The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-03-05
A CARD.

|
Hampshire, offered resolution IN the House oil nc
representatives., Of which the following Is a part 10
wit Resolved, That the COMMITTEES on the bApon
diiures Of the Navy Department, be directed 10 IL"
qpire into the matters relating to any contract OF
contracts entered into by James C. Zaoriskie, oil New
Jersey, which he has had any part in negotiating
with the Navy Department, or any oil Inc bureaus
connected herewith since March 4th, io4l, &c, and
report the facts to the House" This resolution was
| accompanied by letter, which was likewise pre-
scented TO the House by Mr. Burke, read by the Clerk
and published part Of lis proceeding Ii Is be-
lieved that the proceedings the case as above de.
tailed are without precedent. They are In the high
est degree unjust to those implicated 1t is probably
the first time in the history of Congressional proceed
ings In this country that parties have been charged
with fraud or improper conduct-the charges thus
made sent to every part OF the country through the
Speaking Trumpet Of the nation the House of Repre-
senlatlSes, before inquiry 1as instituted. This
course Of proceeding apty illustrates the idea of exc
cutting man and then tryiag him: The proceeding
is likewise extraordinary, inasmueh as the eommuni-
cation, which made the basis OF the action Of the
House, exhibited upon its face The brand Of rfImy
case referred to had been devoyed, proceeded rery
deliberately In the prosecution Of their duty although
| particularly requested that early report should
follow the slanders that had been circulated voun
lary appeared before the committee aud testified 10
substance 10 the following facts That in pr last the
President OF the United States directed the bureau Of
Construction, Equipment and Repairs to furnish me
with contract for 25 600 feet of promiscuous live
oak at the price paid for the last contract which
contract was understood TO be for the benefit Of
friend. Immediately assigned the order to MIR.
Swift and eft it in charge Of the bureau TO be exc
euted. This contract was never executed in conse-
quenee Of an informally in procuring IT, The Fresi-
dent himself having arrested t-and il has net been
executed TO this day likewise stated that under
stood that my friend would receive some pecuniary
consideration as the contract was consumma-
ted The committee applied to the Department to
know whether the records furnished any evidence Of
contract contracts furnished to me- or 10 the pro-
curement of which ] had any agency. The reply
was that the files Of the office had been diligently
examined, and it appeared that had been concerned
in but contract the papers of which were trans.
mitted to the committee. These papers fully sustained
the President of the United States requesting him
to communicate to the committee all the information
he possessed in relation to any contract or contracts
in which might have been concerned The l'resi-
dents reply fully sustained my statement The COM
mittee then possessed all the authentic informao
that could be obtained Not satisfied with this how
ever they proceeded to investigate further by sys-
TEN Of espionage, alcas diSraeetid, but never more
than when adopted by the representatives Of free
people in an investigation involving the rights and
character Of the citizen.
10 the procurement Of witnesses 10 prosecute
this investigation the siietest secrecy was observed,
and although the evidence was designed to in
cupa,e me, was in no case officially informed of
the fact. The information the committee thus OBJ
tained was in the character of hearsay evidence mad
missble before any judicial tribunal in he country,
and subversve of every principle Of justice no, only
o. but the information contradcted by the a,l-
hsntic evidence in Possession of the commtee-
From this information hearsay evidence the COM
mlttee, AN informed have made various differences
prejudcial to me, and that too in opposition to the
facts. II such acts are to be justified by the COM
munity, the reputation of is safe. IL commit
tees OF Congress to be permitted to assa charac-
Ter with impunity by report sustained by such evil
dence who can expect to escaped If honorable
members OF Congress to permit themselves to be
made the conduit through which any putrd scoun.
drel in the community can convey his venom and
filth upon respectable citizens, WI will remain I'M
contaminated Having waited in vain for the report
of the committee, by which expected be just fed
am compelled to this course in sef-vindication. =
JAMES C. ZABRISKIE.
WASHINGTON CRY, March 4th, ls45.
p. s. The above remarks are intended to apply TO
those members of the committee only who sustained
its action.