The New York herald., 1876-03-11
CORRUPTION DISCUSSED BY THE
ASSEMBLY


AN EXHIBITION OF PARTISAN wRATH-A nEPUB-
LIcAN RESOLUTION ADOPTED LAUDIYG THE
IMPEACHMENT, BUT coNDEMNING THE BLUM
DER OF CLYMERs COMMITTEE.
ALBANY, March 10, 1876
Consideration OF the resolution offered by Mr.
Wenzel day before yesterday relative the Belknap
scandal taken advantage to-day by the democrats
and republicans Tor the purpose of making little party
capital. The exhibition the House made Of itself
not a very commendable one, to say tho least, for
most OF the members who took part in the
discussion the resolution appeared TO regard
the subject cmnenty amusing one. No doubt
Mr. Forster offered good faith his substitute which
referred in grandoquent terms to the unsulicd char
acter OF the late Secretary Of War previous TO the
posure of his Fort Sill business but here and there
smacked very like attempt damn with faint
praise the secretary's evil dongs in such way TO
weaken the force OF the original resolution.
SUCCESSFUL SUBSTITUTE
The full text of the substitute is as folows:-
Whereas the bribery and corruption disclosed by the
investigation in Congress have startled the people
BY the exposure Of the Of one whose pre-
had the admiration OF his counrymen and placed him
unanimy with which the members Of cpnrress Of both 9th
parties have taken steps to call the unvorthy official 70
voice, demand the speedy trial and punishment Of
the words, Let no guilty escape !" therefore,
n bs s psoPe mana ,e Sa Sae W ep
brought speedy trial of the crime charged against him.
inefficient inquiries by committees shall lead to loss Of
may escape or avoid the punishment Of their guilt demand
ing that in omalfeasance In office the vgor
shall manifested characterized the
resulted the conviction and sentence OF the whskcy
m ID & G Of S hn the oS soS an
integrity of our government be maintained.
wenze advocated his resolution set speech care
fully written for the OCCASION and Forster supported
toIe hut uipo
how anxious good men of both parties ought to DO to
root out corruption in office wherever found Sirahan
gave partisan turn to the whole debate, by the
manner of his offering it than by the amendment
to the substitute which he did offer, pro-
vding that after the words 'Let guilty
man escape" should be added, "or important
or necessary witness" This meant, OF
course a slap at Clymer's committee, and such
was resented rather speiully by the democrats
Faon especially lost bis balance in referring to It, and
challenged the republicans for proof OF the neglect OF
the Congressional Committee to do its whole duty in
the inquiry into Belknaps vlany. Mr.. Sherman, tho
ablest man in the minority, the only member who
kept perfectly dignied during the dscusslon
and appeared to regard the subject under debate
as serious by far to be used as
PARTY FOOTBALL
He asked for postponement in the consideration of
the resolution, as he thought many OF the members
desired time to study in all It's aspects before voting
upon it, This bid for delay nettled Mr.. Fish, who
Piled rather testify that he did not think would be
lust the thing TO give members who anxious in
dulge stump speeches few days and nights to get
up elaborate discourses. lie said It was right and
proper that the crimo OF General Belknap should
be stamped with rcprobation, and the sense
Of the House could be ascertaincd then and
there as we'll as week thereafter The excitement al
this time among the members had reached height
that proved too much for the susceptible West Of
Saratoga He could not bear To hear the word corrup-
tion banded about so freely on all sides, and so he
took the floor. West evidently mad as a March
hare, and he went Tor everybodys scalp who had made
himself any wise prominent by advocating tho
resolution. 1T don't do for 20 on this way,'
he exclaimed, throwing back his shoulders aud stuifng
his hands his brooches pockets with the OF man
that was about to make revelation. ''If werc so
mighty honest let go ahead and tell Congress what
do, but say that people who live in glass palaces
shouldn't heave stones at their neighbors. Let's
If we heave the stones" These remarks brought
down the House. and for about FIVE West kept
hammering awayat
THE GLASS PALACES,
aud challenging people who were so mighty honest TO
'heave" stones Wciant, democrat who talk
more and say less than any other member then took
hold OF the resolution, and began by saying he
afraid to compare notes. with the gentleman from
Saratoga. West apparently took this a personal
auson TO his career legislator "A
business man. and he holly replied that no
wouldn't allow any man TO 'comparo notes.
with him, creating quite laugh at Weant's expense.
Weant then TO talk about how tho people were
setting their faces against corruption in oicc, ana
closed by declaring that he would vote for the resou
tion amended Finally, on motion OF Mr. Sherman,
it decided that vote should DO first taken the
preamble aud then the resolution. The democrats,
a rule, voted against the preamble While the vote
being taken on Forster's substitute several OF
them gave various reasons for not voting for IT, while
they we're in Of the original resolution Lyon
declared that he wanted all
THE vILLANrEs WASHINGTON OFFICIALS
summed up IN the resolution, particularly the s'pusil-
luminous conduct Of our country toward spain" This
remark made Young Fish vince a little hui no made no
reply. When Vests name called, on pretext OF
giving his why be desired to be excused from
voting he began 10 talk about the resolution generally
Mr. Payne 20 point OF order that Mr. West
asking 10 be excused from voting. II deny the
gentleman's assertion, excycdly exclaimed West, who
ruled Of order but who refused vote unless
compelled to b. the House. The House, by an uproar-
ious may and amid much laughter refused TO
excuse him, and West finished his fight OF tho day by
voting the affirmative the amendment Tho resolu-
ton voted on separately was adopted without dissent
ing voice.