New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-01-07

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hucuied men who fell that day. ont Of rsg,r
for the living and the dead, ont of fc-ar
for the great interests 10 be affected by ~
Investigations think all the circumstances connect
ed with the planning and execution OF the battle
ought to be brought to light. / hope they will be.
hope the Committee appointed to investigate into th
conduct of the war will not overlook The battle.
hore no apol)oie and private interests VIII DIS
suade from investigation into II, by any state
ments that the revelations Of the whole truth WI
be detrimental 10 the public service, come from W IA
quarter that statement may. do not think that
after the publication Of tie report by the AdJutah'
General, in reference TO the division OF Genera
Fremont the puJli alton Of nything can be III
uIious to anybody. in any court OF lustlce
at least according TO the well settled puncpie'
Of equity and justice, the military aqthofI.ie
who oppose this investigation and the Pho
IcarOn of the facts, would he stopped
from setting their vote agsns, It, AZ all events toe
House will be safe in ventilatiDg tie authors, and
hodng up TO public view, too, he authors Of .he
gre,test national calamity and disgrace which has
vet been talked Of in Goth, aud published III the
streets Of Askalon. want il TO be distinctly under
stood that pnsh this matter on the attention OF
the House and the country on several points eic
OF which call loudly Tor explanation, II an eXplana'
ton can be offered. In the first place, the division OF
Gen McCull was on the same eide OF the riyer WIN
Leesburg, within a few hours march, and yet Wa4
not EMPLOYED ia the attack, but another d.
side of the Potomac. Secondly, the crossing place
elected was one If the worst and most dangerous
that could have been found. Third, there was u
want OF Transportation, insOrnuch that means o.
crossing absolutely Indispensable were "hoiiy ui-
provided although they might have been easily pro-
cued Fonttb, tie number Of troops rent over 10
Balls Blufr was wholly insufficient and this though
more than the needed number were close ~ h'nd
Fifth, no re-eniOrcements reached Col BAKER, AZ
though aside from tie command Of Gen. McCal
there were troops and artillery on both sides Of ING
river within four miles OF the field OF battle. All
these grounds of eeusuTe may be eXpalnablc II 80,
il IL but us t. the living and the dead that an oppor
tnniiy ehOuld be afforded If they not susceptl-
Die of explanation for higher reasons inquiries ought
not 10 -lumber. We should know whether the Com
hief has taken the pains 10 inquire who
is RESPONSIBLE for the dlaster al Ball Bun, ana we
should make the inquiry with the view Oh obtaining
an answer. Mr. Conklng WAS very pointed and go
we're IN bis comments. lie offered preamble Iecit-
ing the resolution heretofors adopted and the re-
r Onse concluding with a resolution that the answer
- il Is neither responsive nor satisfactory 70 the
House. and that the Secretary of War be directed to
return IA further answer.
Mr.. RICHARDSON Dem, Ill inquired wheth-
er this was "A question OF privilege.
The SPEAKER submitted tie question to the
House which decided that II wac.
Mr. RICHARDSON, in Offering the resolution,
said this was not matter Of proper inquiry here.
II there is one point more prominent than aaother
ON VIII d tie country is agreed II l. that those who
fought and fell with Gen. Baker displayed ar much
courage and gallintry Us have ever been displayed
on tins continent. Bot these things ought mol TO be
lugged in here. Suppose anybody living ~ f0nnd 10
he in fault-what will you do with hint Discuss
him IN town meetingsl IL that the way you con-
lnct The wari We must trust something 70 the
proper departments of the Government. The men
who have committed bunders and acted from errors
Of Judgment will not hereafter be intrusted with
commands. II dead we should cast no
Dbloquy on their aches OF dlsgrace their memory.
The time has come when there should be move
nent. The troops ought 10 be drilled and prepared
with this view. Gentlemen Of the army, somehow
DR. another, knew quite as much sbou, military
,fIairs Az any member of tins House. The House
should do nothing below its dignity. THE was not
Zee proper place investigate battles. lie was op-
roscd TO the whole resolution. IL was subject
with which they had nothing TO DO, and the sooner
hey stopped the proceedings, AS now proposed, the
better or the country.
Mr.. EDWARDS did not see that in what Mr.
ronllng had said be implied any censdre on the
,,neral-in.C G. ief II the latter suppO-ed II would
be- detrimental TO the public interests 10 answer tie
-,roluion. IL was proper for him 10 ray so lie re-
yret 81 that there existed disposition here 10 depie-
nate the petition Of the Generl-in-c hef. For him
elf he felt that we must place in him the most I'M
licit confidence If would come out OF tins conflict
with honor Gen Mcclellan was charged with an
immense responsibility, aud surrounded by 20 mush
reachery that he can scarcely whisper has plans.
We should strengthen bis hands and cheer his heat
Az CRffTENDEN (Ky) contended that the
IIouse has 10 power under the Constitution 10 In'
miro into matters purely military. Inc army Is
Under the command of the President, VINO Is re-
.ronsble for its operations. To interfere WITH this,
ben.fore. would be an attempt to extend our civil
Even il we bad the right TO make
.ucb an inquiry did not public policy forbid II
'ould war be successfully conducted on snch a.
principle The gentleman from New-fork tConk.
ngl had given am animated plctnre OF the scenes oil
he BATH, and spoke Of the killed, wounded, and
living. The gentleman had given a clear descrip
ion of tie battle for the purpose of showing that
here was a want of skil in It'd management. How
ever onr feelings may be aroused or affected let us
be careful not 10 allow such feelings 70 lead us M
improper measures Ii there was want oil sklll
and fidelity, what was the remedy Was II 10 DE
exercised by the civil jurisdiction and power II
faults have been committed, they are to be examined
into and punished by the military tribunals. By
Inrsuing the course proposed, we take the SUD-
I,ct ont of tho hands OF those supposed TO be
Competent. Was this wisel such an inquiry now
would lead to futur. similar embarrassments. lie
irct would De to disoFganize our entire army. ne
believed thai the whole country has confidence IN
General Mcclellan. We had better weaken our
.r,ny than weaken confidence III the Oenerl-.n-
Cti.f An army If hircs led by lion Is more to be
dreaded than an army of Gons led by hare.
MIR. CONKLlNG further cSplantd tie oolee, ana
purpose OF bis resolution, replying TO Mr. Cratenden'
Mr. yAlI.ANDIGHAM raid that if tho original
resolution AS provided tor by the rules oil the House
sdonied foIty wears ago and III better tiIues, had
;rlcted the Secretary of Nar to report the iniorma
ton reouired, he would have voted for the resoa-
,;nn now pending But il expressly LIT it "a the
secretary TO SAY whether the public interests Jus'-
led furnishing the matter cal ed for or not; and I;
was now too late to object that lie had exercised the
discretion left to him. Otherwise, he Mr.. Ndlih-
digh,ml would have voted ior the resolution, as ne
ss one Of those who believed in the right OF Con.
- q. - forr. the r,snnn.ihil iN nnOn al the hPnls