The New York herald., 1862-04-29
House of Representatives.


WASHINGTON, April 2s, 1862.
THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON THE coNnscArIoN REBEL
PROPERTY.
The spEAxER announced the following as the special
committee on the coniscaton Of rebel property -
Messrs. olin of New York Eliot, of Massachusetts,;
Noel, of Missouri Hutchins, Of Ohio Mallory. OF Ken
lucky; Beaman, OF Mchgan and Cobb, OF New Jersey.
Mr.. OLIy (rep) of NY, remarked that he had here
ofoe asked to be excused from serving the commit
tee and he repeated for the request which
was now complied with.
REPORTS OF THE RATTLE OF SHILOH.
On motion of Mr.. MCPHERSON (rep of Pa, it was re-
solved that Secretary of War transmit to the House
copies Of the reports commanders of regiments, bri
gades and divisions engaged in the battle Of Shiloh,
Tennessee
On motion OF Mr. Goocu rep) Of Mass tho Senate bill
for the recognition Of ayt and Liberia referred to
the Committee Foreign Affairs.
ALLEsED pIsLoyAL JUDGE VIRGINIA.
On motion of Mr. POTTER, (rep) of Wis.,, the Secretary
Of War requested TO inform the House whether
Judge Fets. who sent letter to the rebel Legislature
at kchmcnd declaring his loyalty that cause contin
ues hold his for Ace and Northampton
ties, Virginia with the Knowledge aud Of the
federal military commandant Of that district
PUNISHMENT FRAUDS on THE GOVERNMENT.
On motion of Mr.: CnsAx, (rep.) of Ind, it was re-
qure into the eXpedency Of reporting bill for punish
ing all contractors guilty Of deraudrg the government
with penalties similar to these for grand larceny.
THE CANADIAN RECIPROCITY TREATY.
Mr. SPAUIpIyG, (rcpl Of N. Y, introduced joint
solution, which was referred to the Committee on Com
merce authorizing the appointment OF commissioners to
negotiate concerning the Reciprocity treaty and author
izng the President TO give the necessary notice for ter
minating the present unfair treaty.
FoREIGN OFFICERS INVITED TO JOIN THE FEDERAL ARMY.
Mr. RICHARDSON (opp OF III. asked but failed obtain
leave to trod resolution Sc ting forth that Secre
tary Seward in July, 1861 certain Italian
officer saying that If he should come TO shores
government would take pleasure in assigning him hon.
orable military position Tho officer, under this
surarce at great expense, hther, and has beea
waiting four months without receiving any Official re-
Sec etary OF State (r Seward) 20 furnish the number
and names Of all officers who have been invited to-
getor with the date OF the the disposition Of such
officers and the expense the government has thereby in
CURED, &c.
PUNISHMENT OF PoLYGAaY.
MT Ashley, (rep.) Of Ohio reported back from the
Committee on Territories the bill preyelt and punish
the practice of poygamy, and to annu certain acts Of
the Legislature Of the territory of Utah establishing the
same.
Mr. MORRILL,, (rep) of VT, said this bill the
introduced by him two years ago, with the exception
of the omission Of its applicability 10 the District OF
Columbia.
The bill was passed.
DEBArg on THE REPORT THE CONTRACT INVESTIGATING
CoN,.nryE--nEfENcT THE SECRETARY NAVY
The House resumed the consideration OF the rcrort on
contracts The frs: resolution reported by
them was postponed for two weeks IL is as follows
That the Secretary OF the Treasury requested
nasina any further payment 70 the parties t restc in the
by tie United States on the 25th OF April, 1861.
The next resolution in the series then taken up
1t is as follows
The qeS ne o e Of the e % se ss
bnes purchased through Simon Stevens ESQ,
wards delivered at United States Arsenal al the city Of
s og o 81 90 ce Of 81 ali n"eh arms 10 hs
the government on account OF the purchase OF sad
substitute fer the above
That nothing has confidence in the
honesty integrity and patriotism Of Major General Free
Mr. wAsBBrRNE, (rep) Of H. raised tie point OF order
that the substitute was not GERMAN.
Mr.. STEVENS maintained that the original resolution i'm.
p sed censure General Fremont.
order
Mr.. sEDewiK, (rep) Of N. Y. reviewed the report Of
the committee, which censures the Sccrtia.y Of the
Navy for employing Morgan to purchase Is number
OF vessels instead of employing responsible oihcers of
the government He said the old rotten taps system
could not be sustained for moment. The education,
profession an and habit. HABITS ,S Of LIE Of naval oti'
The department. at the commencement OF the
purchases, employed an officer OF age and skill in
the profession whose honesty and integrity one
would doubt. Ho referred TO Commodore Breese who
as incompetent as child respecting the purchase OF
vessels, experience lad shown Ho gave several in.
stances to show that Notwithstanding the responsibility
OF naval officers they do not the
imposition and fraud. In the of his remarks he
said that $50 vessels had been purchased by Mr. Nor
gan. While other vessels had been found inefficient not
Of those purchased by Mr.. Morgan and examined
the mode he had directed, had failed to perform what
was expected and this was apart from the economy in
volved in the transaction. He (Mr Sedgwick) believed
that the Select Committee would do the Secretary OF the
any want OF integrity the least appearance dis
honesty his part in these purchases. The agent
ployed by the Secretary OF the Navy Mr Morgan
the government over 5000 ,O00 an amount less than
at first asked for the vessels. II Mr.. Morgan had
yielded to the amounts asked he would have put 20 600
in his pocket: but he honesty performed hs
duty in the premises. As general rule, voluntary
agents will cheat you out Of interest and principal too
and many Of those who Oct OF this will have
long fine fleece athering to them He believed In
hiring competent and paying them reasonable
pousaon for their services As to the Secretary Of tho
Navy employing nephew tMr. Morgan) to purchase
thess vessels the charge OF mproprety would have
exhibition Of justice the agent were Incompetent but
IL in this It not considered impro-
per for the Secretary Of state Secretary OF the
TO employ his own in important confidential
business He spoke with knowledge Of the fact that
Mr.. Morgans appointment was not thing dono ia
It open ALL and with the consent and advice
OF high officers OF the government. the Secretary had
adhered ~ the time e-honorod abuses, In pur.
chasing the Select Committee would have passed over
the whole transaction andewhte washed, rather red
washed, him with rod tape Yet because the Score :ary
has proaby ventured out Of the routine he is charged
49,