.
manded by the speaker. These were cases
Of attempts to btibo members.
Forty years later, in 1867, certain land
schemes were before congress. One of
these was known as the Minnesota land
bill, and the other, the Iowa land bill,
both having for their object the approp ria-
ton of public land for the benefit of spec
ulators. Charges having been made tina.
there was corruption, committee Of
which Henry Winter Davis was the chair
man, was appointed to investigate. Dur
ing the debate, Mr.. Payne of North Caro-
lima, stated that he bad been APP
preached by member Of the house with a
corrupt proposition. The understanding
was, that there was some forty members
Of congress who.were TO share tho plumber,
but that these were represented by o. u.
Matteson, w. A. Gilmore and Francis L.
Edwards, members from the state Of New
York, and W. w. Wclch Of Connecticut.
Matteson was the Cakes Ames of that day,
and no "placed the shares where they will
do US the most good" His letters were
found, in one of which to person inter-
ested he said:
| THE committee in the house have agreed
to report your resolution IN Minnesota to
| 272OO0 acres of land, but therois much
| trouble in the way. Some outsiders make
mischief. Are you willing to let your
one-fourih Of tho factory DO cut up and
used 10 carry it through, in addition to
what Stryker arranged p
The House adopted two resolutions: J.,
that q. j. Mutteson, member from
New York, did incite persons interested
in the passage OF the Des Moines grant
to use money for the corrupt purpose Of
procuring its passage; ., that said Mat
teson, in declaring that large number
Of members had associated Themselves not
TO vote for any bill granting
land or money unless paid
Tor 1t, had DETAINED the character Of the
House. These were passed-yeas, li5i
nays, II. The third resolution, expclling
him, was anticipated by his resignation.
Edwards, who had made tho proposition
TO Payne, in like manner escaped expu!-
sion by resgnng. Gilbert WIS accused Of
two thipgs: Tlrst, ali agreement to pro.
cure the passage OF an order to purchase
copies Of q certain book, he TO receive a
portion Of tho proceeds, and tho second
charge was as follows: "Reso!ved, That
William a. Gllbcr, did cast his vote on
the Iowa land bill, pending heretofore
before this congress, for corrupt con-
sidcrntion, consisting Of seven square miles
of land, ard some stock given or
to be given These resolutions were
adopted, and, before the vote could be
taken on his expulsion, Gilbert resigned
| The evidence against Welch wa. too weak
to ju tfy any proceedings against him.
Now comes the Credit Mobllier frauds.
! Here is u case where II corporation seizes
millions of acre, Of public land and $685.
| 900, 600 in cash. The chief actor in the
robbery is d member OF the house, who, in
| his letters to his confederates, declares he
has distributed q portion Of this plumber
among senators and representatives
named by him. He doe, no,
distribute this for any special
act, but for tho general support of O
continuous fraud, and to suppress inves
tigation. i. appears that he gave stock
without airy consideration to Patterson
Colfax, Bingham, Garfield, Kelley, SEQ
feld, Wilson Of Iowa, and Dawes tina
MS also gave it to Others, who refused t.
take it; that another agent OF his com
pany gave 10000 cash to the secretary o
tho interior; that another member Of
congress was made chief engineer at
large salary,-he continuing member o
the house /; that no gave largely to Brooks
also u member and government director
and yet this man, who avows upon oati
that he did ali this, and produces thu
vouchers for his disbursements of stool
and money, confidently asserts that thu
house dare not expel him, and the Nom
bers who have received his corruption
money Justify and defend the act, or seel
to impesch their own written receipts b.
solemn denials. The impression is grow
ing strong in the country that Oake
Ames has not yet told one.half of tn
story, and that his confidence in the re
fusal Of the house TO e1pel him rests upo'
the yet unpublished record he holds, ant
which, if driven TO bay, he threatens t
| rnaka puhlip