Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-04-07
(signed,l
UONk DAIIlsHUhIi
Chairman.
Thomas CAHALT,
WILLIAM HIrcH,
of the Senate.
JAMES WILLIAMS,
john STAY,
WIN. B. STuBBs,
WIN. d. WArLEs,
G. w. HoRsEY,
of the House Of Reps"

Now, let us turn over leaf and consider
this stuff in more serious vein-for it is the
veriest chatf that was ever blown out by the
hot heads and incorporate passions of blind
ed and bigoted partzans. The report is too
lengthy to admit of full examination in
this article, and, indeed, it is unworthy of
patient discussion further than to expose the
one sided constitution of the committee,
their willful and deliberate perverson of
facts and their entire and absolute failure to
prove, positively or circumstantlally, that
one single voter was deferred from going to
the polls, or prevented from depostlng his
ticket in the ballot-box, on the fourth of
November last, or at any time, by the pre-
sence of the military. The committee was
composed of Democrats altogether--not one
Republican or Unionist being represented.
They had power to send for persons and pa
pers, to subject witnesses to their own mode
of examination, compelling and permitting
them to answer such questions only as were
propounded, without opportunity for expla-
nation and with no one present TO put in
terrogatories which might elicit evidence
unfavorable to the preconceived and prede-
termined design of Mr. Cove Salisbury and
his colleagues. The appointment Of the
committee from one party only was a cow
ardly violation of every precedent of parlia-
mentary practice, and Cove Salisbury and
his fellows have shown themselves to be will
ing and ready agents to perform an act mean
and dishonorable to them as men, and dis
graceful to their party. They summoned
their own party friends who are swift wit
nesses, and few others, six or eight-the
whole number being one hundred and TWEEN
tyfour-who are searchingly examined and
cross examined, after their own fashion.
Any one can see how easily committee
constituted, managed and working in the
manner thus indicated, could make out a
Prima .tacte case, but they ignobly fail to
do even this. Governor Cannon. to whose
testimony they give chief Importance, is ac-
cused of perjury and of triHing with the So
emnity of an oath and the committee ask
pardon for the avowal of their want of su fiji
cieut credulity to credit the Governors
testimony
They commence their inquiries with the
"invasion" of part of the command Of
Gen. Lockwood, in 1861, and the subsequent
foray' OF Col. Wallace, with the Mary
land Home Guards, in 1862, for the purpose
OF disarming volunteer companies command
ed by Democrats, The report speaks o.
Democratic companies being deprived o.
the arms which had been furnished them
from the State Arsenal by order of the Gov
ernor, (Burton) and alleges that during the
same time no demand was made for the
arms oil any volunteer company which was
commanded by Republicans. The willy
chairman does not assign or ask for the rea
son why certain organized companies were
disarmed, nor does he account for the strange
and extraordinary policy of issuing all til,
most improved rifles and accoutrements be-
longing to the State to Democrats. The
fact is well known that the officers of these
companies refused to make return of thei
numbers, description and quality of arms
&C. to the Federal authorities, on til,
ground that they were responsible only t,
the Governor OF the State. Another fact
equally notorious is, that the majority oil
these men were disaiiected, ripe for rev olt
and only restrained from committing over
acts of treason by wholesome fear of th,
! consequences. Many of them have since ac
/ knowledged the folly of their conduct.
1t is under this head that the committe,
attempt to convict Governor Cannon of pre-
varication, because he remembered and ties
tilted, on one day, what he could not recol
lect on the preceding day, viz; that tier,
was a volunteer company in Bridgovillo
} commanded by Capt. VIM. o. Redden, call
ed the Guard, which was voluntarily dis
banded by giving up their arms soon afte
his appointment as Colonel of the Thir,
Delaware Regiment. OF the same films,
nature is the subsequent charge of periur,
against the Governor In answer to tn,
question, Do you know Mt whose solicita
ton troops were brought into this State tt
be here on the day of the last General cleo
tion r'-he said, From facts and reasona.