iiousEoV Represent ATfyiss. '"Mondxt, AprU 3,843.' -BRIBERY REPORT- he'cbrnmillec in'eonformity to a icsolu oi ofiho House of RepresentaYives.on the 31st of March, 1843, "to examine whether certain members of the Board of Canal Commissioners have held out inducements and bribes, to members df the Legislature to corrupt themi end thereby inrlucnco their votes on certain measures pending1 before the Legialature,""beg most respectfully to re port: Tlia conifniltee to whom the nbove nub ject was referred, submit to' thojllouse, the evidence touching the charge which it was raised to investigate. The committee con fined their investigations to the Individual case which elicited the attention of the House, to the, charges of interference on Tthe part of tho officcrs-of Government; with the votes and opinions of Members of the 'Legislature. They djd not fee) themselves authorised to extend their inquiry beyond the instance alluded to. Enough however lias been given in evidence on oath before them, to show that, a member of the Hoard of Canal Commissioners did improperly tamper with, and endeavour by corrupt promises, to influence the vote of a mem bor of the Houso of Representatives. However incredible the fact may appear, and however reluctant the committee were to come to such a conclusion, it is none the less true, if the sworn testimony of a mem ber of this House can be believed, that "William Overfield one bf the Board of Ca nal Commissioners, did promise to Jacob Hill, a Representative from Armstrong county, an appointment for a friend of his, provided he would sustain the Governor's veto of the-Canal Commissioner's Bill. From the testimony annexed, it will be seen that Mr. Hill had two conversations concerning the appointment he was solici tousof oblaining,from both of which he was led to believe that the condition of his ob taining the office would be to support the Can3l Commissioners, and sustain the veto. Gen. MuCulloch, who appears only as an Intimate.friend, to have prefened his assis tance to Mr. Hill, and who, according to liis sworn declaration, spoke without author itV nevertheless gave It as his opinion, that if Mr. Hill was successful in the applica lion, he would be expected to support the Canal Commissioners. In his testimony before the committee, Gen. McCullock oaid; 'Mr. Hill came over to my desk, either in the morning or evening, 1 am not certain which, and asked me. what the Ca nal Conmisionera would require of him, provided he made application for that ap pointment. 1 told him I could not tell, but I presumed they would expect him to sup port them The committee, in referring to this re y.im uuani, in expressing such an opinion to Mr. Hill, on the contrary, he declares under oath (hat he was not. They ..wj .Fie iu ii, io snow mat in the opin Mon of a friend of the Canal Commiseioners triAV tirmilrl ...... . .t. ....j nuu.u uajjcui me support ot any raemDer ot ine legislature, who obtained irom them an appointment for ono of his menus. in s simn n i r n iwuuoon, unauthonzed as it' was, the lu,a""" cannot out regard as corrobora "jMuiuii uicy nave lormecl.as to u,D ,. .Froper innuences exercised by the uu ui uanai commissioners, over mom oers of the Lceis aliirft. When a department of Government IaVs it down as a rule ofaot.on.for the dispensa . u.. u, , , i.s,rnnoge, that the members of i.o i.egisiawre, at whose request it may ieilpw an office are to support its measures wimu s..cn siavisji requisitions aro made bv 1110 mecutive unon 1 in Rnrrr.,,.,:.,. branch of the Government. , n- . . .... iniiu iias . u. j.ower.ana Jpprehensious may iuttlv , . , j,ullij, legislation. 7iV, dui.1i innuences. 1 he committee refer he ft virion ia r M. 11: : ' . "r"'"" ... . , ..... ,, ,n relation to the venures oi the Canal Commissioners. In letailing the conversation held at Buehler's 'ith Mr. Overfield, concerning the Collec- . ..