Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-06-28
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81 to- u grsig,ed, doubtless it
wiifts every fan misl0ed mn in this
House and the country, should Injustice
have been doue to any individual IN the
course OF this inquiry, by reason of the
inadequate time allowed Tor the examiu.
alton Of cubic Of such magnitude, a
source Of most painful regret.
As the CoSgrpssI dosepote4 pir9 pDtil
the Alb Of March. 1891, the 2ndesSikned
deemed, 10 view Of this suggestion, and
as sheer act Of justice 70 private isdi-
vduals, and public psrsonsges, whose
characters had seemingly been tr,ded
and sported with, that this investigation
should not now close but that flica
tion should bs made to the Honse for
leave to sit, duriug the recess, without
which permission the duties charged
upon the committee could not at all be
performed. si,4. rf =
But 10 this the undersigned was over
ruled. This determination of the com.
mittce is much to be regretted, since il
adds force to the suggestions which
have already obtsined csedeuce, and are
extensively circulated through the pub.
lie journals, that this investigation was
not commenced, nor carried on, for the
honest ascertsinment Of truth, but that,
in point of fact, it is . mere Trick aud
shallow continuance, for partizan pur-
poses, to compile document, and to
print it at the expense of the cout try,
and to circulate it, under the authority
Of this House, with view to influence
the fall elections and that to this end
unjust aspersions on public and private
character, and unwarranted insinuations
against the integrity Of the highest Off
GERS Of the government, and not at all TO
be regarded in the nature Of impedi-
ments conclusions possibly unjust to
the motives OF the mover Of the resolu-
tons, and certainly in derogat,on Of the
Justice Of the House, its character and
dignity.
And the undersigned fears that the
course Of proceeding IN the committee !;
the disregard, as it seems to the under
signed, OF private rights, q, d compulso-
ry violation of private confidence, the
more criminal because unnecessary, will
greatly tend to give color to thes
suggestions.
Perhaps many things that have oc-
Cured, and have contributed to create
and strengthen in the public mind the
probabilities OF such conclusion, are but
tho legitimate and natural results of res
oIu,ions Of this character. Aimed alike
in terms and purpose at the President
and high officers Of the Administration,
they offered bait too tempting to be re-
sisted by the pack OF slanderers and jack
alls of society, Sho are ever barking ut
the heels Of decency and responsibility,
aud shutting for their favorite repasts the
offsls Of slandered regulations.
The coward, sheltered under an anony-
nous signature, could vent all his spleen
and maIiguity without risk Of discovery;
and the course of this investigation has
stimulated informers aud encouraged
tale bearers. It will be we'll for the
country if the practice should stop here.
Vague and indefinite in their charges,
there was scarce, in the wide range Of
politics, q subject which an eager and in.
genious prosecutor might not have
drawn into examination under color OF
their authority.
The undersigned was anxious, nay,so-
Iicitous, to shield the mover, if his mo-
tives we're pure and patriotic, from unjust
aspersions, SO far as laid in his power.
He sought, therefore, to confne the in
quiries Of the committee within the Just
scope Of the resolutions, to charges
founded upon reliable sources, and to ex-
aminations conducted under the known
rules Of law which obtain in judicial
tribunals.
The more desirable and necessary was
his since the sessions of the committee
obviously inquisitorial a. were its du-
ties-were secret, as they need must lie.
and since its province was to determine
er parte upon the dearest rights Of the
citizen, his good name and reputation,
denying to him the sacred right of con-
fronting bis accuser and of cross-exam-
ming the witness.
But the undersigned regrets to say
that all these efforts on bis part we're fa-
tile. Most ofthe charges examined were
founded on anonymous communications;
others upon information from persons
destitute Of character, and without po-
sition-d displaced office-hoIders, disap-
pointed office-seekers, venal place-men,
Adventures, mercensry Swiss-whose
politics were bounded by no loftier mo-
tive than selfinteuest. ALI evidence
which, unexplained, raised suspicious
against the Administration, was, by
means unknown to the undersigned,
regularly telegrsphed to Northern pa
pers and when the evidence was not
Of this character, it vas invariably gar
bled and distorted. The private CORES
pondence of the President was paraded
OH all occasions, with degree Of indel.
icacy unparalleled, by Witnesses whose
sole purpose seemed to be to crafty
their malice. Senators, Represents
tives, his Cabinet Ministers, and init
mate friends were called upon to relate
his private conversations. Witnesses
we're summoned without order and with
out notice, and to this end the Chairman
usurped all the powers Of the Commit
tee. In one remarkable case, le ter
attacking the political integrity Of
member Of this House, MIR. Coz, Of Ohio,