Vrabfw 4.lpoqtt,
Towanda, Wednesday, Feli'y 24180.
Tax 130.1111.11 T Csax.--We this week sir an ale ,
count of the recent attempt to bribe CoO'icaiet.
tenimonp exposed a most flagrant attempt at corruption.
•Adrrerred-PY _
The committee of inieltigation 'matts report and
1/11:1. WiCOOk wan banded' over to thescitril authorities
and Italie; hid io the sum of $2OOO.
Derinate.--We are again obliged to postpone Edi
torial Correspondence. &c. Neit neck se shall endea
vor to bring up the rear.
cadge Woodward and the Supreme
Bench.
kis refreshing to notice the free utterance, and hold
assertion of troth. evinced by the Harrisburg Reporter,
spinally when contrasted with the miserable subservi
ency of Whets, who assume to be the oracles of the`par.
ty, but . who nevertheless have given their „ bond;" and
omit pay tribute, or "their occupation in gone.*
The Harrisburg Reporter of the 121 inst, contains a
letter from its Washington correspondent, In which,
.among other things, are some remarks on the alleged
eases of Judge lArd,odward's rejection, and the part ta
ken in ! r. matte.iby the Supreme Bench. We like the
frankness of the writer; but not more than his 'aeuti
-02441:1* the ludget, one or more of them did Volun
teer in. the crusade against Judge Woodward, appears
beyond doubt. We anxiously wait to have the injuoc.
tion of secrecy taken off; until theo r ise can only speak
from the next best source of information. • We have had
nodonbt, but the primary cause of opposition to Judge
Woodanud 'froin the Supreme Bench, was the settled,
. unyielding:and unmitigated hoitility of some of the
it:Ogee, especially ene of them, to every member of the
Reform COneentiOn, who advocated the masons to re
duce the Judicial "tenure to a term of years, instead of
dciritig good behavior," as it their was. One of the
Judges, onnts no oppertunity, in season, or' out of sea
son, to deiniuttea those who participated in this reform.
Another of them is net 114 s envious than is the other
vindictive.. What chance had Judge Woodward with
thaw of such passions He was the bold and perseve
ring !eider intlp tytorni of the Judiciary . He was in the'
Convention, a gelegate from northern Pennsylvania;
where but one sentiment prevailed, with all parties, on
this:subject; What but this reform induced the north
to give a large majority in , kvor of a new eonatitution.
Most ably, eloquently. and , successfully: did Mr.
Woodward stand as the champion' f this reform. The
whole north had spoken with one voice; it was that the
Judicial tenure should no longer bo fot life. It %Wu for.
Mosta' for the north that . Mr. Woodward was in that
Convention: His eloquent, convincing and unswerkble
arguments in favor, of abrogating the life tenure. They
will ever remain an imperishable monument Of his fame.
To avoid the consequence, of this ref,' rtn, Chief Jus
tice Gibbons resigned, while he had the opportunity of
being again re-appointed. .This boon he. received from
the hands of Gle.,...R . hner. Thus a position was given
him, where he might if so disposed. overthrow the man
who leed so faithfully sad Zealously contributed to a re
form, called for with acclamation from the north. The
name 'of Geo. W. Woodward is remembered by soma on
that bench, only as the man who strove to limit the ten
ure of their office. It is said that a statement found its
. way into the United- States Senate, alleging that eight
eases out nine ofJudge Woodward's which came to the
Supreme Court were reversed. Whether this statement
was furnished by one of the Judges, we are not inform.
ed, although it is said to hive beeibandied about by one
of them, It was said the reports would show this unfa
vorable commentary on the character of Mr. Woodward
as a jurist Oa examination it was found that with but
few exceptions, those cases only that were reversed were
in the reports; while nearly -all of those which were af
firmed and withheld; many of them containing decisions
of great importance. Is it not very strange to say the
bed of it. We say,. and we hold ourselves responsible
to prove it, that instead of eight cases out of nine, of his,
being reversed, that an average of seven cases out of eight
I:meets= 'affirmed : and more, that no Judge innorthem
Pennsylvania has been more fortunate in this respect
than Judge Woodward. Shall we sit tamely and see
hiSsecrificed and butchered by such fabricated and vile
tenons abuse. Shall an honest men be thus hewn down
again and sgain,es if such an man had no friendst—
We wait the future. Some of the Supreme Bench were
rimmed by motives different from that of others. En
vy and jealousy done their share of the work. Judge
Woodiard was thought too young to be lifted over their
hesdri; that one of their number ought to be selected.—
Thisfeeling commenced shortly after he went into his
Indiciardistrict; especially Was it expressed by his pre
denermor„ who is now on the Supreme Bench. We
opine that he may live to see the difference in the desti
nfuof who forget the- necessity of a pureheart
and clean hands. Hereafter we may say more on this
subject. Wo commenced this article with the design of
extracting from the letter alluded to, not intending to
protract our remarks to this length.
[From The Reporter at Journal.)
The Philadelphia • correspondent- of the , Harrisburg
• Union" under date of 27th January, among other re.
!Mirka relative to the rejection of the nomination of Mr.
