Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-06-20
The covode Committees Report.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, l
u lima le 1QCn 1

Mr. Train. of Massachusetts,, made report
from the CeYode Committee signed by Messrs.
DIN. Covode, and Train. 1t sets out by
!. speaking of the embarrassment which attend
ed their Iabors, and stating that the Presi-
dent saw fitto send 10 a solemn protest in
the way of a proclamation to the world, that
the whole power of the Executive, instead
of being exercised to forward an investiga-
ton into Administration affairs. would be
exercised to protect those who might choose
to disobey the summons of the speaker of
the House. or who, having obeyed the sum-
mons, might refuse TO testify before the COM
mittee who quote precedents to show that
they have felt at liberty to Investigate the
conduct of the President or any other officer
of the Government.
In regard to the Lecompton Constitution.
they say that the country will pause with
establishment over the shameless record
They examined,
First-The emphatic and indubitable
pledges of the President, before as well as
after bis election, and the pledges of all his
Cabinet, to the doctrine of leaving the people
of Kansas perfectly free to administer their
institutions in their own way.
Second-Tbe deliberate breaking of the
pledges and the attempt to convert Kansas
into slave State by means of forgery, fraud
and force.
Third-The removal and attempt to dis
grace the sworn agents of the Administration
who refused to violate their pledges.
Fourth-The open employment of illegal
means in the passage of the Lecompton and
English bills through Congress.
Fifth-The admission of parties engaged
in the work of electioneering the scheme that
they received enormous sums for this pur-
pose.
Sixth-He offered to purchase newspaper
editors with extravagant sums of money.
Seventh, and lastly-Even the prescription
of Democrats of long standing who wonld
not support the Lecompton and English bills.
The witnesses on these points were Gov.
Walker, Wendell, Bean, and f. W. Walker,
and fortunately for the cause of truth, the
evidence of these witnesses does not conflict.
The committee depend upon their own adj
missions. 1t is proven by the book of re-
cords of the' Bank of the Metropolis, which
contains the names of those who conduct
their business there, and by the unconscious
contradiction of the witnesses.
The testimony of Mr.. Forney is not to be
overlooked in this connection; while it shows
q general willingness on the part of the
President to .ubsidize the public press, it
proves also that there was strong determi-
nation to buy all who could be bought and
to crush out the honest men who could not
be bought, or brbed, or reduced to an affilia
ton with the Administration in its Lecomp-
ton policy Mr.. Forney was offered the
printing of the pOstoffice blanks, with at least
$50 900, on the condition that he should, by
an editorial mo longer than mans hand"
support the Administration in its Kansas
policy. The committee refer to the fact that
twenty-four Democratic members of the
House despised the Kansas policy of the Ad
ministration. This number dwindled down
to twelve and enough were found to carry
the bill through the House. The committee
say it had always been supposed that the war
in Utah was gotten up for the purpose OF los
tering slavery in Kansas, the troops being
devoted to operations in Kansas. The next
point examined involved the abuse in the
Ph; lad el phia Custom House and other public
offices, in regard to which the committee say
that there w-re combinations among the
Federal officers with a view to control the
sentiment and prejudices of the people in
their primary political assemblies. Second
~, the improper and corrupt use of the pub
lie money-the employment of persons in the
public service in violation of the laws md
government regulations, and the frauds on
the part of officers of the government, to de-
feat The statutes of the United States enacted
for the purpose of protecting the public
treasury from unjust claims, and improyident
and unnecessary expenditures.
The witnesses are: John Fl. Bryant, John
J. Scbell, Francis and Sam b. Rice, Francis
Mccormick. Andrew Brumaker, George Dow
ney, Patrick Cafferty, J. Dunn, and others.
The committee say tn t Collector Baker i.
subject 10 the hest censurc. Under want
of time TO procure investigation into the
management of the POstoffice, no action was
taken. They examined the question of the
Executive bidding, saying that Mr.. Pettibone
was wrong in the matter of patronage retain
ed in the hands of the Presidents friends.
The committee say that the evidence proves
beyond doubt that the prices paid for the
Executive printing and binding are utterly
ouate 10 the work done. The
committee also alIude to the employ ment of
men to carry elections. In view OF all the
facts and circumstances attending this inyes-
tigation, from its inception to the pres ent
time, there seems marked propriety in clos
Ing this report with quotation from speech |
of Mr.. Buchanan 3 in condemnation of cor
ruption.
: Mr.. Train moved that $4,000 of the report
be printed. Referred to the Printing Com
mittee.
Mr.. Millson was privileged to make ma
jority report on Monday morning he not |
having timeto prepare it. The testimony was |
not closed till Thursday.