Smyrna times., 1863-04-09
The Investigating Committees Report.


The Committee appointed by the Legis-
iature-Dr.. salisbury (though seven other
names accompany the document)-on so
mach of the Governors message as related
20 military interference at the polls, have
made their report, and a voluminous one
it is, comprising nine and a halt columns
.cloSd print in the Dc'aw@vm. This too, be
it remembered, is only small part, and
preliminary to the Report of the Investi-
g1tng Committee of which DR.. Salisbury
Is having printed or rather printing 5000
copies at the office of his organ at the ex-
pense Ofthe State for an electioneering doc
ument. No one believes, and DIR. Sauls-
bury does not expect any one to believe this
document but copperheads and uninvestga-
ting, credulou:, unsuspectiRg individuals.
Here is mass of evidence but how is it
got! In an impartial, understanding.
hosest way! Let's see AT the comElence
ment Of the session the inevitable, the pen
etrating, the chiyalrous Cove sees what he
rOaceiyes splendid material to manufacture
"scsre crow" with which to trighten
tlmd Union men. He calls for committee
and gets himself appointed that committee
with tn. addition of several cipherS to fill
out the line. Thus crowned, like Canute
of old, he imagnes himself supreme in an
thority and issues his mandates with the
authority of q Monarch such witnesses az
will suit his purpose only are called, from
all parts of the State, and when in his au
gust % presence, are adroitly piled with
just such questions az will suit his purpose,
put in way that could ouly Be answered
in the manner he desired and the person
prohibited from giving only Just suct tcstiao-
az he DESIRED Here was a committee IAN
unheard OF thing in countries governed by
Democratic principles all of one party,
summoning just such persons as suited their
purpose, asking just such questions as they
pleased, and dlsInissing them if answering
not just as tiey desired, and bent and de-
sermined on conviction, without regard to
custom, honor, right or precedent How
would any man land we make it personal
with every member of that party) like to go
lns court, on any criminal or civil suit what
ever, where Judges, jurors, attorneys and
even the dOorkeeper we're against him and
where he was not allowed an advocate nor
to plead bis own cause, nor even to answer
only jnst as they intended he si0uM onsarcr, /,
tits very obvious how they or any man de-
siring-justice would answer, yet just in this
manner have they investigated this subject
OF military interference at the polls. Men
were before them who insisted and demand
ed toieu the mhOh trutt, as they had taken
an oath to do, but were prohibited and
dismissed by DR.. Salisbury when the
testimony tcGs not in his taUor. Can any hon
est man believe in the justice or truth of an
investigation so conducted! Any man who
places implicit confidence in this Report, to
use and old aud familiar provcrb, is :" fool
for want of sense" If DIR. Salisbury want
ed TO get the truth in the matter, why did
ie not have a committee appointed COM
posed OF both sides, where witnesses could
be examined and cross-examined, as they
DO IN courts where they wish to arrive at
Jushcef No, this mode does not suit him.
nor any other man into whom the Southern
virus has entered, poisoning against hon
esty, true Democracy, and liberal Govern
ment! True, men of their own proclivities
swore that persons were kept away from the
polls by the presence of the soldiers, Just as
IN a court of Justice, where dozen witness
eS testify that the indicted person did Z" SO
and So" but when the evidence is heard in
Aefence, their testimony is utterly worthless
and falls to the ground. If the Union par
Syis guilty OF high misdemeanors, let it be
convicted, but in the name of Heaven let it
not be by sympathizers with treason, cor
FnPt partlzaps or political jugglers, but be-
!ore atnbunal that holds in its hands the
:" even scales Of justice and TRUTH
We have heard much, and historians have
Felated In tales that make one shudder at
the horrors ofthe Induisition and Star Cham
Der, but We do not know that in princ,,le
they were much beyond that controlling the
investigating Committee. f.. In both. indi-
''uaa's were dragged before the iron-wiIled
anu p'oody-hearted judges or examiners
- ana there without the means Of producing
ieDa'ung testimony, substsntiatino. ,ha;.
own evidence or the benefit ss al sdvooa,a ea.n
Sefe speedily consigned to the, tortnrss -
tne rack" the difference being thst ss 81 u ol
bad not only the viii but the no,s.r .aas "a tsey
Cama,;,. s ana death, while the Investigating
of f'e' ,ha ~. az with them and their confreres
tnrn;,,., en'saefaoy' ~ = had not Are We re-
w llS Dark agesf .a3asfEMh3 y VIII
A% = stsb~a'f1E'i44 ~ ag.i4l as