Woodward, says :
,"Illes° the ground of his 'ejection was an alleged
Irv's nee between hisviews of the length of the Judicial
tenure,' anti those entertained by the generality of the
Members of the rofeesion of the law.. The Senate is ge
nerally composed of lawyers, who could not mooed& the
THEORY •of ONE who would ADVOCATE - a prop
osition to REDUCE The..tottcia/ tenure to a ?sax or
rians ve!th HIS conduct in MAKING anEARIN AP
PLICATION FOR AN APPOINTMENT FOR
LIFE ON THE SUPREME BENCH."
This correspondent whether a bohaide.Philedelpttial?
sir brie of the host of that dis.urlion sheet, has wilfully
given currency to a falshoodt He knew well that - Judge
Woodward taxer asked the nomination—but Th at he
did recommend the app ointment of Judge Jones:, He
was sincerely the friend of that getilletharf and isineapa.
hie of the treachery and trickery by which certain other
/Pep have attained power, and peace. fedeedd the rind'
pal opposition to Judge Woodward has Come from men
whose
- ... "Base envy writhes at anethen§i^Yi • • ' •
Aed hates that excellence it cannot ieach. i .
They envy his talents—and fear his integrity, and Would
fain eon* his name with some at skin to the rib:taw&
4iiii 'knee matured to them an Immortality of infamy&
'l o the'r Natant &mantic sheet hai boasted that certain
?V•Mit " upiestu; Indies in Pennsylvania protested
111
es\
L. : _tae coattnation of it Weevlwart:.! N o democrat
.. t thbi, The base crackling of of of those
mat -'' : 11 1Xx. an extension of his offsiicHt ft , -,s,.nd the
ff e kf t e l 4hitkuthor exhibits upon all occasion..* 7 shoies
theit esiseionerie.:t or soy thing rhea* eeits open the
Sopnentelkench. : 2 e . redeem! of their denenxistigm.ii
shit the alemration'tif tll.yetza r :re,. war . the Wolir 0
24c. Vtridwani. • His d enmniticprinciplea indoeed hid
1 h ' - 1 / 2 ...h• , •
I &your A p lan -7 which 74*. •jciagaintight 611, 14 t
- insofintable, and far thit att;4fMthe dwisige of a doty :
IctWeite.the 01 , k3 , -,aitti f. otie ihtiat e tibia tho pe , *
2.,
hi lita-incnned tberwrattiof idtticifi!Medudggs:
The e orn.spondset of thy Cuiun stem/ to think •that ' ibe
lawyers inifientte regarded.the coulee offilr. Wtiederard
th titVisrtre, Mr."Wh.
ward 4 r4eipug4l to havettlnei,ipthati'lthysek4lsie
6 th e4ditiaryAhly siprthrtUtg th kar*cralkate*tee
emellured aitenclkudges &e.;.b3rTthe 411,Cousitithtieta.÷.'
Oat it Ifhe issurirand.l,for: one, sin glad that they have.
Plumlered upon 111 e true slate orAlie cask;ion4l wish the : :
people to know th¢t their ad;eeite and Tinted - in tfie -
Convention, has called down upon him the opposition of
hrwyets knti - Jtiges, for the sok remit that like an homed.
democrat he epOused the Cause ; and interests ofthe peo
ple. It is also alleged that many of the decisions of
Judge Woo4ward: have been reversed by your Supreme
Court. If so, it is but rational that his enemies should
embrace even that made of, "reeeece; :for their pare( iinti
lon, in a life Igo besides this, a reversal of an opin
ion'of itltidge of the Common Pleas,hy
es, who frequently reverse their own opinions. it seems
to Me, 'bedtimes do an injury to any Judge.' Another
objection to his confirmation vas raised by reference to.
his views upon the subject of diallers. He was charg
ed with supporting that the charter rented . to the Mink
of the United States was not a bona fiJe'contract. end
that the legtSlattire had full 'power to abrogate it. This
was sufficient to eowlem him with Webster and other
whige—and officers and stockholders in banking institw.
!ion's. This should he understood among the people--;,
four-fifths of whom heldthe same.opirtion. The *Wile
.
matter may he dwposed'of very briefly. Judge Wcod- ,
ward.has been defeated simply because be entertained
awl advocated true Sefferioniao principles--and support
ed the cause of the people in opposition to the interests
of a few
o aristocmts, who would (sin hold' uirlig4tedprr!e•
era for en' unlimited period, and be wholly irresponsible
to the people fur their official conduct.
[Currealiondence of lila Bradford Reporter.)
• lierutusucreo. February 12. 1840.
Messlts GOODRICIIS :—Your paper contain
ing the proceedings of the democratic meeting
of our county. held tut the 3d instant, was re
ceived by rue at this place; the doctrines set
forth in the resolutions are soiled to the core;
and bear evidence to the fact that the right spi
rit is abroad among the people on the subjects .
of bout State and :National policy, most vitally
affecting their interest. But while it is bteorn,
tog that the people should investigate and pro
claim their convictions, it is also proper, that
We should ennsiderate and forbearing towards .
those who do not view these subjects in the
same light with ourselves. I have been led to
this reflection not only from the resolution of
the meeting in relation to the Resolutions re
specting the Tariff," which passed the Senate
unanimously. but from having learned from
privat4sources of information, that there. was
. a disposition with some of our people, to, cast
censure upon Mr. Suratwoori, our Sensor,
(and Speaker of the Senate) for his vote.