( 41 i reepon, mr. Hill swears to the ) lowing effect: "After talking about nno incT 3nH ni.ntlin. T . I ...... -Nun, i. t.iaiilio.ieu wnat 1 un he Canal Commiinnrrt limrn ...III! . , V -"wu willing 10 .... ..wr. ..j.punuiiieni si rrecport. He iu iic uoi I nrmm nr ,i. . ,SL , lllu .JWlllfllll' II, dt iiibim. in inon e.i., II... . U - I I - ...v., .,,, ,ai ,0 ii'iTiaia. ii F, . a "8'" P'ae, and if uu.u ..ui. mem uirous h. and !,;,, ,i, ivnrnnr'o li. t n I wanted w... a , c U( ulBy W0UU api,ojnt lt. Hill unon hntr .: , ember or the Cqmmiiwe as to the arf ge used by Mr. Overfield on this occas satd ! understood distinctly if I would n the veto, I could ffet the snnoint no committee deem it unnecessary Io e furthf chat oob frnm tu.i.i"! riiRimnti irnm ili ....il y cannot believe (hat Mr. .TnU rr;..' the solemn did i I in n at nt i d atlirm and re.niTlrm .), . . ' was not (rue, nr as true, that of lie list! no certain bnnwlmlrt .-Jvr " which ne Ne had o. a dW, and won. Un the contrary. ihfiu i,,i l to fielievc, .from tho repeated as IJOits of Mr, Jlilt upon ihf point. , - - w- -j uuuui Ulll IM'll William Ovetfield promUed blrfi iheap polhtmentt'lie, wai seeking," 'if Ho vouTiI' sustain tho'veto.,. ' '? .. t ' The fact, then, being established by ixo oalh of-Jaco) Hill, nothing remains for tho committee but to Tcpoit it to the House. The Legislature is tho guardian of its own purity- it Iub the -power to expel a member for open corruption, and it has the power to impeach a functionary of the gov ernmcnl for corruptly influencing the votes bf its members. It is invested by the con stitution with full authority to vindicate its character and preserve its integrity! Tho reputation of tho wholo people of the Com mbnwealth is implicated in the character of the Legislature. It would be false to itself false to tho people whom It represents, and whose interests it has in keeping, and regardless of tho maintenance of our form of government in its original purity, did it pormit its privileges to be attacked, ond tho official integrity of its members to be assail ed by a co ordinate brancli of the govern ment, without resorting to its constitutional authoiity to uphold its independence, pre serve its virtue, and defend its honor. What course of action tho .Legislature ought to pursue Id the present case the committee will not underlako to decido. They leavo it to its own sense of self respect, and its fidelity to its constitutional obligations, to determine. The committee offer the following rcsolu tion : Rtsolved, That the committee bo dis charged from the futthcr consideration of the subject, JEFFERSON K. HECK MAN, E. JOY MORRIS, J. H DEFORD. Testimony in the case of the Canal Com missioners, taken Jipnl 1st, 18-13 Jacob Hill, swornl I think it was on Wednesday last, to the best of my knowl edge Gen. M'Culloch and me wero walk ing together, and I was going tu turn up towards Prince's. The General made men lion, we would go up the other way opposite to the Capitol. He broached the subject about some appointment out at Freeport. We thought the appointment was very un popular the appointment was Alexander Scott he had been appointed for sevtn yeais, the present board re-appointed him this spring, t here was a good deaf ol talk backward and forward between me and the General, relative to that appointment. Then he told me lie had been up, and seen Major Reynolds, who, I think, he said, was sick in bed. He told me if I would say the .word, that I could gel that office myself1-, I told himfl had a family and could not attend to it, he said if I did not want it,i could appoint some ono under me, 1 (old him I did not want to do that, or else he caul llint I i-nnM rn nv mm, annnirilo,! .r" I'.,".. ynoiUi, . u . j IBawon wn" "ra: and all hat he had to say was, that I could have ,7 , 7? ' la"y 'Panted i i- t I ... uesKl or 10 Mr. Huliz' neon,,. u3Keu mm what t was tn 0 if acpicu meso oners, lie said he did not know, but of couno they would expect mo to susta.n the veto. Ho said likewise, that ..... uiu uau ioiu mm that' ho, am Mr. Overfield were opposed to the appoint ment, and left it to Buller.who had appoint htm I rii A l r . .7 V , 1 aPP'' ,or ,l,c appointment myselt, 1 havo never nskml i (n m...