The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1860-07-12
9Oljtjtal.
Covode Committee Report.

Mr.. Train made a report from the Co.
vode Committee, June 10th, signed by
Messrs. Covode, Olin and Train. The
minority were allowed further time to
prepare counter report.
The report Of the majority sets out
by speaking of the embarrassments
which attended their labors, and stating
that the President saw fit to send a sol.
emn protest in the way of proclama.
ton to the world that the whole power
OF the Executive, instead of being ex-
ercscd to forward an investigation
into Administrative affairs, would be ex-
ercised to protect those who might choose
to disobey the summons of the Speaker
of the House, or who, having obeyed
the summons, might refuse to testify be-
fore the committee, who quote preced-
onts to show that they have felt at lib
crty to investigate the conduct of the
President or any other officer of the
Government.
In regard to the Lccompton Consti-
tuition, they say the country will pause
with astonishment over the shameless
record. They examined, first, the EN-.
phatic and indubitable pledges of the
President, as well before as after his
election, and the pledges of all his cab
met, to the doctrine Of leaving the peo-
pie of Kansas perfectly free to admin
lister their institutions in their own way.
Second-The deliberate violation of
these pledges, and the attempts to con-
vert Kansas into Slave State by means
Of forgeries, fraud and force.
Third-The removal and attempt to
disgrace the sworn agents of the Ad-
ministration, who refused to violate
their pledges.
Fourth-The open employment of
money in the passage of the Lccompton
and English bills through Congress.
Fifth-The admission of parties en-
gagged in the work of electioneering this
scheme that they received enormous
sums for that purpose.
Sixth-He offered to purchase news
paper editors with extravagant sums Of
money.
Seventh-And even the prescription
of Democrats of high standing, who
would not support the Locompton and
English bills.
The witnesses on these points were
Governor Walker, Wendell, and L. W.
Walker; and, fortunately for the cause
of truth, the evidence of these witness
es does not, the Committee say, depend
upon their own admissions. 1t is prov
en- by the book of records of the Bank
of the Metropolis, which contains the
names of those who conduct their bu-
siness there, and by the unconscious
contradiction of the witnesses. The
testimony of Forney is not to be over
looked in this connection. While il
shows general willingness on the part
of the President 10 subserve the public
press, it proves also that there was q
strong determination to buy all who
could be bought, and to crush out the
honest men who could not be bribed oI
reduced to an afliliation with the Ad,
ministration in its Lecompton policy
Forney was offered the printing of tho
PostOtfce Blanks, worth at least $780,
600, on condition that he should, BY
an editorial no longer than a mans
hand, support the Administration in
its Kansas policy. The Committee re
fer to the fact that twenty, four Demo
cratic members ofthe House disapproved
of the Kansas policy. This number
was dwindled down to twelve, and
enough were found to carry the bill
through the House.
The Committee say it had Away:
been supposed that the war in Utah
was gotten up for the purpose Of fast,
ening Slavery on Kansas, the troops be
ing diverted to operations in Kansas.
The next point examined involved
the abuses in the Philadelphia Custom
House, and other public Offices, in re-
gard to which the Committee charge
combinations among Federal officers
with a view to control the sentiments
and prejudices of the people in theil
primary political m ovements.
Secondly, the improper and corrupt
use of the public money in the employ
ment of persons in the public service
in violation of the laws and gOvernmen
tai regulations, aud the fraud on tn,
part Of officers Of the Government t.
defeat the statute Of the United States
enacted for the purpose of protecting
the public treasury from unjust claims
l.