Although I think the vote was wrong, we
should reflect that the Tariff has been proclaim
ed as a democratic measure, throughout a large
portion of the Commonwealth ; is one upon
the effect of which democrats honestly differ;
and that resolutions of a similar character have
repeatedly passed both branches of the legisla
ture with entire . unanimity ; eien so lately as
the last seslim), resolutions similar to those
which recently'passed the Senate. were passed
without a diseenting vote; our own represen
tatives voting for them, no public disapproba
tion of which was ever expressed ; on the con
tary, if l mistake not, resolutions approving in
general terms of both our Senator and Repre
sentatives, have passed some of our democratic
meetings since that time.. I am sure Mr. Sher:.
wood desires to act, in accordance wi th the
wishes of his constituents, when he understands
definitely what those wishes are; and I am
certain he does not approve of the tariff of '42.
in detail, but when placed in a position which
compelled him to vote for it, Or be denounced
as a free tradesman" (which all are who ven
ture to favor its modification or repeal) lie did
not feel under the then existing circumstances
, at liberty to assume the latter attitude. Mr.
Sherwood is no able man, makes an efficient
and dignified speaker, and does honor' to his
district ; the democrats of Bradford may well
feel satisfied that a sensible impression has
beeA-anade in this 'subject. in favor of equal
taghts, and that their immediate Representa
tives have stood up to the vote, regardless of
denunciations of monopolists.
A DEMOCRATIC CITIZEN OF •BR&DVORD
Meeting of the Conferees.
At a meeting of the conferees from Biadferd
and Tioga counties, convened at WeSahara',
on the 17th day of February, 1848. for the
purpose of agreeingupon a Senatorial Delegate
to the next Fourth of March convention, for the
nomination of Canal Commissioner: Messrs.
J. F. Means and William E. Barton were pre
sent from Bradford county : and Messrs. A.C.
Bush and J. Lowrey fro n Tina.
On motion, WILLIAM E. - BARTON was
appointed chairman. anal: Liman: Secretary
of said meeting—when the following resolu
tions were passed :
Resolved, That Major Thomas B. PVERTON:
of Bradford county, he the Senatorial Delegate
for this district in said convention—with in
structions tri support WM. B..FOST6R, JR:
Resolied, That said Delegate be empower
ed to substitute in case of his inability to attend
said convention.
INTIVIVINO AN ACCIDENT. -A story is told
of Mr. Von Buren, that while on a tour through
the West in It'4o he was overeat in s stage
• coaeh. and as lie stood up to his knees in mud
and asked the driver how •the accident happen.
ed, was told by that personage that he had al.
ready upset eleven members of Congress. and
by so'doing had secured the votes of every one
of them for appropriations to the National Road
as he never before had .6 President for a pas.
senger. he thought he would improve the op,
portunity by deihg tie •duty . .to the-. West.. in
endeavoring to prevent a Veto, in cue another
appropfiatitin should pass.
•
REPORT OF THE STATE
tion was made in the Mouse, on Monday. last,
to print two thousand extra copies for the , use
of the members, of the very, abli , report of, the
State Libraries. After mach diseuesioni the.-Mo
tion was so amended as to read the.usual number,
which .wes carried by a cote,of two to one.—
This report, we believe. is the first which has
been made since the establishment of the State
'Library, It , eantains•soine excellent sugges
tions, which; itcatried out by the Library com
mittee, willsadd greatly to the value of the In
stitution. • . . •
,
,Tuel Lier s.roast Or !s•ow' AND WIND ap
*F4Jars to have been iif unusual severity, as
, far as it extended, 'Beaton papers of Monday
speak of it as One Of.the" worst
..experienced in
Lila city. ~kluge.seriw7 t lrifie, in some Cases five
reef ilcep or more, lined, the streets and side
walks? and hioekell tip the and
The sofferirsgs'ol seamen en. the coaakagist have
beer dreadfOlo and apprithended.that ; rawly
disasters ,hae eet:afte4 o>s Iluttaait.:
Proceedings of the Penn's. Legisiattte,
p • sumerthe Bradford Reporter.
; ! Hillermitm o, February* 184 t
,4 ;
iGkNitsmeNt:=ll ' his has bee n 4
itt wen of
great eacitement at this place arising from an'
.attemptireatiefiy an agent of the Lehigt!
tv Bank to bribe a member of the Houseof
Representatives from your county. The subject
"Was brought before the [louse, on Tuesday , last.
As I was not present. and as the matter will
no doubt excite much' interest among the , im
mediate constituents of Col. Piellet.l have taken
the liberty of copying from the reports of one
of ; thebeei .reporters in, the Here the,follow
ing account prticeedings:— ' •
Mr. PIOLLSTSOSO and, said Speaker.
I desire to make a statement personal to my
self. Whilstid'the' regukr diieharge of my
duty lis t a member of the Committee, on Banks.
upon which. sir, you appointed ; ine;. and' to
which had beeri referred the matters connected
with the investigation into the affair's of the'
Lehigh. County Bank. I received a number of
letters from different quarters of .
the Union,
relative to it. I have been waited upon in my
room by a gentleman professing to he interested.
and whose name I have no reason to withhold--
ant. M'Cook. to whom I was eSeually intro
duced as a gentleman from Ohio. He there
.mated the object , of his visit. He addedohat
my action on the Committee on Banks would
be of great importance to him, and he wished
to know if .I could not ingest some person to
hint with whom the matter could be accommo
dated. , I said I would see him again and le(
him know I then consulted with several of
my friends to whom-I entrusted the matter ' Dna
whose _ads ice I have acted upon thronghout.
