Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-02-01
WAsHNGToN January 25, 1851
stafaiing observation-disclosures 90
an ex~MelnbeR Of the SahInof

staFt'ias DISC csosures-Tndictment ~
AN eX-MelnbeF Of the CabInet
The Grand Jury OF the District of Columbi, =,
day presented ex~Secretary J. B. F1oyn G,a
feasance 10 office, and conspiracy to def, MAJ
Government. Thomson, late Secretary of +5, S 0
terror. Drinkard, chief clerk Of the war NJ ' 1n-
nent, and other high Government Officials III ~
examined before the jury, and upon their tes,po
anu iacts derived from the House Committee -
regard to the stolen bonds, that presenrror, - "a
made Startling disclosures OF the most yilIai,
IIauds are spoken Of, and the fact is very eviI,,
that the Secession movement was notbig, In,t ~
attempt to scuttl3 the snip after robbing IT.
THE ABASDoxED FORTS IL FLORIDA.
Commodore Armstrong, late commander At P.n-
sacoia, was before the special COMMITTEES on ~.
FFesident's late message. Tie comm tee iDtsns
thoroughly TO investigate the condition OF an
southern fOrtInc rIons, aud the circumstances AZ
tenaing their surrender to the Dsunionists with
view to ascertaining whether there has not basn :
premises AZ 'A7
ROAD FOR THE GUILTY TO ESCAPE.
In the event of an indictment bv the Grand L.
now investigating the charges against YIN. n ~
sell, and others, Tor the abstraction of the mi
trust bonds, from the Department of the Intario.
1t IS said by the legal profession that new duestio
arising undef recen; statute, will be presented for
'hs consi ieraiion of tue court.
The second section of the act of Jasuarv o.
1857, is as follows: r
'f4pd be ii further enacted, That no parson o.,
amin I'd and testifying before either Hous. of c.
gress, or any committee Of either House shall Ls
held to answer criniinally in any court Of iustio
or subject 10 any penalty forfeiture for apv f,c,
or act touching which be shall be required to taS
MY before either House of Congress- or committee
oi either House, as to what he shall have testified
whether before or after the date Of this act and
lnat no statement made or paper produced by any
Witness before either House of Congress or no
fore any committee of either House. shall he com
petsnt testimony In any criminal proceeding agaist
Such witness in any court of iustice and no v,t
ness shall hereafter be allowed TO refuse to test
70 any 'act, or to produce any paper touching
which he snail he exI Imined by either House of
Congress, any committee of either House for
the reason that his testimony touching such fac,
or the production of such paper, may tend To dis
grace him or otherwise render him Infamous zro
rtded, that nothing in this act shall be construct
10 exempt any witness from prosecution and puB-
lShment for IeIjary committed by him in testify
ing as aioresaid.''
Now, Mr.. RUSSELL having been several timsss,
ahntsed before the Special Committee of the Hou<e
OF Representatives, and having testified cannot
soc held 10 ansuer crimnaiy any cOurt Of JUSTICE
e:for any fact oci, Touching
ichach ne shall be required 10 fesify, and NAV suc
cessfullY plead this law ia bar of any indictment
that may be found against him touching the mat
Ter OF the distracted bonds. This defence will also
De available TO all the officials implicated ia the
bond larceny, abstraction, as it is softly called
from the highest to the lowest as well as 10 their
outdoor agents, who may have been so fortunate
as 10 nave been examined and testified before the
Morris Committee of the House. This law MAS
framed for good purposes, but may turn out to be
the gateway for the escape of the guilty 1t can
only be pleaded after Indictment, and may not be
available II the party should have refused 10 an
swer all questions propounded by the Committee
All persons connected with the abstraction of the
ponds ana their circulation, so far as the Commit
tee could reach them, have been examined except
Bailey, who is the only teft as a victim 10
satisfy the offended law.
Ex-sEcRETARY THOMPSON AND THE MISSING BONDS
II is said that the ex-Secretary is alarmed at the
prospect Of being made liable for the value of all
the missing Indian trust fund bonds. He was the
sal custodian OF this property, gave receipt to
MS predecessor in office, Mr.. McCleland, for them
and they are charged up against him en- the books
OF the Government. 6hen a public officer is
charged with the keeping of public property he
must account for it, and no person has been more
stern and firm in enforcing this accountability than
Mr. Thompson. Many poor devil in the Indian
service, tne wagon-road expeditions, and other
branches under the interior Department has fell
the severity of this ssinf sxible Administration off
Ger" OF -. g." The loss of money by a public
officer, be it accidental otherwise even If stolen
from him, or from the Sub-Treasury in his charge
viii not relieve him, and no power but Congress,
IN such event, can balance his account Let Mr.
Tholnpson's account be settled, and il the Gov
eFhneht can make out case OF gross negligence
on his part, he viii be clearly Liable for the loss of
the bonds; and if report speak truly of his large
fortune, it will not be much Inconvenience for hin
to pay the amount.
THE PENSACOLA TRAITORS.
draft for S74 900 in favor of the Navy Agent
at Pensacola WAS stopped at the Treasury when
just on the eve of being sent off. 1t would have
been applied to the pay Of Mr.. RenShaw and ether
ex-of1cers who were engaged in the treasonable
conspiracy to surrender ths Navy ard and who
dlsgraced the American flag. Perhaps they will
get paid by Florida, and perhaps not. Mr.. Yulee
can give them plenty Of Fernandina Railroad
bonds.
A CONSULTATION.
limited conference was held last night, at which
Messrs Crttenden, Douglas, Seward and Dixon
were present, with view OF considering some COM
mon basis OF adjustment that might be shaped TO
satisfy these interests Taey did not agree
upon plan, but separated with good understand
ing.
PEAoEABLE SEoEssIoN.-Th friends of
South Carolina boast that che has right to
secede peaceably, which course, they allega,
she has pursued: The following is the progress
of her ''peaceable secession"
Castle Pnckney; taken by storm.
Fort Moultrie; captured
The United States Arsenal at Charleston
seized.
The IT, S. Custom House and Post Office 10
Charleston; seized.
United States Revenue Guitar brig Aiken;
taken.
New forti6sAtions raised on Sullivan's and
Johnson's Island.