The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-01-10
Congressional IE~0
WASHisoros, Jan. @.
HOUSE. ~ w Z

on the second day oi the session q resolu.
iion was adopted 10 che House with refer. /
ence 10 the battle of Bell's Bluff. The !
resoiddon proposed no Investigation into
any future transaction whatever. Ii sim. |
ply requested the Secretary OF WAY 10 in.
form The House whether any steps have
been taken to ascertain who was fespon-
sible for The disaster, s..sa.a
. The resolution was handed to the Ad-
juiant General, who submitted il to the
Gouimander in Chief. lie (Mr. Conk-
lingj was unwilling 10 believe that the
Coamander.in. Chief had read the reso-
luton, because he could no. impu,e TO him
tie design 10 tride with, the House, and
Teturn an evasivs answer II he did read
il. he certainly misunderstood tie purport.
He seemed to have received the impress.
ion that a future inquiry was to be insti
tuted, and that IA very general charac-
ter, and he accordingly expressed an opin-
Ion % the Adjuiant General. which, was
reported to The Secretary Of War. and by
the latter transmitted TO the House.
The answer 10 the resolution did not in
form the House that steps had been made
to show who was TO blame for the Balls
Bluff Disaster "a The response was eva
sive; now this was. disregard OF the
privileges OF The House. which ought to
receive and require prompt notice, un-
less we consent 10 a irampling on our
rights We should watch with jealous
eye the right Of wholesome inquiry. 7u
The inquiry related TO great national
calamity. and tothe most a:rocious mill
tary murder ever committed in our hisio-
ry, shd,the most hpmilia,ing triumph ol
the rebellion. A blunder SO gross lha:
every mancan see L. and no one has ever
dared deny or defendit. Besides the &c
feat and the large loss OF arms and muni-
tiens OF war, there was a sacrifice oi $50
men, ..5tr....,. 5.t.r.5..-t .t.r,e. a.y
The ,s.ol. ,;on 10 ,vh;eh Ea fcontl;,,\
r.far,od ,ua. ,,,onIsaa r,,, ot ,.,s,,,., -
:, 80 PP
the memory OF those men, ano IN ceience
OF the public propriely and self respect o.
The nation. IL was 10 inquire whether the
military authorities have taken any steps
whatever to aseertain whois ,esponsibIe
n, IN. t.lsndb,.,,of ,bl. ems ~ NJ VI
M.s.s.s..a,,. .,J p'....r,;. = -
" go o.1 - ''t "utt ti,e"'ss3 900.
"eh' o'one' ""o was AZ .he ume in
command. IS q member OF the regular
army. Col. Baker WAS voluneer.
The respective friends Of these gentle
men have raised a question as to the
merits Of The case involving The efficiency
oI ,.,,,,lars .nJ vol,,,,aars ~, ICo,L
~: -I.:
""sI ""1 no 'o,e'a'o' W, SUE" 'o"'io
sary. alhs man thatls to blame should
tall upon bis knees and ask pardon.
If Col. Baker was responsible. most
lamentably has he suffered, II Ten.
S,one is resnonsible. n ,rea,.r WEIGHT of
,,,,;I, ,a,ar. ra.,.d ,,noa o o,Las +,
gun. ueVe. 'eeu "Pon ""J o'"e' i' =" ~
'nsa on nun. .,.-,i.5. ma,
mt. Cohsnng w .no course o. nus .emaIk''
.a;u :. me-. .".' I al" M.o'" ;.s - opn"s ~
ohs a"n, ~ W uSs " o"t " All y' % nup
- '"ouS",u ,u u.o" ~ W. "o'u - 49, "
oatnnmbcrnd and ionorin;ors,s dsrea,ed
and va, rh. Housa aSd Tho countrv arc da.
.ied the riybt ,f knowino Who ARC yasnonsi.
M, III ws c.ono, h.yo ;ndamn;,v ~. ,ho
oast in M. mama ~ bn,,nn;,y Ia ns Il, %
seca,ity fnr the foinro. ia, ma NOV Who
in rosnonsihle fny ,bo Az SracafnI ,I;.as,oy /. ,
Balr's Buff. aHs said nffor tho nuhIca,ion
of Aaiu,ant 3enorni Tbona., re ,nr, raIa,;vo
TO General Fre,oon,. oer,ainly no nuhlie,. =.
tion of anvtbino connec,ed w;th ,be army
sbould Ia sn,nres,ed Mr. Co,tliro w., var,
noin,.d nnd seyeyo in he como,s,u,s ill.,
off,red "A nreamfIe reci,ino ,ha rosoi,,;on
berctotore adon,ed nnd ,be rosnon.e con.
Guiding with a resolution tba, tho aasvc,
10 II n nei,her responsiye nor sa,nfac,orv
"a tbe Housa and tha, tho Secre,arv II
War be directed TO return a furtl O answer
Mr. Richardson said he wos opposed to
tho whole resolution It was q subject with
which ,hey had nothing to do. and the soon.
or they stopped tho proceedings tho better
for the corn,ry. = 'F .f
Mr.. Cri,tendcn thought the 70 lse had
no power under tho Cnnstitut;on o enquire
into the matters purely military Tne
army is under the COMMAND of the Presi.
dent. Who is responsible for its operations.
'i vaiiandieham said be would at all times
maintan the subordination of tho military
to he civil authority The British Par.ia.
ment has exercised the right o inquiry into
the conduct OF tho Crimeao war. hut hero
tho Secretarv of War had ouiy exercised q
discretion allowed 10 him BY the House, and
II was now TOO late 10 complain of il. '%'N
Mr.. Eovajoy entered his protest aeaius,
the principle enunciated by tho pentieman
FROM Kentucky. having aiways believed that
the military should bc subordInate to the
- -. lHF. q