The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-02-22

o"~ 8UtnH toftn ron thte hall " tne country
that We will treat - traitors not only those
Who are bold aud manly enough 10 meet Us
lace To- face in The field Of strife, but all those
Who clandestiDeiy and stealthily suck the life
blood nom us in the mighty struggle"
Yet, in the face Of these disgraeeful and
Infamous disclosures, there are men in
Congress who defend and try to shield
and retain in Office the parties who have
committed these astounding frauds. For
party purposes they wish to cover up the
viIlainy of the guilty parties. What care
they for the distresses of the country, =
plundered Treasury or bankrupt Gov
eminent, so long as their friends are en-.
riched by swindling contracts? The
Washington correspondent of the Union
says:
"In the Senate, Ncsmith, Of OSegou, let fall
some bitter illusions to the facilities afforded
spectators and those who are coming the life's
blood and patFlatism 0f this country INTO nlthy
dollars, and putting them in their pockets He
believed there are such men in the conidence
OF this Government. As Nesmith is a member
| Of the Military Committee, his remarks created
L
70 the Secretary Of War. The next day it was
the turn OF Secretary Welles to be visited with
| . like Tcbuke, cOuched iD less euuIvOcnl terms.
Hale, OF New Hampshire, Chairman of the
Committee on Naval Affairs, reported resOlu.
ton Tor the construction OF twenty iron clad
steam gunboats for the use Of the Navy, With
the unanimous recommendation of the Com
mittee that, instead of the Secretary of the
Navy, the President be authorized to con-
struct, by contract or otherwise twenty iron
clad steam gunbOats.' In support of the pro-
posed amendment, the Senator very frankly
stated that the reason for it is found in the
facts that are detailed in report Of Select
Committee of the House of Representatives, 10
which 10 sA( SUrth, with considerable minute
ness. the. R2R.szee ;a which the putxeS 1ub6s1n-
trusted to Mr.. Welles for the purchase of
Government ships were used in the citS OfNew
York. IL was the unanimous opinion OF the
Committee on Naval Affairs of the Senate, that
i was their duty in some way to express their
dissatisfaction with this manner Of disbursing
the public funds, which the Select Committee
Of the other House say is exceedingly repre-.
henslble and demoralizing to the public service"
Morrill,, of Maine, vehementfy opposed
the passage Of the amendment; and boo.
little Of Wisconsin, entered into an elabO.
rate defense Of the Secretary of the Navy,
in the course Of which he took occasion
to lecture Hale in no gentle terms In
conclusion DoOlittle observed
"Now, sir, this amendment, lift passes this
body, is, in my judgment, such a vote of CEN
sure ON the Secretary of the Navy. that he will
be called upon to resign that position; and it
comes precisely TO ihat-whether the body
with whom is intrusted the power of Impeach-
ment shall now, by this vOte in this way. in
directly and on e.r pdrte testimony, when NO
explanation has been asked from him, and he.
has not been heard, at once condemn him as
being guilty of malfeasance in office, and, in
tact. vote for his removal. Sir am unwilling
10 do So"
The above conveys an appeal and q
threat-an appeal for sympathy on the
score Of condemning the Secretary un.
heard 4; and threat that he will resign
and the Administration be deprived Of his
inestimable services, il the Senate adopt
the amendment. Wilkinson, the Repub-
lican Senator from Minnesota, disregard
ed both, and manfully and Indignantly
not to say scornfully, replied:
81 do not agree with the Senator from Wis.
cOnsln, that We are not here to oppose wrong
aud corruption wherever we find it. As for
me, care not who the man is, what position
he occupies, nor where he comes from; will
lit mp my hand against corruption and wrong
now and hereafter, under all circumstances;
but haze no hope that / shaN succeed, or that
the Committee on Naval Affairs will succeed.
There has been much corruption in this Gov.
eminent, and it has been blarkbaed so often
in Congress. that have no idea there can be
any vote or any action of this Senate, or of the
ether House, that will Condemn this stealing in
high places"
Senator Wilkinson, knowing the weak
ness and corruption of his party, despairs
Of "any action" in either House, "that
will condemn this stealing in high places!
1t is frank admission, and unfortunately
for the country it is too true! With this
admission we dismiss the subject this
week.