-ir jficruay morning Mr. Overfield and I . , , " u.vac,. . , b ai Jr. uuenier's out at the doorf and at the stone s.eps. After '"""B auouv one tnin? arnl nniiLo- mentioned what I undnrsmn,! r, '.' M'Culloch, that they weie willin, Tn S - ..c uj.jiuimmeni al i-Teeport. Ho said u do ,1UV in ,avor 01 the appointment anu no sa.u then that the Legislature m i . a "5,u Pce; and f I would help them t hrmvrl, L.x ., Tn ouoiaui ill B , " v" w,ey.. wouhl appoint any man I wanted: I ivq i.,o 3 i. i- '"'J"al wriio ono or .. in on a piece ol paper, and put my name to it; and send it fin. it lit. c r fini, IJ .7 ' "U.u JO Jill u wioy went out hm ,i.n. country, and the appointment was not ,uy C0U1U snow lti j undersl00 , d.s.inclly if I would sustain the vcto.I cauld bv. o, , ,ul,Wnenii i (old him I would study and see Mr. Karns about itt that he n.iw., ... ibii m mat country. Mr. Kerr ...u -jihcu logetner tho other evenine we got talking together that "Scott was un could , " "'.""-"'""gni 1 ju miar out i ier. in ir.i . .i , . . In T " ","aill",,n,e mil there KlUWIUm M mi 1) for ... mmmmuncrs.i cannot tell whore I first talked about ii; I , ot think that I can name him. 1 ml.i ii r Mr. Russell, I .old it to Mr.Mcllride hero, l told it to different ones I l. lar detailed conversation about it. There" was one or two who thought I ought ,0 ipako it puMic; I could not say exacilv to who, think it was one of tho printers, but l would not say which ono it not say which it wasj I think it was a priu ter t,a .old me I ought to make it public; j uo not recollect that I .a,! mil frtiitfifi. ino i w, h any of the members' about mak: ing t publ.c; f had a conversation will, six hi ! u l,pP?rtei 'net me al the back of h .m chalr.ahd asked, me whether it was irue hai there was all office offered to me; it Was 0mo I rrtn , i ... r . . ' Sneaker T V ' ' 1 101(1 ,,ie spesKer. J ,e Speaker mei at (he bad; of bAd.a.r.ajid atked nwyl0 .lt.r I had . otferod an office; Ltold-himXliail, .tiWnk. likely that tlio Speaker of. tome of the ret, told me that I ouglit to make a statement to tho House,' 1 said I did not care who knew it; that all the Canal Commissioners on the hill could not buy my vole. 1 do not re collect that I ever told any person that 1 would go and sec them, and then expose ihcin. I told General M'Culloch that I would likely go and eoo tho Canal Com missioners, and tho General told tne he would go with mo at any time. What was your reason for going to see tho Canal Commissioners? 1 will tell you my object: I heard a great deal for years back about buying and selling members, and I thought I would see myself if it was so. I voted in favor of the Canal bill. I did not tell Overfield that I wanted to be appointed, neither did he ask me. l had letters for two ot three -of the men for that office; I told Mt. Butler that If they appointed any of tho three; I would be satisfied. I spoke of Ncsbcti and I think likely of Esq. Ga lespy; 1 did not show him the lellcts. He told me I should fotch my letters to tho office in twenty minutest I went as near as I can tell about that time, I was in the office may be half an hour or (onucr, Mr, Butler did not come: I told Mr.' Reynolds then what my errand was. I told him I would go down in tho House, and after being there a while, I came up acatn; Mr. Butler still was not there. I stayed a little spell and went to Mr. Overfield and told him what Mr. Butler had said. I told Mr. Overfield I do not Want you to mako tho appointment until I show Mr. Butlar the letters I had; and I thought Mr. Oveificld gave me his word they would not make the appointment without letting me know. This took place in February;! went up that same loienoon about a hall an hour alter wards, and the office was locked up. The next I heard that afternoon that the appoint ments wero made, without having read my letters or