The national Republican., 1861-07-18

On motion Of Mr.. CLARK, the Senate went
into Executive session.
Adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The SPEAKER announced tic following
Committee on the Bankrupt Law:
Roscoe Conkling of New York, John Hutch.
ins of Ohio, Francis Thomas of Maryland, John
". Noel Of Missouri, Robert Mcknight of
Pennsylvania. ..|
Hon. Henry May, of Maryland, took the
oath and his seat ss member Of the Thirty.
seventh Congress.
Mr.. HOLMAN, of Indiana, from the Select
Committee on Contracts, reported resolution
instructing the committee to inquire into all
the facts and circumstances connected with the
contracts hitherto entered into or that may be
entered into prior to the report Of said commit
tee, by any of the departments Of the Govern
ment growing out Of, or in any way connected
with, the suppression Of the Southern rebellion,
and empowering the committee to hold their
investigation wherever, and whenever it may
be necessary, and to employ such means for
acquiring information as they deem fit for the
purpose and object OF said committee.
Mr. VAN WYCk, chairman Of the com
mittee, warmly supported the resolution. 1t
was an investigation demanded alike by the
country and the administration.
Mr.. KELLOGG objected to the resolution,
the effect Of which was, he said, to convey an
irnputation offered against the War Depart.
meRt. .-----.-
The CHAIR in reply to an inquiry of Mr..
Roscoe Conkling, said that the resolution ap.
piled to all the Departments.
Mr.. KELLOGG resuming, said, that if these
implied suspicious Of the honesty or the com.
potency Of the Dempartment were well founded,
it would be but just to make the charge direct.
The adoption Of the resolution would establish
a most pernicious precedent its object evident.
ly wss 10 place the Secretary of War under the
control Of the committee--a committee acting
under rowing commission, without limitation
of time or Of place.
He earnestly contended that the passage Of
this resolution would, in the practical effect, be
a vote of censure upon the Departments.
Mr.. r. CONkLING conte nded that the power
which this resolution asked for was Ii power
which but twice in the history of this Congress
had been conferred upon a committee-the
power to travel and pursue its investigations
elsewhere than in the capital. 1t asked that
the committee be empowered to investigate any
contract made by any Department, and with
any person. He thought the resolution intend
ed to question the integrity Of the Departments,
and he regretted that anything so ungracious
should be done by this House.
Mr.. HOLMAN replied that the construction
put upon the resolution By the member from
New York, Mr. CcHkling, contendng that if
the Administration was acting with integrity
as he trusted he was--it ought not to be OBJ.
iected to.
Mr.. KELLOGG moved to lay the resolution
on the table; but temporarily withdrew the mo.
ton at the request of Mr. Dawes
Mr.. DAWES said he was appointed men,
Der of this committee without his knowledge;
and he only desired to scquit himself Of the oD
legations thus imposed upon him, with fairness.
He had no disposition to pursue this Adminstra.
ton with suspicious Of its integrity nor did he
intend to aid in whitewashing any dishonest
parties. He had no intention to seize upon the
public exigencies of the Government to enrich
himself, and he did not intend any one else
should. He supposed, when this House ap.
pointed the committee, that it had confidence
in their sense Of justice: and it should not now
object to comforting the powers necessary to en-.
able the committee to carry out the purposes for
which they were appointed. He had no charge
Of dishonesty to advance against any one of the
Departments, but it was evident to this House
that the country was filled with rumors of fraud
in reference TO these army contracts and it was
should be investigated
1t was no objection to the resolution, that it
ought to extend the duties of the committee
beyond the present session, for it was impossi.
BILE for them TO accomplish anything before the
termination Of the session on Friday next.
The object of the request to be allowed TO hold
their sessions elsewhere than in this city was to
save expense. Gentlemen well knew the ad.
vantage Of examining into the facts connected
with contracts, at the place where the contract
was made. twas the purpose of this commit.
tee to institute a thorough and honest iuvesti.
CATION into all public contracts which were OBJ.
jects Of p pular suspicion.
Mr.. EDWARDS opposed the resolution, be.
cause it conveyed uni ust imputations upon the
honesty Of the departments. II any member
oi the Government was suspected Of unfair
practices in the matter Of his contracts, it was
but fair that the charge should be made respon.
sbly and directly. and not be left to vague suspi.
cions. The Administration had but inst en-
tered upon the threshold of power, and It should
not this early be embarrassed in its efforts to
meet very grave crisis.
Mr.. KELLOGG renewed his motion to lay
on the table.
The yeas and nays being demanded upon
Mr.. Kellogg's motion to lay the resolution on
the table, they were decided as follows: yeas
ST. nays II.
The question then recurring upon the origi
nal resolution, several points Of order we're
raised against its reception, and which being
overroled by the chair, the main question was
then put and the resolution adopted by the
following vote yeas 81, nays ~.
Mr.. ELLIOTT reported back bill proyid.
! ing for the compensation Of the onicnra ot the
revenue Marine. Passed
On motion OF Mr.. STEVENS, the House re.
solved itself into Committee of the Whole (Alr.
Campbell in the chair and took up the tariff
bill.
! Mr. NALLANDIGHAM offered, as q sub.
slnte, to restore the tariff act of l847, with the
imposition of 4 duty of ten per cent upon the