The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1862-05-24


mittee to inquire into theEnannerin which lhil
war has been conducted: to ascertain by the
best evidence and the best lights we could
> wherein there was anything in which We
could aid the Administration in the prose
A, cution of this war, and wherever there was
> delinquency. that we might ferret it out, ap
prise the Administration oft, and demand
a remedy. suppose it twas for that pur.
a pose tina, the committee was created with
n the immense powers that were devolved up.
v on It, do not say whether it was wise OF
II unwise TO create such a committee. The
4 Senator fr IN New York Mr.. Harris] yes.
/ terday said be thought il was exceedingly
unwise, because the committee, as he sup
, posed. were conducting the war, tha. is,
placing the armies in the field and debating
the policy oftbe We did not construe
our powers in that way. We knew that in
the vast business that pertained to the exe-
cutlve branch of the Government, it was i'm
possible for them to look into everything
connected with the conduct Of the war
which they would like to know, and which
il was most essential to the country that
they should know. Therefore, having leis-
ure to inquire into many alleged abuses
that they had no power or no time to in
vcstigate, We took it upon ourselves to in
vestigate them. and. l say here, with dis
crction and with solicilude to iDjure no
man. that has never been exceeded in any
investigation of any committee on Gods
earth.
Sir. we have not published what we have
aseertained to any mortal man, excep, to
those who were armed with the power of
the remedy No idle curiosi
ty has prompted any member of that Com
miftee to proclaim 10 the world, as idle I
gossip. The testimony that was before it.
challenge the Senate. aud every man of I
{, to tell me which member Of the Com
nIttee. or where. have we made known to
he public what was going on before US. l
'dmit that as we ascertained facts, the ex-
stence of malpractices, short comings, and
hings inconsistent with the proper and ben
hcial conduct Of the war, we have sought .
ntsrviews with the President of the United
tates. We have sought them with the Sec
starry of War. and on some occasions with 7
he whole Cabinet. and there in secret have i
lscIosed the testimony that has come to us l.
nd we have endeavored to work out a re- z
ress; and in innumerable instances know d
Q have done il, where had it not been for Il
at 80 much maligned committee, the Ad- o
inistration would have been entirely iguo- O
ot OF what was going on. Patriotic as Il
sz are -xigilapt IS they 60 aAxiesazeaut11
ia. they arc mot Invested with omnisci, scr
%; end viii, six hundred thousand men it
the field, and innumerablc officers. it II
~ sometimes happso that there may be pi
uu worthy one in that number without "
cir being aware of it. We have endeav. Y
ed on all occasions to enlighten them, but st
t to stab any man in the dark, as under hi
,od the gentleman to iusnuate, but which g,
backs out of now, and says he did not i
y any such thug. p'
Now, with regard to General Stone, we a.
g not the tribunal that ought TO try him. II
do not believe we should be put in posses 9, 9,
on OF that kind Of testimony that tends to =
,plicate him. l do not believe that it
ould be my duty either TO the public or to 9
eneral Stone here in the Senate to pro- =
airn to the world all the testimony that !,
.me before the committee on the conduct !.
the war. But this much in exculpation U
f the Executive will say in general terms ?
order to repel the insiuuation of the }
enator from California; l will say here in
" place that there was. and is. probably !,
,use for the arrest of General Stone. l
N not going to detail the evidence. l re-
Iet that it becomes necessary that l should
" anything in public on the subject. y '
ad rather trust it with those whDm the u
constitution and law charge with the ex- ;
:ution of this matter; but his indiscreet u
lend will drag il out here; and | say.
ION. in behalf Of that abusel Executive,
at there is probable cause for his arrest. t
We are tyrauuical--the nation is tyran- :
cal, says the gentleman; and he quotes au- !,
orities from nations al war with each 9th /;
where there is no suspicion of treason i
| is loyalty on both sides-whtre nations .
ave national feelings sufficient to repress
,ervthiny favoIiny the adversary. ard 10
ring forward everything tavoring their :
yn nation. He cites these precedents TO :,
,lyhten us in the midst OF a civil revolu- i
ON. where traitors are III our midst. where !.
mn cannot walk the streets without meeting !,
zen whose hearts are opposed to the pros
,u,ion OF the war. No. sir; you cannot go :
,rouyh the Executive Department but you !,
eet with violent enemies of the Govern :
,ent YOU are endeavoripg to maintain. lie 4,
.ads precsden,s from English history 10 /,
,ow The forbearance OF Il q, nation IN times :
civil strife. l wonder that the reading Of
that did not carry him back 10 the time
,hen England was involved in civil !
,ar. II it had, would he not be astonlsh- =
4 at the mildness and forbearance OF the ,
government in the course 1t has pursued ,,
,ward these traitors in our midst! Sir. If /;
YOU look at the old records during those
roublous times. you will find that men on !
lighter evidence than would impeseh the
entleman were hung up by the neck until
hey were dead. and yet he lsuds the mild !
less OF the British Government II is re-
narkable fact. and fear not entirely to our
redit either. that while we have been in
rolved in this great rebellion. while this ,
generation are taxed, and future generations
viii be taxed to the utmost of their capac- |
sy to defend themselves, while this ungodly .
n ar was wsged against the best government
On Gods earth. and it has cost the most
precious blood Of this nation to repel
the insurrectiou. after one whole year has
passed by, there has not yet been made :
single example of treason. not one: no at
temp. TO take the life, nay. even the prop.
erty, of the hellish traitor that has caused {
tha sacIifi.., of nur dearest anA -xx,.,S& 49,