The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-04-30
~ nELEcRAPH.
xxxvII Congress--First Session
Washington. AnriI "a.

Navy Department conducted its business
with energy and credit.
Mr. Stevens attacked the report Of the
committee, and charged that they had
proceeded on false premises, and acted
generally unfairly.
Washington, April 20.
HousE. Mr.. Blair. DIVA, inquired Of
Mr. Potter on what authority he yester-
day predicated his charge Of disloyalty
against Judge Pitts, of Northampton
county.
Mr.. Potter replied "On the address Of
Judge Pitts to the Virginia Legislature
at Richmond
The address was now read, in which
Judge Pitts referred to the action Of the
Legislature TO depose him without giving
him IN opportunity for defence The
communication Of this would be manifest
y unjust; he could only plead not guilty
of disloyaliy to the South, and doubted
not he could triumphantly vindicate him
self from every charge his enemies and
prosecutors might bring against him. He
protested against being removed from Of
ice by extra constitutional means.
House then resumed the consideration
of the report Of the Select Committee on
Government contracts.
Roscoe Conkling said he voted against
raising this Committee. 1t seemed that
none could be SO honest or eminent that
It would be suitable to clothe them with
the unheard Of power asked on that occa-
sion. 1t seemed unfit to constitute an
Advisory Board to supervise questions Of
integrity relating TO every man engaged
IN the Administrations of departmental az
fairs. 1t seemed to him . rowing com
mission to take into consideration the hon
esty or fraud Of all future contracts to be
entered into by any department of the
Government. 1t brought with it grave
objections, and little argument could be
found in its favor. Experience had de-
monstrated that every objection there
made had been abundanty sustained by
the conduct of the Committee, which had
done grave and irreparable injustice to
both individuals and. classes. These M
we'll . the nation have suffered by the de-
clarations Of the COMMITTEES, - this Com
mittee was pioneer experiment and had
turned out badly they could dispense with
IT. The gentleman Davis said there
was indubitable evidence OF fraud, well
nigh in . single year as much as the cur
rent expenditures Of the Government DUR
ing the administration, which the people
hurled from power because of its cor
ruption. Now he (Conking) remarked
that IT any man was warranted in max
ing that statement it would justify
the people in resorting to anything
but revolution to redress the wrong
The poisoned arrows feathered by the
franking privilege was shot far and wide
among the loyal States of the republic,
like other remarks and statements the
gentleman Davis made, however de-
liberatcly prepared this was one on mature
he would be willing to recall. The Com
mittee had proceeded on expar.e testimo-
ny in secret; parties never were informed
they were to be tried, and convicted, and
stigmatized, and hung up to fostering in
fanny, and as case in point he said the
Committee had privilege and clandestine-
ly gathered evidence against Gen. FREE
mont 10 blast his character IS a citizen
and soldier. At the time he was in COM
mand of an army they never informed
Gen. Fremont that he was aspersed or
gave him the names of the witnesses
against him and they afforded him no OPP
portunity for defence.
What good Mr.. Conkling said had the
committee done to offset the harm; he was
not aware that one single fraud had been
developed by the committee which 70.
manned unearthed ct the time they pre-
tended to dig it up. Mr.. Conkling ask
ed the Speaker what time remained to
him, the Speaker replied Is minutes.
Mr.. Dawes. The time will be en-
tended to the gentleman.
Mr.. Washburn. I object to that.
Mr.. Conkling. i know that, and do
you know how knew it? Because the
member from Illinois il the only man in
the House surly enough to interpose
objection in such = case, Mr.. Wash
burn rose to reply, when Mr.. Conkling
called the member to order.
Mr.. Washburn, (excited.) / call the
creature to order.
Mr.. Conkling. The member from III.
understands the rules Of this House, and
must understand that this is not the
place for personal altercation. He knows
the proper place for that is outside Of
these walls.
Mr.. Washburn, (excited.) Yes, and
/ am ready for it.
Mr.. Conkling. No individual in this
House better knows than the member
from Ills. that stand to what SAY. nm
til convinced that I am in error, and
therefore there is no necessity for any in
tsrrupsion here. Mr.. Conkling in the
ooarse Of remarks said he regarded the
committee one Of those ornaments too