They advised, me to wait awhile to let the
thing,develope itself, in order to eee,Whether it
was the intention to attain the object by corrupt
means. Other, interviews took place, and this
morning he made a direct prisposition,to pay
me some money, upon the statement that three
members of the committee hitd already agreed
to report in favor of the Lehigh County Bank,
and he wanted a fourth to make a majority.—
I received four hundred dollars. He counted
four hundred dollars and laid it in a drawer in
my bureau. The sum he proposed to give
was five hundred dollars, four hundred dollars
of which were to be given in , hand, and the rest
when the object was accomplished. When
M'Cook left the room. I called Mr. Buehler,
and he counted die money and sealed it in this
package (holding up the package.) I noviraek
to lay the package on the Speaker's table, to be
left at the dispositiOn of the Route.
Mr. Burrell stated that he presumed the gen.
tieman from Bradford, in speaking of friends
under whose counsel he had acted in this affair
had in part referred to him. He would only
now say that he had advised that gentleman
when informed by-him that he believed he was
about to be approached corruptly in reference
to the Lehigh County Bank, to maintain his
equanimity, and to allow the affair to take its
course, in order that a full and satisfactory ex
posure could bear cheerful testimony to the
entire integrity with which the gentleman from
Bradford had acted—that he believed his mn.
Lives were good. and that his conduct through
out was worthy of commendation and respect.
Mr. B. then offered the following preamble
and resolutions which were adopted :
WHEREAS, Co!. V. E. Piollet, a member of
this s House, has stated in his place that a Mr.
Daniel McCook has attempted corruptly to in
fluence him in giving his vote as a member of
the Committee on Banks, against the propos
ed repeal of the 'charter of the Lehigh Coun
ty Bank, and that the said Daniel McCook
offered and gave him the sum of 19400 tor the
purpose of corruptly influencing him as afore
said, which money the said V. E. Piollet took,
as he has stated, by the advice of friends whom
he consulted, as an effectual means of proving
conclusively the said attempt, and which mon
ey he has laid upon the Speaker's table to be
disposed of by the House.
AND WIIEREAC so gross an outrage upon
the dignity of the House. and the honor and
integrity of its members, should he promptly
inqutred into and punished. Therefore be it
Resolved. That the Speaker of this House
be and lie is hereby authorized and required to
issue his warrant to the Sergeant-at-Arms for
the arrest of the said Daniel McCook. and that
a committe of five be appointed to investigate
this affair, with power to send for persons and
papers.
The Speaker then appointed Messrs. Knox.
Galloway, Trego, G win and Nicholson, a
committee to investigate this subject.
The committee of inveatigation have closed
their labors and it is prestimed will make a re
port to-morrow. The statement made by Col.
Piuliet to the [loose was fully corroborat-d by
the testimony of Judge Laporte, Mr. Burrell
(member of the House from W estmnreland) and
(others. The testimony is interesting and vol.
(milieus. As it would tint be properly under
stood Iron] an abstract, I must refer you in
reports which you will find in the" Union" of
to-morrow
Is THE HousE—The bill granting the right
of way through Pike county, to New York and
Erie Rail Road was taken up on Wednesday
last. The bill was supported be Col. Piollet
and others. In the course of the debate. Mr.
Kunkel, of Dauphin:referred to the pledge .
given by the friends of the bill that the Legit
mm of the ,State of New YOrk would past ft
law 'allowing a connection between the North
Branch Canal and the Canals of New York.
Mr. Knot stated that a bill of that character was
now before - the Legislature of New York; and
that no doubt could be entertained of its pas
*age. A motion to postpone the bill until the
action of New York could be aseertained was
rejected. the bill was 'then read a third time and
passed by the following vote . •,
Yeas—Messrs, Barber. Barthol . Bump
ler, Beim: Bigham; Bonghn • rough: Brack.
enridge, Bums, lunpbell4 Chesnot,
Clark:' Cochran, Cross. ttMaldson. Eldred.
Edie, Faiseh; Forsyth, r alloway.Gray:Glwm.
Haymaker, Hilatide; ill, (Fayette.) Ivea, is.
cobs: Johnson. Knox. Latiley;'• Mean.. Merri
field, Magellan; Mitchell: Morison. Murphy.
M'Abee, M'Clellind, M'f.lruni.WCurdy.
Curley. M'Farlinid,'Nichnlson. Patterson, Pl
ol!et,"Power: Puntroy,:(Prinklin:) Pomeroy,
(Mercer.) Price, Robinson..Samnelsi Shuman,
Starr. Stewart, (Franklin.) Steuart. (Lycom
ing) Thomas. (Chester.) Thomas; (Smut.) Van
Hem Wadsworth, Webb', Wilson, Worrell, '
Patter4On,Speaker.-64:'
NAYS—Nlessra. Armstrong. Bachman. Bird,
Doyer., Connor, Daly. Dolts, Enue, Haley,
Hallowell, Hill, (Monarirery,)
than, James. Keller. Kline, Kunkel,Larkin,-
J:evan. Mitthias. Chien, Snyder. Steel; sweet:
Taggart; Tice; Trego; Woman-40."