consulting me. Did not Mr. Overfield tclt you during year conversation at Buehler's that the way he made tho ap pointments was on his line, that if the mem bcrs put their names on paper, so tiial he could shov it? 1 think he said ho mostly took that course. Yesterday afternoon' at about quarter past three o'clock, Mr Heck man called me, and asked me if it was sy; and I told him it wis. He told mc he .would offer a resolution, 1 said I would sooner he would not do any thing about it; that is about all the conversation. I had no .written statement in 'ny hands about tliis. matter yesterday afternoon. Question by General M'Culloch. Did I ever call, you out on this occasion, anti tell him I had some prop osilions to make! 1 tell you the way how it was, a minute or Ih'o before 1 went out to the best of my knowledge, tho General, Mr. Overfield, and some other gcntlernc WCre in COmpatir. -allnr I l.-'Uc-rtcirimrH 1 ' w veryg.au ... jt, .nt ? .i.. ii J ' uu nil' uiir mala tn i li r'.,..:.l , o ....... . .w v.iyuu. tuia noiivetsaiton took Place. Did not this conversion commence about the Reform bill! 1 do npt recoiled General, how it commenced. Butler's question. Did Mr. Scott support the Da mocralio nominatijh? lie supported the Tiorn.na.ion as I believed. I believe that Win. J. Noble Nesbet Fnpported pic and was turned out for it, as far as my knowledge extends! I mli : i.. . and some others say I,e js ,,,. Th!4 boanj m.puniieu rum last winter, Mr. Barrett asked for General McCul loch, that he bo also examined. Gen" George McCulloch, aworn.-It out of Mr: Buehlers, that Mr. Hill was a few steps before mo. I asked if ho would accept of company, he said he wsuld and thank me too; our convcruaiinn r.nmmMj onnho reform bill which we both appeared to approve of, wi.h the excep.ion of the sixth lection which I said to him, that, that with many other things, induced mo to be jeve that there was a disposition to divide t 10 Dnmnrirnti.. ! ' i . . . .... . -i-iij, uiiu i should not think it straiice that lie mul I wn,.i,i . ..... ... . .' - " U u punier ivoir and Muhlenberg scrape, '.",c" '"" oneo that the Uanal Com mis- ,uc, au inauo various unpopular ap . .....,9, uni, asijcn ,ur. Hill if J,e still uissausiieu with the appoint .i.ii. ....uu hi ineir county. He said he .1 w "'lwiHIIilU..l, (lU the man was very unnonular and mni.t ..,. i.ia ultaiUIMlcU V I in nnnn!,,l. I get twenty votes in their townsh.p; Hut he thought thai there was much injustice done o htm . n making .hat appointment; that ho Overfield anil lnni.i- T ' r. .. ",r' uuu icnuia wine I I1D hail l,n,i.l m. nnl nrcnnf l. ....! i . . " j-.w.i.y c .uurcii anu returned the ' ;"r- was still not pre- sept; that Mr. OveriiuM i,.in i.: .. ..... that there Would be no appointment made until he could cet iioime ,.r,i.... .i... letters. That ho rctiiniP.I n.i r.....i .... tluor locked ami could not get in; that, that .;, g ,e ati learned that i10 appoint, ment had oecu mado without cohsui.ing him to which I rcolied that I I mil rwit tin in.i doubt that ho could either get the appoint- ...un uimseii or any other man that ho would name. That I had heard Major Reynolds say' that tho annnlnim.,i ...... unpopular appointment, iliat it was conUa ry tu Ins wish in the fust nl art, tut t If. i the public works wero divided into differ ent sections, and Mr. Butler had ciarKo of lhat section of the public work. That ho made the nomination, ho beiW l.Pii-r quainted with that tountrv. Mr. Overfield and himself did not feel at liberty to oppose it, and 1 did nut believo thai the tiny difficulty in getting (ho appointment ehangetl al'jil'trve.ntiri would giro liim all the assistance that I could tovliaviiig the change. made;. Ho. replied that it would not stiit him to take it himselff to which I said he might apply in his own "name, and get some person to attend to it; or if he preferred it, to apply in tho namo of any other person; I would give him my word and honor I would assist him all I could. That ended tho