Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-01-18
EVENING STAR
NIKE wALsHs LAST SPEECH.


On Monday, the 18th inst, while the
proceedings of the Colt Investigating
Committee were under discussion, Hon.
Mike Walsh rose and said, 1--WE copy from
the Globe:)
Well, Mr.. Speaker, as q personal friend
OF George Steers, feel it due to him, as
well as to myself, to say few wrds in
regard to the testimony which has Just
been read. In the first place, George
Steers never got contract to bmiidy one
Of these six steamers. George Steers was
appointed naval constructor for the
special and sole purpose of building one
OF them: Not q dollar passes through
his hands for anypurpose connected with
the ship He has not the purchasing Of
a pound of nails-neither does he want
it. He receives S. 400 year, and pays
some So 900 for ship yard, which he
has absolutely abandoned up to the pre-
sent time, SO that he might be enabled
to do full justice to the Government, and
to his own reputation. That ship was
not given to him through any influence
brought to bear by any one-but as q
high and just tribute to his own match.
less genius. It was given to him as tho
architect of the world-renowned Gamer
ica," and the modeler of the Collins and
other celebrated steamers. To the i'm.
mortal honor of the Secretary of the
Navy, be it said, it is the first instance
in the history of the nation, where the
claims of humble and unobtrusive merit
have been recognized in preference to pre-
tensions, wealth and influence. The re-
suit, sir, will amply vindicate the wis
dom of that decision. Had wealth and
influence controlled the selection of a
builder for that ship, George Steers would
have been the last man among all the ap-
plicants to have got her, and the country
would have been deprived of the signal
advantages which it will now derive from
his honesty and transcendent skill.
Sir, [ cannot permit the present oppor-
tunity to pass without stating that there
are number ofmiserable, scribblinglaza-
roni, who hang about this Capitol fellows
who modestly pretend to be regular cor
respondents for newspapers throughout
the country, but who, in reality, are ut.
tsrly incapable of properly writing a
soap boiler advertisement, great laugh
ter; rascals, sir, who would not be en-
ployed by any reputable paper in the
country at five dollars week. A wretch
ed set of petty larceny miscreants, who
60 about here levying contributions and
black mail on every man who comes to
Washington on business; basely pam
dering to the vanity of the weak portion
of the members of this House, with the
view of controlling their votes in favor of
some of the vile schemes in which they
are employed, and slandering the ablest
and purest men in it, because, with be-
coming self-respect, they Indignantly
spurn their loathsome acquaintance.
Who is this fellow, Chase, for instance.
this repulsive, sensual looking big beast?
Loud and prolonged laughter. You
all know him, and entertain, if you do
not express it with equal freedom, the
same unmitlgated contempt for him, and
others of the same stripe, that do. His
disgraceful and atrocious conduct tow.
ards his own family in Indianapolis,
must be, and is, known to every member
of the Indiana delegation upon this floor.
L am positively surprised, although l
attribute it entirely to the almost culpa.
bic benevolence and good nature of the
Speaker, that these bogus correspondents,
these disguised and dspraved lobbysrs
should be suffered to pollute this hall BY
their presence. To members they are
worse than nuisance, and to the legiti-
mate reporters of the House, they are,
constructively, a disgrace; and in re-
spect to this House, we will not only rid
US Of this fellow Chase, but also of that
whole fraternity, as l have been afraid
to bring an overcoat into the Hall and
leave it hang outside the bar of the House
while they are about. Great laughter. !
From the Rochester Unon.l
MURDER FORTY YEARS AGO.