„ A hilt. Wag reported to erect, ane,r 2 ainidiy
out Ofltarta ,Of We4t m?rP/and r ' • Alle gan ' and
Bider to he, called Pryro; b. .4"ftfic%
. „
the county of Columbus out of p a rt s of Lahr:l:di .
ter Lebanon and Dauphin.
rltraltrusui'N)nUltfttogiratpWflipeal i gi s e
,act Atib*Mint. Ottotuirpf2Avetiop Com ;
7 ionVre. .1
_Ft
. 11 7 .` ; •
P i iitlletesetkt
'off rpie,'lfor nett ite tifecti4 diimet;
.le.Erl,Mld Velati ir ve to cliff' 14.coropeo4ation?:
and one of citizens of Standing Stone relative
to a road removed by the Pennsylvania Canal.
And by -Mr. -Webb of citizens of Bradford•tel-,
alive to certain- taxes.
:The bill relative to• outstanding domestic
creditors' certificates passed final reading.
The bill to incorporate the North Branch
ROI Road Company, passed' through ti,certo
Mittie of the whole, and its further cOnsidera=
Lion postponed lot the, present,-
The committee on z .the Judiciary reported
against the resolution ofinqiiiry is to the
priety of so amending the_ Constitution iiiae
t? restore the good behaviin tenure of Judges'.
The general Approprintion. Bill passed
through Committee of. the 'Whole, and, wee
Made the order of the day for to.day.' _
• Mr. Piollet reported a su'ppiement to the oct'
iimorpiliating the Athens and Ithaca Rail Road
ComPaly,
A resolution was adopted directing the Coin=
mittee on the Judiciary to enquire into the ix.
peilieney of reporting a bill to confirm the acts
of justices of. the peace before the receipts 'of
their commissions in April last.
IN ray Serws—The principal bUsiness of
the week has been the consideration of the bill
to grant the right of way through pennsylva.
nia to Pittsburg to the Baltimore and Ohio
rail road CoMpany. Numerous amendmenis to
the bill were offered to the hill. & repeted.tvlien
the question was taken on the first section and
determined in the negative by the following
vote,
Yens—Mesors. Black, Carson. Harrah Dar
sie. nlap. Gibbons: l oolas, Hill, EIOOVor,
Morrison. Ross, Sanderson, Sullivan. Wil.
lismtion and Sherwood. Speaker-15.
Nays—Messrs. Anderson, Benner. Bigler,
Chapman, Common, Crabb. Creacraft, Dim
mick. Ebaugh, Fegely Foulkrod, Heckman,
Jordon, Quaye-Rahn and Smith-16- .
The bill witir consequently rejected, To
day on motion of Mr. Quay and Mr. Dittimick
tho vote was reconsidered, yeas 19, nays 10,
and the further consideration of the bill was
postponed until to-morrow. Its tool fate is
considered very doubtful.
The bill to incorporate the York and Har
risburg Rail Road Company passed, through
Committee of the Whole. •
Mr. Sullivan. from the Committee, on the
Judiciary, reported a bill providing for the
election of Prosecuting Attorneys. .
A bill was introduced to authorise the Canal
Commissioners to purchase and place passen
ger cars on the Columbia Rail Road.
Mr. Sherwood(Speaker) presented a petition
relative to the Bingham estate in Bradford
County.
The bill to form the county of Blair out of
Huntingdon and Bedford was taken up and
passed.
The bill to incorporate a company to con
struct a rail road from Harrisburg to Pittsburg
is now under consideration on second reading.
Yours A. B.
Testimony in the Bribery Case.
Monday; February 16, 1846.
The Committee of instigation met and or
ganized in the East Committee toom of the Cap-
itol. Present. Messrs. KNOX. GALLO
WAY, GW I N. TREGO. and NICIIOLSON
On motion of Mr. TREO9, the Committee
adjourned to !he Supreme Court room, where it
was again organized.
Mr. Speaker PA'fTERSON was called up
on. and presepted a package of money. sealed.
HENRY cBUEHLER. sworn—Saw the
package this morning in Mr. Piollet's room.
Mr. M'COOK then rose and inquired'if the
committee were then going to investigate his
ease, and was answered in the affirmative. Mr.
M'C. then asked if the investigation was to be
ex porte. Mr. KNOX replied that the commit
tee were anxious that justice should be done to
all parties. Mr. M'C. then asked that the com
mittee would desist for a short time until' his
counsel arrived, which was granted. Mr. M'C.
also proposed to give an affidavit of the whole
transaction, but receiving no intimation from
committee. did not present it. Mr. M'COR
MICK appearing as counsel for the secosed, the'
proceedings were renewed.
Mr. BUEHLER. reanmed—was sent for
about 9, A. M. ; Col. Piollet wanted to see him
in his room ; went there and found him labor-
ing under-great excitement ; he opened a draw- '
er in his bureau, in which lay a large pile of
notes, and asked, me to ennui that money ; I
proceeded to count it at.his request, and while
counting it, he said he had been insulted by an
offer of it for the purpose of influencing his ac
tion as a member of the Committee on Banks ;
counted the,money and made it $ 400 ; he desir
ed me to seal it up, anill did so, and endorsed
it ; this is the package as sealed by me ; the seal .
has not been broken ; there are two - quarter ea
gles in gold—the rest is in batik notes 'mon yeti
ous banks - ;.have not a distinct recollection of till
the notes—believe it was mostly of Plainfield
money ; this occurred about 20 minutes past 9,
A. M. ; Mr. Piollet stated that his friends,
Messrs: Laporte end Burrell.. had gone M the
'Rouse, and he wanted to have them see it ; he
was very much excited, and at-times regretted
that he had not avenged himself for the
but he had acted by the advice of his friends.
