New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-03-05

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the Metamora than the Chairman Of the Commits.
| or any other gentleman. I neither tbsrts,.o h.,,
for the Government nor collected her chsrte, .mon.v
But let Mr.. Danforth's letter tell the story:
BEEvooar HOUSE. Nsw.Yon Feb. 20 ,ss,
MY DEAR SIR: have your note Of the l,talnstsnt IA.
anene nee With ."y oT Of hs o.
tho Metsmora e'
In reply this have ssy that spilled to ysu 4.
eSh ersneae: OF your question 10 ne nss;.ys
To Capt RF. LoPxH, Washington City.
If in any case the Government has been seriou.,,
damaged through my agency in charterins vessei.
it is the fault of those in power and not mp>; b.
cause in no was any vessel or steamer chartered
by me for longer term than one month; and II tina
Government chose to keep them longer It oplv
proves that the Government agents wsre satis6sd
with the terms on which chartered them.
Mr.. Tucker, in bis testimony before the Commit.
tee, was under mistake, which he corrected in hi,
subsequent testimony (see Committee Report n.
1853, lines S-l6), when be said that examined and
reported steamers for the Mcclellan Expedition in
Baltimore. Inever examined any steamers or Yea.
sells in Baltimore, recommended them to sbe War
Department, since the war broke ont.
fhe Committee, in their anxiety 10 fl the oripe
Of swinding or perjury on me, lay great stress or
some discrepancy between my testimony and the
list furnished by the War Department 40 70 whether
certain vessels were chartered by Mr.. Tucker or by
mo. stated in my testimony that chartered
them. The War Department says Mr.. Tucker char.
tered them. The simple truth ia that inspected tue
We ssels and made rho contracts with the owner.
Mr. Tucker signed the charters after the terms were
agreed upon 80 that, while know that in point I!
fact the business transacted BY me, the records
Of the War Department. show that it was done By
Mr.. Tucker.
The same explanation may be given Of the ss'es
OF the stes mers Louisiana and Pocaboutas. testifJ
that Gen. Burnside chartered the vessels Snd the
War Department gay DIR. Tucker chartered Thorn.
In point of fact, Gen. Burnside chartered tho vel.
sells, at Baltimore, and the charters were signed by
Mr. Tucker, at Philadelphia, and the samsexpana"
ton may apply in other cases.
In conclusion, wish to initiate the Commhtee 20
far as to recommend few reforms in the modes Of
invest CATION practiced IN Congress.
First: On every such Committee ! would have
one respectable lawyer, who should DO restrained
by professional pride from plying Witnesses With
leading questions, and embodying the answer in tho
on.s,ion. 40 that witness who knows neither the
rules Of evidence nor the force Of words nay decide
the graves, questions by an unneaning "ys" or
mo"
Second. would give the party whose good
name is asssled the privilege, extended everywhere
to thieves and murdcres of confronting his secuse,
and BY himself or his attorney, cross examining the
WITNESSES and, after the accusation was exhausted,
allow him to bring witnesses for Lis defenae before
the Committee.
Third; would require notice to be given to tie
parties accused of the time aud place Of taking depo
ston, 80 that they Nigh: attend and hear what
was proved, and frame their defense accordingly.
Fourth, would require the report Of such Com
mit,ee to 30 printed by authority before they fur'
ni.hed copies TO the newspapers for publication.
FIFTH. Where fraud was discovered would have
the party indicted and tried at once, 50 that il be 10
guilty he may be punished, or II lie is Innocent he
may have opportunity 10 set himself right before
he world.
The systcm now pursued has evil tendencies with
put limit:
First. |, destroys the private character Of citizens
md leaves them without remedy.
Second 1t destroys the confidence Of the public
n the integrity Of the Administration.
Third When the truth comes TO he known, II de-
roys the confidence Of the constituent in the honor
md vcrscity Of the representative.
Fourth 1t drives from the public service men Of
honesty and selfrespoct, who have not the courage
o endure scandal.
For myself, am not 30 delicate az some people.
have stood by the Administration in its darkest
our. aud intend to stand by il 10 the end. Tho
ise and fall Of politicians is nothing TO me- compared
o the preservation of the Constitution and tie
Jui0n.
Concerning Mr.. Charles Collins aud Mr.. Piekrel,
never knew either Of them by sigh. nor spoke &c
hem. X. +. LoPrR.
Nsrr-Y York, Murch'3, 1907.