The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-03-12
naming be open to settlers under the

naming be open to settlers under thu
homestead law.
Mr.. POWELL called up the joint res
olution requesting the Secretary Of War tC
transmit the report and evidence Of the
military commission Of which Gen. Nc
Dowen was president.
Mr.. Wilson opposed the call for these
papers as they were necessary to be with
held that they might be used III the prose-
cution of officers who were culpable. The
resolution was informally passed over.
On motion of Mr.. LAEH, Of Kansas, a
resolution was adopted directing the Com
mittee on the Pacific Railroad to inquire
into the expectancy of constructing a rail-
road from LeavenWorth to Lawrence, Kan
sas
Mr.. CARLISLE reported back from the
Committee on Public Lands bill to con-
firm certain lands claims in California
Referred to the Post Office Committee
Mr.. GRIMES said the whole proceed
ings of the mission were grossly IN VIOLA
ton Of the articles of war, which provided
that no such commission should be created
except by the President, and he was who'll
ly ignorant Of the formation OF such com
mission. Mr.. Grimes considered it moth
ing but a commission to fish up testimony
derOgatory to officers in high standing in
the army. He referred to the case Of Gen.
Curtis, who was arraigned on &c parte tes-
timony rejecting on Gen. Curtis taken by
the commission, was disproved by testi-
mony now in the possession OF the Paesl-
dent So satisfactory was the evidence,
that the President announced at once that
Gen. Curtis was free of all blame. II this
resolution passes it should be accOmpani
ed by q request for any testimony which
should probably accompany it. He did
not want any er parte statement to 60 out
to the detriment Of a soldier when the re-
cords Of the War Department entirely ex-
onerate him.
Mr.. POWELL said it was NO doubt the
truth that the Secretary of War was in the
habit OF doing things without the knoWl-
edge of the President, very much to the
detriment of the best interests of the coun-
try. If the President allowed such things
to be done without his knowledge he was
not entitled to the commisseration Of the
country. He should instantly dismiss such
an Official
Mr.. LANE, of Kansas, said if he was Presi.
dent or Secretary Of War he would consid.
or it the highest honor that could be paid
him to be assaulted by the Senator from
Kentucky.
Mr.. SHERMAN said the evidence in
the possession of the President abundant
ly vindicated Gen. Curtis from the charges
of speculation in cotton. He had it from
the lips Of the President himself that the
removal Of Gen. Curtis was from another
cGuSe.
Mr.. POWELL said the Senator from
Kansas had stated that if he was the Presi
dent or Secretary Of War, he would want
no higher eulogy than his censure.
The special order was taken up being
the amendment of Mr.. Brown to the bill Il
promote enlistments.
Mr.. BROWN proceeded to address the
Senate at length in support Of his amend
ment and the freeing Of the slaves as wal
measure, and claimed the power to free
them in Congress and the Executive. Ht
concluded his remarks in favorof an eman
cipation policy.
Executive session. Adjourned.