Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-06-03

AhL4A1IlN W.
TuE Fort SMELLING Case was taken up in
the House of Representatives., on Tuesday
Mr.. Morrill,, Of Vermont, spoke an hour in
support of the views reported by majority
of the committee, and made free common
tary upon the conduct of the Secretary, the
agents employed to make the sale, ana the
statements Of several Of the Witnesses
Mr.. Faulkner, who, with MIR. burnett' hao
made q minority report, replied t. the posi-
t;ons If Mr. Morrill,, coutending that the &C
cusations we're Of partisan character, not
ton,hiD, the material points at Issue that
,be report aud speech had utterly Jailed to
establs tie imyutstIous upon the secretary
nj War. who. in the course adopted In regard
70 Fort Smelling, had made better sale of
the public lands thsn had ever heretofore
been made by the Government. Various
other gentlemen took part In the debate.
MIR. MARSHALL, of Kentucky, had exam
ined the report of both branches of the com-
nittee, and the testimony of the principal
witnesses. As he did no, belong to the dem-
f,
that be would lie credited 10 saying that be
considered the case without any party
bias whatever. There was nothing 10 the
majority report at which any friend OF the
Secretary Of War could take offence. lie
said # the Secretary of War tina, lie thought
he acted impTovdently, but be believed that
he acted honestly. Doubtless, however, he
had exceeded his power.
Mr.. Davis. OF Mississippi, inquired whether.
If the iaud had been offered at pu bic sale,
there would not have been com bination
which would have resulted in depreciating
the sale OF the land.
Mr.. MARSHALL thought the combination
would have teen unavoidable, but the Secre-
tary might have obviated the difficulty wher-
,ver there was an inadeguacy of price, by es-
tablishing q minimum price.
Mr.. CLARK, OF New York, inquired wheth-
er the pIecauiion TO prevent the combination
was not rather witbin the powers Of the
agents Of the Secretary, than within the pow.
ers Of the Secretary himself.
Mr.. MARSHALL said he believed that such
was the tact
Mr.. HUGHES. o: Indiana, said after listen
irg utteutiveiy to all the gentlemen who had
spoken on the question, he Was strongly H.
cliued to coincide ir the views of the gentle
man from Connecticut, Mr.. Bishop, that
the whole matter looked more to Its Influence
on the PARTISAN politics of the Country than
TO any legitimate legislative action.
Mr. HopKiNs, Of Virginia, defended Mr..
lieskell, one of the agents for the sale of this
property, and one of his constituents. The
defence Of the Secretary OF War he left to
ADLER bands.
Mr.. CLARK, of New York, caused to be read
a series OF resolutions which hesaid DE should
offer tomorrow as substitute both for the
majority and minority resolutions OF the
COMMITTEE. The resolutions set forth that the
evidence reported by the select committee has
failed to lmpeach the Integrity OF the Secreta-
~ of War; that the arrangement Of the sale
was injudicious, and had resulted in the ex'
clu.ou OF that competition which should have
been permitted; that the terms OF sale are
disapprOVed, for the reason, first, that the
credit given was unauthorized by law; aod,
second, that the rate of compensation was
calculated TO prevent a sale at fair prices
and that the evidence taken by the commit,
tee be transmitted to the Secretary oil War,
to the end that in conjunction With the At
torney General he may adopt such measures
IN respect to the sale rs the public interest
may require. Mr.. Clark gave notice that be
intended to speak to the resolutions.
Aud then, at ten minutes past ii o'clock,
p. III the House adjourned.