VICTOR E:PIOLLE P, sworn.—ls a mem
ber of the Committee on - Banks of the House of
Representatives. The committee consists of
seven members.. As our first or second meeting
Dr. 'Samuels presented for the action of the Coin
mittee a Memorial and twerp, cUntainiiii'elierget
against the Lehigh 'Count} , ';Bank 'Atte'harges
were ta k eit tip anti acted upon, mid' ?aliases tO
thentimb'eiotlOnirillre•atibpoeimed,lhipeintie
aion, ,
of tlie . Honee, and it was ' made ' the special
eider (di '
I was casually intrcidueed to Mr. M'Cook on
Thursday or Friday last; in Mr. Buehler'S bar
room on Saturilai'. is I left the bar-tocn to go
to My room, Mr. McCook' followed me, saying
th‘t he wished to speak with me ,• I.openeel the
doniand told' hint to walk id f Mr. 3133 . 4 04
that there Was an inyeetigation , going tin , befere
the committee on Banks, •of certain charges
against thee Lehigh Bank, and that it was upon
that subjeet Altai he wished to speOli to me.
He exhibited' me a paper which th.re
.was a written' statement of the numberof New
York Suns published by Moses" Y Beat 4 and
of two . .other papers published by said Be s aeli.:=
The number Weettlj , circutitiolt; Was alum
equal,to ?quo?. That Mr. Beach hid engadid
tallie Teets atidexition titrair-thit he Was one I
of our sunneest"political filendd. He'StSted
farther that Mr. It had - been' offered two Sep
tale appointriteitiesiii Conant. tit the'Vresideftt.
hilt hiefdeeliiiisef %Mi . on Seel:tem of Ma itteti
•
-
sivibiiiiiiiiiietigigeinents. "Ikstated that - Mr.
B. was interested in two Banks iis Ohio, I think
In to t ow: K,G r ebteighborhoixl ;:ill e-
Crignly Atimlcrillown. the Plainfield „an -
re 4., an . it k R New Hampshire. .-Mh
1 1
he PC" It t .) - WaCtflso interested with-r g 4
inittese aulti. ! That a very genera intereit
hid:beeittuanifestetrby several political Mende,.
in the ull;eitigattaiVOY the Lehigh Cittintittentt -
He mentioned that Mr. -B. had once assisted
Ohio in.PaYillgher-intrest, 21 4 had.idwaya bee n
his intimate and confidential Mend: l'inetiiion
ed to Mr. M'C. that the charges agaiust the
Lehigh County Bank were of grave and
serious nature; - - That besides the petitions there
were statements from Jacob Dillinger And others
of the-Aieve-' men' , in Lehigh county. That the
josestigatiotkerrn4 be,alakone, end. that ifthe .
friends UT the Bankcould - meat the Charges. thare
Was no cliapOiDion to prejudge the : ,case en the
part of any member of the committee, so far as
I knew. .Mestated that. Dr. Samuels was preju
diced against the Bank, and that the opposition
of Mr Dillniger "and Others was not of a -kind
that ought to be considered. I told him that the
prejudice of Dr. S. would not influence others
of the committee ; that they would do- it no in
justice; nor would they , improperly expose any.:
of the books andpapers of the Bank. , I endeav
ored in 'what I said on this interview to convince
Mi.' WC. that. there was a perfectly fair dispo
sition-towards the Bank. He said that it was
not the policy ofour party to war with the Banks;
that ithad injured our party in Ohio, and our
friend in Washington were- afraid it wouldin
jure nit in Pennsylvania. I told him that so far
as I knew the sentimente.ef the committee on
Banks, there was no disposition to wage a'itar
on Banks. He referred to the Lehigh County
Bank-again, and I assured him the Bank had
nothing to fear if the charges were groundless.
Conversational a general nature ensued, and Mr.
P.PC: took his leave. . ~ .
In the course of this day (Saturday) I men 7
tioned to Mr. Burrell that there was considera—
ble interest excited on the subject of this investi
gation; That some of these things were tit me
inexplicable.; Mr. B. said there Were things that
had come under his notice that convinced, him
that corrupt means would , be used. (A con
versation is here related, in which Mr. Burre'
advised that if any thing of a corrupt naiure
should he offered, it would he best . to Jet it 'go
on and develope itself.) On Saturday. morn
ing I was sitting by the fire in my own room.
smoking.a cigar; Mr. M'Cook came into the
room. drew, a chair, and took a seat by me ;
the first word he said was, I have written for
your father to come here; the remark struck
me by surprise. and I told him he had done
very
,wropg ; that my father was a gentleman
of 72 years, was veil feeble, and could not
make thisjourney at this season of the year;
and inquired, what ilo , you, want of my fattier ?
He said be wished him here to help him in
this Lehigh. Bank business ; I told him my fa
ther was unacquainted with legislation. and
could be of, no use to him; he replied, I have
written to him, and have offered him three
hundred dollars to come down here and assist
me in the investigation going on before your
Committee; I said it was all nonsense for him
to . write to my father, that he did not know
him. and would think it very singular. He
then inquired if I,knew anyone else whom he
could employ. I told him that I did not ; that
I did not think it was necessary for hint to go
to any expense of the kind. that, as I had be-
fore stated, the committee would treat the
whole matter candidly and fairly, and that I
did not believe any - crae could influence the ac
tion of the committee. Restated that he want-
ed the report of the committee in favor of the
Bank. That three of the committee had agreed
to report in favor of the Bank. and that he
would deposit $5OO with me. or with any per
son I could name, if I would vote for a report
in favor of the bank. in the committee. I was
very strongly excited ; it had not appeared to
me before that I was to be ipproacbed in that
direct manner. I said very little, for it was
difficult to conceal my emotion. I said to Mr.
