Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-04-09
WARRINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

THE SMELLING COMMIrTEE."-Thatt the man.
ner In which "Peeping Johns" committee is
conducting its nominal Investigations begins to
be understood by the country at distance, we
may fairly infer from the following article from
the New York Tribune, the most intense news
paper supporter Of the party for whose benefit Mr..
Covode is doing his best to make the Government
of the United States one Of irresponsible invest-
eating committees, trampling under foot every
Pretence of individual right, instead of the gov.
eminent of law it was designed to be. If such a
journal as the New York Tribune is forced to
speak thus Of this committees proceedings, what
think you, reader, do others not welded to Re-
publican partysm conceive Of them,
RIGHT AGAINST PRERoGATIvE-Tb House
COMMITTEE OF Investigation, whereof Mr.. Covode
Of Penn, is chairman, insists, we learn that Mr.
Augustus Schell Of this city shall produce and
deliver list in his possession Of contributors in
this city to the fund raised here to carry PeDnsy
vana for Buchanan at the October election of
1856. The Committee. it is understood. propose
to invoke the power Of the House to coerce Mr.
Schell to produce the paper demanded. If they
do this, we trust the House will pause and con-
slider well before taking the action required Mr.
scheil, thongh now Collector Of this Port, a
private citizen in 1856; those who contributed the
money he raised for the Pennsylvania canvass
were likewise mainly private citizens
rs not even In evidence that the money was
used Improperly, though we presume good part
OF 1t was; there is Of course no shadow of proof
that it was contributed by public officers or that
1t came, however circuitousy, out Of the Federal
Treasury. BY what right, then, under what color
Of reason. do the committee undertake to constran
Mr.. Schell to give up this private paper and
blazon to the world the names of private citizens
under circumstances calculated to expose them to
odium: II they have been guilty Of conspiracy or
corruption why not indict and try them If the
object is to fish out evidence on which to base a
prosecution we object that the mode is illegal,
unconstitutional. and the whole procedure frau1ht
with danger to the rights Of every citizen
we speak thus freely, because the subject is of
tne gravest Importance. while our relation to the
parties In conflict enables do so without ex
posture to Misrepresentation. Mr. Schell and his
contributors are political adversares; the COM
mitteee who are pressing them to the wall are our
political friends. But right is right and this
procedure seems to us quite another thing It is
an attempt to make party capital by an abuse of
tive "''''u' P'erosa'
The fact may we'll be stated that this whole
business of developing political scandal by legis-
latlVe Investigations has already been about Iun
into the ground Intelligent, fair-mnded men
are growing sick of it. In SO far as public func-
nonarles and other recipients of public money are
required to give account OF their dealings with
the Treasury, we uphold the claim to the fullest
extent Even this may be abused but it is salu-
tary, conservative power, and we rejoice i'm see
ing it fearessly, searchingly exercised But drag
glng private citizens, or those who were private
citizens whsn the acts to which inquest is made
were committed, before Investigating Commit
tees, to be catecbiSed in secret under circum
stances which secure them no protection against
pertinent peering and prying' into their private
concerns, will not answer. 1t must either be
strictly Limited or utterly stopped
MI. rhaddeus Hyatt has been one month or
more in prison. for no offence known to the laws
refusing to answer questions that be believes
the s Senate's Committee has no right to put If
MI. Schell should experience like Treatment in
case where the inqusition seems to us far more
wanton and inexcusable than in Mr.. Hyatt's there
must be a popular uprising against this whole
business. government by laws is one thing;
government by investigating committees with
unlimited discretion is quite another We greatly
preie. the former. and believe few rejecting men
Will be found to dissent from our choice