Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-03-27
WHOLE NO. 281.

my friends influence and and power. which
he did not nnderrate. he passed his by in ST.
lence. Still. deeply regretted it. But
when my friend was discharged by order
of Gen. Scott, did he think it necessary
for his character that, after having been
thus discharged, he shoald still insist on .
trial?
Mr.. BLAIn. of Missouri Yes. sir. and I
did demand trial.
Mr. CoLFAx But none was had. Then.
if my friend made charges against Gen.
Fremont; and the War Department. either
under Mr.. Cameron OF Mr.. Stanton. DEEM
cd the charges such as substantially affect
his present rank. it was their duty to ar
raign him and pnt him on trial
Mr.. BLAIR, of Missouri. Charges have
been preferred against him by the proper
officer of the Government-the Judge sd
vocate of the United States.
Mr.. WADswoRrH asked question in ref
ercnce to the contract for the fortl6cations
of ST. Louis, which was inaudible at the
reporters desk.
Mr.. CoLFAx. am speaking now. not
on dollars and cents, but to vindicato the
history Of the past; but will answer the
gentleman from Kentucky as follows: I
said at the opening of my remarks. if the
gentleman had been kind enough to listen
to me. which suppose he did not. that !
did not defend the forti6cation contract.
nor did | deem it wise or economical.
Mr.. WADswoRrH. ]. heard tho gentle
man say so.
Mr.. CoLFAx. am not called upon to
defend that contract, but in justice to Gen.
Fremont. it ought to be stated that the con-
tractor offered. il the work could be done
by day only. instead OF day and night un-
interruptedly, when he would have to pay
extra for night work, to do it for sixty per
cent. less; but Fremont said "time is worth
more than money; do the work Immediate
ly. with all the force you can but on. work.
ing night and day"-for he was just then
preparing for his march against Price
He needed all available troops. and. with
the fortications. he could leave St. Louis
with smaller force for its defense.
But l want now to put question to the
gentleman, argumentam ad hominun, as he
has opened this question. Suppose you
find that some claim has passed this Con-
gress which everybody comedies to be en-
tirely wrong and inexcusable; and suppose
some man looking over the Globe finds. on
the list of yeas and nays on the vote BY
which that money was improperly taken
out of the Treasury. that Mr.. WADswoRTH
voted for it. and arraigns him before the
people for it. This, on ey parte evidence,
would look badly. Here is q cheating
claim on the Treasury. the people would
say. and the claimant gets his money out
of our treasury by the direct aid and con-
sent Of our Representatives, vote. But
there are two sides to it. The gentleman
from Kentucky rises and says. docs not
my defamer know that the Committee Of
Claims reported favorably upon that claim.
and that it is the custom of members of
Congress to follow the report Of the COM
mitttee of Claims, in cases which they
have closely scrutinized. and against which
they themselves see no objection?"-
And when the gentleman has thus, been
heard in his defense. everybody says that.
although he voted for the claim, he is ac-
omitted, because his explanation is salts
factory. That is the only fair way to try
a man. Strike, but hear before you strike.
If Fremont should prove that he made
this contract to carry on the work day and
night until its completion. upon the adj
vice of engineers and men experienced iu
work of this kind, it will be at least some
palliation of it. just as the gentlemsn's
vote in favor Of bad claim. on the rec
ommendation of the proper committee,
would pallate it. do not know what
Fremont's defense is. l have not asked
him what his defense is.
Mr.. WADswoRTH. The case which the
gentleman puts is not at all like this case.
1t appears that Fremont made contract
with On adventurer Of the name of Beard
for earthworks and embankments, at g.
90 per cubic yard for removing the earth.
when the committee tell us it was only
worth sixty cents a cubic yard; a differences
of 81 90.
Now, if I did anything of that sort as Q
member Of Congress. ! should say that
was unworthy of holding my seat here,
and my constituents would be justified in
denouncing my action as the result of
bribery. or other improper influence.
Mr.. CoLFAx am reminded By friend
near me that General Fremont. in his let
ter to Senator WADE. the chairman Of the
committee on the conduct of the war, ex-
plains this matter himself. As / do not
defend these contracts. deeming them too
costly. though may err against him in
that l will let him make the explanation in
his own language.
Mr.. WADswoTH. ! have never seen that
explanation.
Mr.. CoLFAx. am going to read it to
you:
"When the prices for his work were un-
der discussion and were referred to me BY
Gen. McKinstry. I directed this officer 10
reduce them to what was Just and reason
able to both parties, having reference to
the circumstances under which the work
was done. and the extra prices that had
been paid, so as to leave the contractor
what might be strictly fair profit on his
labor. and his decision whatever il was,
was approved by me- For cost Of con-
struction and other details with which
am not acquainted, | respectfully refer the
committee tc the testimony Of Of the quar-
termaster and the contractor, whom have
asked to have summoned.
'sTo show their nature and value. tho
report and testimony offhe en0ineers VIM