Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-04-30
ED OklEgtaph.
CONGRESSIONAL.
HOUSE.

ter on what authority lie yesterday predl-
Gated his charge of dtslOyalty against
Judge Potts, of Northampton county Viz
ginia.
Mr., Potter leplied-Tn an address OF
Judge Potts to to the Virginia Legislature
at Richmond. The address WAS now read,
in which Judge Potts refers to tue action
OF the Legislature to dispose ofhim without
giving him an opportunity for defense.
The cOnsummation of this would manifest
eddy be unjust; he could only plead not
guilty of !disloyalty to the South, aud
doubted not that lie could triumphantly
vindicate himself from every charge his
| enemies and prosecutors might bring
against him. He protested against being
removed from office by extra Consultations
al means. The House then resumed the
consideration oft report of the Select
committee on Government Contracts
AIR. Roscoe Conkling said lie had voted
against raising this committee. 1t seemed
that none coald be so honest or eminent
that it would be suitable to clOthe him
with the nnheard Of power asked for on
that occasion.
The House then resumed the cOnsidcra-
tton OF the report of the Select Committee
on Government Contracts.
Mr.. Conkling IN the course of his re-
marks said he regarded the committee as
one of those ornaments too expensive uu-
der the circumstances to be INDUCED, aud
in this connection humurOuSly comment
ed GU the allowance to tue committee by
their own order of twenty cents i, mile for
travelling, and two dollars per day, besides
other necessary expenses. He was una
ware TINT any other committee had thus
provided for themselves. Ifthis commit
tee have been engaged in assailhg men
and 6lnckening their characters it was
proper TO know how much it cost AS a
fine point was being put in such things it
behOOVed them TO know whether any
persons round the board had been getting
anything they ought not to have, as IL little
mileage was u dangerous thing. Like liquor
lift was tasted too much, the habit gets
fastened. tl&.
Mr.. Wnshbnrne, in reply. said twas the
nnkindest cuto all, when the Chairman
(Alr. SteVens) of the Committee on Ways
and Means, the leader of the House, and
holding the purse strings of the nation,
recently rose in the. House, and. attacked
the Committee in their absence, charging
that they had committed more frauds than
they detected. The Committee had been
notified that they should feel tile strong
sarcasm and blistering invective; and to-
day they had listened to what might be
called n pitiablc imitation from the extra
ordinary member Mr.. Conkling) from New
York, who had attacked the Committee for
the benefit of contractors, thieves and
plundereFs, who had for two weeks been
holding high carnival in anticipation that
tue ComPittee were to be destroyed.
In further reply he said the history of
the Department will show that in St. Louis
alone nearly 100000 had been saved by
the investigation of the Committee lie
had been told by Mr. Holt that if Congress
and the Government sustained him nearly
100000 more would be saved By the
Commission on Ordnance and Contracts
now in session here.
Mr.. Holman as, n member of the Select
Committee, briefly referred TO the belliger-
ents in this debate, and after declaring his
GOODNESS and dispassionnieness, proceeded
to vindicate the report, especially rs to
what it says about the transactions of AL
exander Cummings of whom he spoke rs
the prOtege Of Cameron and who had been
put forward TO shield his principal as to
the purchase OF horses. Not one fourth of
those purchased in Pennsylvania and Lou
isville were serviceable. There was in
this no evidence Of fidelity to the public
interest.
Mr. Moorchead protested against such
sweeping denunciatiOus. If any persons
were guilty lei them be exposed and he
would go rs far us any one for Furnishing
them. If such charges continue to be in.
duIged, honest contractors would be driven
out aud the business fall into the hands of
scoundrels. Thus the Committee were de-
stroying the very interests we are trying to
build up.
Mr.. Holman referred to Cameron's pat
,rOnnge of the Central Pennsylvania Rail-
road, which was enormous as exhibited. by
the figures. The employment of Cum
mings in connection with the transporta-
ton showed that Cameron WAS willing to
advance the interest of his own family Mt
tho sacrifice of the public good.
Mr.. Morehead said that on the 9th of
June, less than one month befarc the bat
tie of Bull Run, Gen. Ripley, in the belief
the arms would not be wanted, that there
would not be much of n war, disposed of
10000 rilled nuskGts, good as any in the
world, to Colt, i'll exchange for pistols.
Cameron directed them to DO bought back
ut the price paid for them. 81
Mr. Holman asked whether the gentle
man did not know that Cameron made
contracts for $4,000 900 worth OF arms to
mere stock brokers aud Spectators In
conclusion, he censured the Secretary of
the Navy in the matter of purchasing yes
sells, aud referred to other matters dis
cussed in the report of the Select Commit
tee.
After further debate the House adj
journed.
Mr.. Hale,o N. H., presented n remon-
STRANGE from the Manufacturers OF wool,
against heproPosed tax on woodland man
ufactures.
Mr.. Howard of Michigan, presented a PEE
tition for general bankrupt act.
Mr.. Grimes of Iowa, from the Committee
ION the District of Columbia, reported a
resolution that the Communication from tue
Secretary Of the Interior concerning the
emancipation of slaves. in tile District he
transmitted under seal to the Commits
sioners appointed BY the President.
On motion of Mr.. Sumner the resolution