New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-06-14

4
| have right to eensure at our pleasure the JUDI.
oiary; and IL We have that right, why should
| not the Judiciary have right TO censure u.s. This
doctrine attempted here would lead to intelmnaole
dscord between the coordinate branches OF the Gov
| eminent, and instead Of Government with ils CO.
ordinate branches working harmoniousy together, we
would have Government OF discordant and hostile
elements, making war one upon another TIL the whole
system would resolve into anarchy and confusion. This
thing WAS never attempted before II left to the
present House OF Representatives to initiate this move
| ment We especially this present House Of Repre-
sentaiives of all people earth forsooth, must re-
solve Ourselves into Judiciary tribunal, TO pas our
sentence Of condemnation upon the President, the
| Executive magistrate of the United States. We
beginning to have higher opinion OF our
selves than our fathers, who were representatives
of the people, had Of themselves. We are be-
gipping TO assume the God, and TO hurl our thunder
bolts around MS. II we this power, shall
next has been suggested to me- question the con-
duct Of the Supreme Court in the bred Scott decis
on TO il altogether. But let us see-ad.
hitting that we have the power TO nilict punishment
upon the President of The United States and Secretary
ofthe Navy if there is anything in tho volume OF tes-
mony which justifes the resolutions reported last ses
sion by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. sherman from
the minority of the Committee, and the present
resolutions reported by the member from Ten
uessee lNIr. HattonD. The latter gentleman tri-
! umphantly announced that he can sustain the
portion taken by him in the matter We shall
But appeal TO the practical common sense Of tho
testimony. Sir, if this House was judicial tribunal,
sworn to decide the according to the testimony
would not despair, humble az am, of being able to
defeat every resolution come TO on the strength of the
testimony contained in that volume. What is the fact
with regard to of the charges that the President
and the Secretary Of the Navy abused discre-
onary power in the purchase of coal for the Gov
ernment, that the party to whom they gave the
contract for this service got il at ruinous cost to
the country, and in opposition 10 the law requiring
that this contract shall be laid open to all bidders.
The resolution does not complain that the contract was
given TO an incompetent man, but there was such
gross neglect in the manner in which the contract was
gwen out aud disposed Of TO demand the interposi
ton Of the Honse. But the House must know that in
disposng of the patronage of the Government il i'm
possible Tor the President to make appointments from
his personal knowledge. lie must rely upon the
| COMMUNICATION Of those whom he supposes compe-
| tent TO Judge. The very same thing was done in
| the lIouse. The coal agent appointed by the
| President in this DIR. Hunter of Read
| ing, Pa, who came recommended to tho Ex-
| ccutive by large number OF the best men OF
| his State, and upon such recommendation he got the
appointment. What was then, the fact aitested by
| those who had the best right to know Why, that
under this mans agency better quality of coal was
supplied to the Government than had been before
The only complaint was that, in fact through circum
stances he made too much money in consequence Of
the expedition to Paraguay and other accidental cir
| cumstances. Mr. Bocock went on to show that i'll
other years and under other Administrations, even
greater profits made from precisely the same office
of coal agent 10 the Government noticing the fact
| that the agents, at the time Of the Japan exped-
| ton, made in two years $4,000. 1t was charged
that The profits ofhe Office divided but would the
mpeccabe demure gentleman from Ohio, give that as
| reason TO visit with condm punishment the President
and the Secretary of the Navy! Could he put that
forward "a a charge forgetting his participation
in the attempt to get Derees appointed Public Printer
ON the faith of hs promise that he would give one-haf
of his profits for the benefit of the Republican party
Would he dare 10 DO in the face Of the fact that
Fsrd, the present Republican Printer of the House,
had guaranteed with the party to divide the profits
| of his Office with them! But, of couIse, all this
goes for nothing, because it happens to tell against
The gentleman from Ohio and his friends. Ford was
one Of the brethren he belonged to the party of the
gentleman from Ohio and his friends; and must be
taken that 10 charge shall be brought against the party
But says the gentleman lei us hurl our thunderbos
against the gentlemen the other side. Mr.. Bocock
then went into an explanation Of the circumstances at
tending the appointment to offices generally under each
Administration, conendng that 1t was done in every
| case In the spirit which actuated the member from
New York lMr. Haskn) in giving ont the contract
| for binding because that the gentleman 80 APP
pointed was from his district and personal friend.
tie assured the House that resolutions FROM Com
| miitees came up with no other recommendation
than that OF the Chairman and perhaps one or two Of
the Committee and that these resolutions were ss-
tanned by party feelings In this ease, involving so
important matter a vote OF eensure OF me fres-
dent he begged that the House would give II proper
considerations and not allow itself 10 be- led away by
party feelings He charged the gentleman from Ohio
with having purposey got himself appointed to the
| Committee on Naval Expenditures, Ostensbly placed
Lowest ON the list but altogether with view to direct
| the whole proceeding. Mr.. Bocock had not con-
Guided when his hour expired.
Mr.. SHERMAN Rep, Ohio:l rose 10 reply: lie
said. Mr. Sneaker will first dispose Of the technical
| objections 10 the resolutions by the gentleman from
Virginia four of which had been urged Tho first OBJ
lection was taken TO the dispositions on which We are
about to act, because they were taken before Com
mittee of last session. Now. this is very singular oh
inbead when III remembered that bill
public or private, upon which base our legishtion
depends almost entirely upon the testimony and docu-
| ments taken some time before. How would such an
objection that be regarded in any court OF justice
that case could not be properly conducted because
the deposons in it taken before even the Judge
WAS appointed TO III on the bench 10 try il Such an
objection would be ridiculed at once by Court and
| LAWYERS. The testimony in this taken
in The proper and legitimate way, and the whole
examination Of the witnesses was properly conducted
say here that every witness the Secretary of the
NAVY desired 10 BE- examined was examined. Notice
was given TO him the very day the Committee was APP
pointed, and he requested to be present himself
personally, through representative TO examine the
Witnesses. He was asked also 10 name the witnesses
he desired 10 be subpenaed, and they Were sublencd
Word for word, copies Of the dispositions which af
fceted him were sent 10 him, and we invited bis coop
| Grafton We confined the testimony entirely to the
particular points ut issue, ard we did not travel be-
| yonl. The whole investigation was conducted with
The utmost stricness and according to the strict rules
OF law, giving TO the parties accused full and ample
means OF defense. The previous investigation was
closed shortly before the adjournment, and /
then endeayored to get vote from house with a
Democratic majority, and could not; ii had sue
coeded in getting a vote then would not have brought
| it up now. With regard TO the charge OF having
sought to be appointed TO the Committee on Naval Ex
pendtures Ioonfess did ask for the appointment and
never denied it. But with regard to another oblec
| ti0n The gentleman from Virginia says that the
House has no power TO investigate this matter at all
| When was this point made Why was il not raised
last session, when the gentleman from Virginia and