first conversation. Mr. Hill camo over to my desk, either in the morning or evening, I am not certain which and asked mo what the Canal Commission ers would require of him to do, provided ho mado application for that appointment. I told him I could not tell, but I presumed they woulo expect him to support them; and as I scon Mr. Bu lcr had came home tho night befote; and Major Reynolds was sick and in bed; that I, suppose ho would not be ablo to attend the board, and that Mr. Butler and Mr. Overfield would con stitute a board, and I would go up with him then and see whether they would make the appointment. I cannot tell how we parted This is the last conversation we had. " General McCulloch continued and cross-examined by i)r.i.--Did you not say that you had a conversation with Major Reynolds, and that ho told you that all 1 was to say was yes? I did say that 1 thought all you had to do was to say the word, but I never said I conversed with Major Reynolds about it. I say upon my solemn oath, that I never told Mr. Hill that I had authority from any of the Canal Com missioners to say any thing about it. I say upon my solemn oath that I never pledged my word to Mr. Hill, that ho could get the office; as I have a God to meet I never men tioned Veto to Mr. Hill; I never had any conversation with any of the. Canal Com missioners, about this conversation 'with Hill. 1 never spoke to Mr. Overfield on this subject, until, since the conversation of Mr. Hill. 1 never spolte to Mr. Butler on this subject. 1 novt'r had ony conversation with any of the Commissioners since, ex cept villi Mr. Overfield of the, propriety pi clmnging that appointment. lie said lie believed that Mr. Scott was unpopular,, I was talking to Mr.Iiill as an intimate friend and acquaintance, yvo DoarU at tho same House, and have been tho best of, frini) ds ge.org ii McCulloch. Mr. J3arrctt asked For 0r ISamucl Kerr, that lie raay be sworn. aamttei, tverr sworn. l notcr- had any authority from the Canal Commissioners to make any overtures or offers lo Mr. Jul SAMUEL KFJIR. Mr. continued and cross examin ca vy Mr. (Jvcrjielu Question, did not you ask mo first aout the appointment. I think il lifcelv that I might have commen ced it first I do nolneeojlpct. It is a fact dial JtaJ&rJMifivM mWkmVwn 7." ,' ,uYslal" "'e veto. 1 hclioto Mr "w.i . u o ,ejv man, and a good officer "ui .a mijiujmiar. JACOB HILL ANOTHER. The N. Y. Coinmercial'oivcs'lhe follow i"6 iMiucuiars oi another most outrageous cases ..wv in Brunei on. iMiinlil .!!. i.,rv nn m i. mu '""HI'S ..... iM.tiiiiiii iiiirrnrtr.'iv.i riui.irt .1.. i " . ,'."'"7'' .c;n,""! "r artesatfleut of 1111 lifn.o.'.i u . . r . : n ..uwui, uu , ,aKen oy default. The characiK-both being highly respS c and we edtmatn.l?i. 5r........ . 1 . 10 travelled eXin,i "l, TJ ua,n ""'.nff nn,im.- V : " "K'"S withal a is the r, ::r r, : "L'L. . 10 mor? .pfi ' uiu .injuaiiuat CO of the nar y s ,uu.v a icacner. Wo u.u ...a, ; prosecuted his design unon her for months, tvi.i. 11 .1 ; r1 uPPn nnr. : 01 me most ' , i"u'""' "onsoi nonorab e desipns id ho most solemn pledges of marriCe. beart.andal.hounh.l.kentl,; VZxm' r gratified his passions, he ha. fliing he" -Ii kc a loathsome weed riwnv ' .i..b. some weed awav.' rm i. . nn. r . 'i' ' ' " '""Uier . " "8'es8 oi woman's heart. Z f, , VY ,.n ," declaration inuiiiiuui uaiiars; and of so air B.uvHieu a cuaracter did tho . I. . . . " onsider the case, after a MxamJ '.; that they awarded the whole amount.' n "."!! . nfCUSPU 01 ing the r-i .... -..empieii to assass nate Ex-mr5?!!":.--PP-l.endt, .eni.v ; , : ' HI. m "iQ.r"a". yes t -"'"'iieu io jai . nn will now invn In o II.:. . i . " ''"I The Boston tlnlleii,, publishes an ac Z7r,.r& ook week. T ' r , " cu.,efuay of las. 000, a laeo veil worth l,5J00,and the whole' expense or the afiaif - uu ui i vi u iiTirn iiiinnii. . . i . Mjuwpia wouniu. times 1 Hard limes nr nn.K i.. 1'. ' rr ciniiati durinrr the nnel fill ,.l '"in, uiicu 3BU l ;'niil up at Cin, tho value ofsS2.orin nnn i.... .. ? wintor, tn ii . , -V- uuuui in a nn. Hon, says a C nn nnhii ....... ..... . 