SI'C. further; that I would think of it. He
urged me..too, to name a friend with whom
he could confer. I replied that I would think
of it, and probably said I would see him again.
M'Cook 'said he would see me on Monday'
night in my room. A few minutes after he
went - out. I went to Judge Laporte's room.
asked him into my room. and told him all M'
Cook had said to me. Mr. Burrell had said
to me before, that if 'any offer of the itind was
made, I should keep it to myself until we could'
get it into a proper shape to expose it, but I
felt unwilling to trust my reputation in any one
mates hands. Mr, Laporte encouraged me to
go on ; to be careful as to what I said, and see
What would come of it. Mr. Laporte then
left my room in a manner that appeared very
singular tome at the time. In four or five mi-
notes be returned with Mr. Burrell. They
both sat down, begged me to be quiet, not to
be excited. Mr: Laporte then stated (what I
did not know before.) that Mr.M'Cook had on
Saturday. I think, approached hitwin a similar
manner to myself.
Last evening. my brother•in•law , had come
down in the stage, andwas put to my room by
the landlord:. He stated that a gentleman hail
been there, and left a, note for me. I opened
it, read it, took it into Judge Laporte's room,
and showed it to himi Lucre Mr. P. read
,a
note inviting him to No. 22, as his room was
engaged.]
Mr. L. advised me by all meanswot ib go
into the gentleman's room. Lick like
dotting the mitoie thing. • 1 observed to Mr.t:
—had I not better mention, this to Mr. Want;
(who had come into his room.) that I find doubts
what to do. 1 stated the !natter to M. Ward
stated my doubts, whether to abandon the, pro.
ject. or receive the money..
.11e 'said that I
should go on 7 -thet . t h e Thing i would - not be
cemplited,unless carr:ied„out in 1611.
,Mr. ; ilVi!C,_earne to, nt) , room about I to'clack
lest evening. and exhibited a bundle papers`
end . read e list of Mein, numbering from seven
tq'eight., )4.. Burrell, had' said to me, if he
(NIT.) said imythinettimi, to "ask him foi I
certain receipt, said to have been givenfOrthe
stock of the Lehigh poniny Bank." I asked
him for ii, and he allowed me -a receipt- from
the President and-Cashier of . the Bank for
$100.000.-fromllciserY. Beach, Ile said to
me—your brother-in-law has Cottle to town,- , -
I said Yea.--he' has lone out. •(fie 'hid step:
pedant's( my'reiluesq He askedMe if - I had
selectedii• friend 'with whom totleitinit the mo
ney—or would I take it myself? I stated to
hiin that I had not selected any one. He says
I want. to pay pm $2 50
, to-night, and $250
thewheif . reriortis made. I said the better
may Would he'to 'settle thething on the spot—
we probahly might - not see each other, after-
Wards. He Said'he Would give tee his note,
eniiorsed by tiny, Mae I" could frame for-the re
'mainidg $250:" I mentioned that his'offee Was
tb deiioslissooleitviil the impresston that I
oviiitlitt of take aless`iNm. ='He'stateit that he
had aoi the ilogehilletp:-triatll4cb t `aod
the men' war whiniVe agfedni d at t irentiAN ot ,
be got the money, were `in town, . I think a;
zirele,tiotel..* asked me if I could wait fif:
teeteioittwOgiy fninutes till he could go, 6 ,,i;
ao8; el thltladditional 82.502 I said it wed !
'does welt-4 the. morning. Mr. M'C. eaiei t
w i rjmporitihtt to have it settled that night, to
the4nvesugiition would go on to.day. I
Tinned tliktitm COmmittee on Banks did
meet till after the adjournment of the n ewe.
and itist.my,,brothpr ! in-late,would be in in
few minutes—that it wool!
morning—and we parted... /,; then tem ..o
Measre.,Burrell and Laporte, strongly inelis t e
to abandon the project, so far as receiving the
`Money was concerned.. Those gentlemen tho't
it Would be a more ample and thorough expo,.
ere if,l were to_ receive the money, and I eo n ,
- IMitedio on ;' '
This morning, at B.ci'clock,. as I went op
from the barber-shiap,lfourid2M'cook IA oir
room. He ,itaid he had been waiting foe in e
for some time, and said he had the „
took off his hat, and took from-it a handful of
bills'of the denomination of-1. 6 tad 1 0
dollars; saw. them as he counted them overti l ;
his lap by the fire; observed the words Me.
field Bank as he counted them over; he coital.,
ed over 6400-385 hi poles. atid.took from his
pocket two qr. eagles to make out the
He remarked that I must wait_ for the ether
hundred dollars till the report otthe,einninittee
was made—he would have to ask Mg to do it.
I unlocked my bureau drawer, Where I' keels
my letters, and remarked, you can OW theino
ney ihere. He 'done so add left theiltioni..
