The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-06-20


tervals Of cheers and speeches, until the small
hours warned the joyous crowd that they had
homes.
Report Of the Covode Committee.
The following is synopsi. of the repor. of the
Covode Committee made in the House of Repre-
sentatives on Saturday last, the 10th inst. Should
an edition of $4,000 copies Of this report be pub
lshed, il will be found a wieldy weapon in the
hands of Republicans the coming campaign:
Mr. Train made report from the Covode CON-
mittee, signed by Messrs. DIN and VIM. 1t
sets out by speaking of the embarrassment which
attended their labors, and stating tina. the Pre.i-
dent saw f. to send solemn protest in the wav
Of a proclamation TO the world, that the whole
power Of the executive instead OF being exercised
to forward ar Investigation 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
summons, might refuse to testify before the COM
rnittee, who quote presidents TO show that they
have felt at liberty TO investigate the conduct OF
the President or any other officer Of the Govern.
ment.
In regard to the Lecompton Constitution, they
say the country will pause with astonishment over
the shameless record. They examined,
lst. The emphatic and indubitable pledges Of
the President, well before after his 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.
I'd. The deliberate violation Of these pledges,
and the attempt 20 convert Kansas into a Slave
State BY means of forgeries, fraud and force.
Sd. The removal and attempt to disgrace the
Suoru nf tho dypi ho rolf, so2
to violate their pledges.
4th. The open employment Of money in the
passage Of Lecompton and English bills through
Congress.
5th. The admission of parties engaged in the
work Of electioneering this scheme, that they re-
ceived enormous sums for this purpose.
9th. He offered to purchase newspaper editions
with extravagant sums of money.
9Th. And even the prescription Of Democrats
Of high standing who would not support the Lee
compton and English bills.
The witnesses on this point were Gov. Walker,
Wendell, Bean, and II. W. Walker, and fortu-
nately for the cause of truth, the evidence of
these witnesses does not, the Committee say, de-
pend upon their own admission. II is proven by
the books Of Record OF the Bank of tue Metrop.
oils, which contains the names of those who con-
duct their business there, and by the unconscious
contradiction OF the witnesses.
The testimony of Harvey is not to be over.
looked in the connection. While it shows gen.
eral willingness on the part OF the President to
subsidize the public press, i. proves also that
there was a strong determination to buy all who
could be bought and to crush out the honest men
who could not be bribed or reduced to an affiiia
ton with the administration in its Lecompton
policy.
Mr.. Forney was offered the printing of the
POstofice blanks worth least s. 900, On the con-
dition that he should, by an editorial no longer
than mans hand, support the Administration in
it's Kansas policy. The committee refer to the
fact that "a Democratic members of the House
opposed the Kansas policy of the President
This number dwind!ed down to IL, and enough
were found to carry the bill through the House
The committee say it had always been supposed
the war in Washington was gotten up for the
purpose CT fastening slavery on Kansas, the
troops being diverted 70 operations in that terri
tory.
The next point examined involved the abuses
in the Philadelphia custom-house, and other pub
/ lie officers IN the navy yard. In which the com
mittee say there were improper com limitations
among Federal officers with the view to control
the sentiments and prejudices Of the people in
their primary political movements. Secondly,
the improper and corrupt use o. the public mo-
ney in the emplcyme Of persons in the public
service, in violation OF the laws and government
regulations; and the frauds on the part of Off.
GERS of the government to defeat the statute OF
the United States enacted for the purpose OF pro.
tectng the public treasury from the unjust
claims and improvident and unnecessary expen.
ditures.
The witnesses are Jno. II. Bryant, Francis snd
Saml. B. Rice, Francis Mccormick. j. F. Schneil,
Ander Brumaker, Geo. Downey, Pstk. Csfsrty,
John Dunn. and others. The committee say
Collector Baker is subject to the highes, censure
They procured investigation into the manage
ment Of the Postofhce, and examined the subject
Of executive binding, and say Mr.. Pettbone was
wrong in the matter, and that the patronage was
retained in the hands of the Presidents moss eff
6cient friend, Wendell. The committee say the
evidence proves beyond doubt, that the prices
paid for the executive printing and binding
were utterly disproportionate to the work done.
The committee also alluded to the employment,
o. men TO carry elections. II view Of all the
facts and circumstances attending the investigs-
ton, from its inception to the present time, there
seems a marked proprety in closing this report
with quotation from a speech Of Mr.. Buchanan,
in coudem alton Of corruption.
| Mr.. Train moved that so 600 copies Of the re.
| port be priated. Referred to the printing com
mittee.