1 " " a mil (-.ngiiari aim French mnrkni . : r.. ir .- . i"'i'ci, was mr llm "irst time one, to Ui HL . T . ",0 produce.' ' ' v- 'can "TtitJTn niruovr rr.An " B.1TUIUK1V, .1VKIL iS, 1813. FOR PKES1DI3WT, JAMES BUOHAWANV'K ( Subject to Hit decision of d Nation til Convention,) The week ending on Saturday las"t, has been an exciting time al Harrisburg. The veto of the Canal Commissioners bill, its defeat in the house- its re-passago within half ah hour afterwards; wi)h the exception of that part electing them by the Legislature the passage of tho slate apportionment bill tho chartering ofthrce companiesjwilh tho privilege of purchasing a portion of tho public works, ono the North Iir&nch Canal, another the usiawaro division, and tho . third the main line from Philadelphia, to Pittsburg tho charge of bribery against William Overfield one of tho Canal Com missioners, and tho preferring at tides of impeachment against him the defeat of the project lo elect a state printer the pas sage of the bill for the sale of the state stocks tho disclosures fixing upon tho governor and the Canal Commissioner's, the conspira cy to transfer the democracy of the Stato io Captain Tyler, and the attempted assassina tion in tho house, havo all conrpircd to ren der it one of tho most excitingweeki oveif" experienced in llarrisburg, excepting even tho Buckshot Wat." What will bo tho rnd thereof time alone carl disclose, The election, in Conneotic'ul has tormina ted in the re-elecfion of Governor Cleveland the Democratic candidate, four' .Democratic members of Cpngress, and a large,majority of Democratic members tf both branches pf the Legislature. - Rhode Island election has resulted in the election of a whig governor and a majority in both LrapcliOB of the Legislature. THE LATE DEVELOPMENT. We havo been Well perawded for somo m.i-r- -i attempts were making by certain 'officials" in this state, to prevent the nomination by tho National Convention ofJame Buchanan, for President, and transfer the democracy of Pennsylvania fo Captain Tyler. Late- disclosures at Har Nsburg.'havo (My confirmed 0UT su,pjci0I19 by pidducing proofs' as' "thick as blackier- ries," of the fact. It ! .shown rnnln.!-i.. that Governor Dsvid R. Porler, hjjfc ' been using tho influence of' the station conferred upon him by the people, to lintray ' them info Hie hands of Captain Tyler, for i. consideration of his brother, JamesuM;1 Por ter, being raised to tho posi of Secretary bf War, and in view of making himself Vicn President. Wo hive no obieclions lo Da. vid, R. Porler Kp)ing himself, his Tuinih, and Impels, but we do 'object to the demo cracy of Pennsylvania being transferred to Captain Tyler, for tho benefit of the "Porter family alone; ' THE MAILS. In our last, (April 8.) wo mentioned tho deranged slate ofihe inails.betwoen this and ' "X u""c,m w0 laborea llarrisburg, and the Carr"Pon,1,S -ur friends a. ,lla' Placo Our papers wero mailed Snih on Ftiday evening, on Saturday we re ceived letters mailed in Harrisburc on tho 31 si day of Jarch, 0 days previous. On the 1 0h, We received letters mailed nn dm 3d, 7ih, and 8 th of April, and llarrisburg IlRll'dnnrtftfa n 1 1 mi o u nui'K oui. vtiat pigeon hole they had been AW in dnrinn- the timn they wero missing, wo arc unable lo lelh i he public, however. may judge for themsdves. DEMOCRATIC PAPERS AT IIARRISBURG. I'he Ilarrisbutc Renorter. Rnoim ,,T Keystone, all deserve .hanks of the Demo. cracy of the Stale, for'the fearless and inde pendent manner in which thev h ed the attempts now making by those pla- h'gh ,n m"I,ol'y. lo transfer them' to na always have and always will stand by Hflr faithful and fearless seu.inels. and i this case, they will not be found wanting In' grattude. : ,-.- r" TTnr ri... . . '. ,,as "mmencetrtho practice iven.ticky.in coiinectioit with his "on, j , u. u av.
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