I instantly rang - the bell—the servatit.came,-•
and I sent him to Mr. Burrell's rooinuo - .tell
him Ito tome; the- servant returned and amid he.
was - not there.-and !mutual for Mr. Laporte„
and he returned and said he wee, no :where ut
be found in the house ; 1 then sent for. /th,
Buehler. my landlord ;.he camel , A 114 1) °pet*.
the drawer and asked him to count that money
pointing to it ; he said he was very busy. and
I said, .* I want low, eount that money—l
have reasons for it—it_was paid to me a fete
minutes ago for my vote in the Committee oo
Banks, and 1 intend to take it up to ask the
'House to make a' disposal of it i"—;the'eetniteil`
it. and sealed it up in that (here it-was predoc.
ed) package. It may not be improper to state
,here, that 'after the offer of the .money, was
made, it was made a matter of -great doubt with
me whether I should receive it or not, and lout
for the counsel and advice of friends .should
not have received it.
The cross-examination elicited little new._
The witness, at this stage of the proceedings,
avowed' that nothing took place at the first
meeting to lead him to-suspect corrupt Mien.
none, although he testified that after the first
interview he had consulted with . Mr. Burrell
in regard to a probable- attempt at bribery. He
also stated that Mr. MT. had not told him of
any other member of the committee being.brib. •
ed. In explanation as to whether Mr. M'C.
named the three who 'would go for &tit*,
he named Meseta. Hiland. Steel and Barber.
Hon.JOH N LA PORTE, (Atfditor Omni)
sworn—Mr. Laporte testified. to an introduc•
Lion to Mr. M'Cook, in January-last ; by Peter
C. Ward, and to his having transacted some
pension business for him. That part of the
testimony which bears on this ease follows:
On Saturday morning last M'Cook came to
' me in- Buehler's bitting robin, and Laid your
son will be here in a few days—l have writ
ten for him: I lookftl at him somewhat as.
ionislied, and ask bow - did von • kndtv'l had
, a son., He said Mr. Ward had told him .• He
then asked me my snti - a-frrat name, andswhen
I answered, he said that 'was • he. - lie• then
asked me when he could see me, and said he
desired to let me know why he sent for my
son. I said I would fie in my Office after
breakfast, and he could see me there. - I went
up after breakfast, nrid he came up about 10
o'clock. I asked him into my little office-room
supposing he had something iniportant to com
municate--for I had been wondering all the
while why he should have sent for my son.—
He said he had sent lot my eon to come
here, and! he did not want him to do anything
that would compromit him as a man or as a
Democrat, and he had offered him $5OO to
comes! he said I am deeply interested in the
Lehigh County Bank; there is quite an es
citement at Washington in relation Co this in.
vestigation among our friends, and mentioned
the name, among others, ofßobert Dale Owen.
who, he said, owed his election to Mr. Bean;
he then pulled out of his pocket a paper show
ing the number of papers issued daily and
weekly by-Mr. Beach; that of the New . York
Sun, deity and weekly; the Boston Ting:
and Notion. the Bay State Democrat, 6:c.r
calculated in all at equal to three hundred than•
sand per week, He epoke of his influence;
said he had refused on offer to go to - Cuba to
buy animals, had two offers of consulship, at
Madeira. I believe, and had declined them both
nn account of his extensive business; hi said
lie n outd depnsit ssoo*with me to he given to
y son when die Committee on Banksohould
mak.. a favorable report ; I told him 'my
could not leave home; that he had a sick 'rife,
in a very low state of health. and her could not
come at all; he then asked !me if I could not
assist him ; I told him no; that I was connect•
ed with the administration, and , thought it was
wrong for any one connected with the admin.
isration to meddle with legislation, and that I
should not : the *ere frequently -interrupted
that morning, more than usual ; and finally the
Secretary of State came in., and engaged. io
conversation with Mr.- McCook on the subject
of Railroads in the West. and he finally left.
saying he would see me again.; - had Dot
struck me how my son or myself were intend.
ed to operate until after he went out.
I.went to dinner, and after dinner- met him
in the :bar-room. Cannot-say which ePulkl,
first.—think-wesapproached each other mulow
ly. We spoke and milked into-the parlor.—
_
Hy this timel thought I onderatood- where it
Ws intended my son or myself were expec t ,
ed to operate. I then told hirn my emi_towa
ooteoloe• ~ He said if he had his horses & es'
riage here, he would have badhim here before
then t - oe-atleast before today. He said we
have got three of the Committee. and we meg
have.the - fourth,- and we think you or your
son could operate upon Col. Piollet. Hato
agaiwapplied to with ! , ,1 told. him, I bad pot
been here for, ten years and knew-very: fell"
people. and I was not Certain that! could nib:
ence Col. Piollet in any way. He said could
you , ,use convincing argotnento and egailtre`
(erred to the proposed 5400. deposit..,.l
;pierced him, to Mt. Burrell. ,
was against it last sessinnithsit. Barre, l , l,
Dr:Samuel - a and. r...riollet r l
lent the fourth, were againekthe BaTOr o noee",
This conversation ; be gan kk.gro,r
John B. Dionni g h „c om p : , i m0 ,, 1 4 0 ,, FR 0t4i
saidthere , ia,o tuau,rot hot, kOOOO to..ore
beck! then , l'doi—olk,Ut . bitiThr-tiOd-kgol!nr
andmout , out. -:.(ofie3itiggl,fqrgoi,tv IkoubT.