Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1839-01-31
CONGRESS-.

REMARKS OF THE HON. J. NJ. MASON,
delivered in me House OF Representatives,
Jan. 8, 1899. during the consideration Of the
resolution for select Committee To investi-
gate the dclalcahon of Ssml SwaTiwout, &c.
COPIED from the Report Of the CongIesson-
al proceedings in the National Inlelligencer,
and from which an extract appeared IN an
editorial article IN the Free Press Of the 9Th
January.
Mr.. Mason, Of Virginia, would re-
specifically ask the gentleman from New
York. Mr.. CambreleDg,) whether he ex-
pected the American People, when they
found that the money which had 5een
collected from them for the public service
had been squsndered by public agents and
applied 10 their private uses, would be
satisfied with vague declarations from him
that the fraud had been committed by
men OF this or that political creedi Did
he cherish the opinion that the Conserva-
lives IN that House we're, he would not
say 10 bee deferred. but TO be IN the least
Affected IN their course by the opinion OF
that gentleman or of the public press.
that the deisulters were Conservatives (:
70. one. acting AZ be dad with a small
party, known at home as Den ocIaiic Re.
publicans, whatever name they might
bear here or elsewhere. he would say TO
that gentleman that they should be salts.
fed with nothing short OF an exact, mi.
mute. elaborate inquiry, not into the DO.
liiicsl opinions OF the delinqueb,s--ibo'
others might drag IN that consideration 10
oroer TO serve a purpose--bui into the
extent and nature Of the peculaiions which
had taken place, and into the insofiicicn.
ey o. that Treasury machinery, which
ought long ago TO have detected the
fraud ~ ~ell as toto those legislative
provisions which It was proper to adopt.
10 order TO guard agaIns, like occurrence
in future. II the gentleman had the IN .
fofmation--snd he alone could possess II
that there were others connected with
the Morris Canal and Banking Company.
who participated 10 the peculsiion or ~
iis fruits, all that would. by the inquiry
be brought fully 10 light. Let the IiOuse.
let the country have the facts. Nothing
less would satisfy them.
The gentleman had insin1ated that IL
was a very remarkable thing tina, Con.
servalise should desire 10 be placed al
the head Of an investigating com mittee 20
! look into these defalcations. Thus the
gentleman attempted to parry she attack
oi one Of his colleagues. Mr.. WISE by
throwing out Situations against another
Of his colleagues. who bad not vet open
ed his mouth. The gentleman was a..
sailed by gentleman sitting on one side
Of the House. and. by way Of reply. he
made an attack upon another gentleman
in quite a different quarter. However.
his colleague (Mr. Gsrland) vas we'll able
70 take hIs own part Asoos who shoald
vote Coz the appointment "a = committee
4 BY ballot. Mr.. VI. cared not q shat po.
liticsl complexion The peculaess might
be the American pc pie disclaimed lhe
idea that public trusts we're only 70 be
conhded 10 those who Were q one par.
Healar way Of thinking IN politics Hs
had said be shoald vote for q COMMITTEES
sppoinied BY ballot. II was 90 nsedfu
lhst he should 5iscisim the belief that I
\ proper COMMITTEES would DOT be sppoiatsc
I By the presiding oficss 81 The HsOss. !
he vhoeld Be eutrasieA with thst duty