New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-03-09

l. Purchase .nd deposition of horses for the service
r,on eoUpase and srcourements Charter Of vessels Of
alton Western transportation and telegrapbs D.
Purchase OF Forage Erection Of hospitals baraeks store
houses stables bridges T. Purchase and disposition oil
wagons, smbnances aud FORCES T. Inspections and reports
o. Correspondence return. and records Eiep m se.e Of
urgency pnrchase the seat Of advertising for pro-
posals IL required. The bill provides so Tor the more
economical distribution Of snpps and O the punishment Of
frauds OF bribery In suoh purchases.
WAR INVESTIGATION.
On motion Of Mr.. POWELL Dem, Ky.) tho Senate
proceeded 20 The consideration Of bis resolution calling
for the report aud evidence Of the COmmis ion ut the
head of which was GEN Mcdowell charged b inyesti.
gate the conduct Of certain officers Ia The West
Mr. WILSON did not think the senate should order
there papers III il was the report OF court-maTtnl,
where both sides cond be heard he would not object 10
can for papers In any whatever This was simply
commission sent out 20 seek Information for the Gov
eminent, much OF which WIS to be used in the pFosecu'
ton of such officers had been derect In duty and be-
cCme implicated ia unlawful transactions.
Mr.. GRDns proposed an amendment 10 strike ont INC
President Of the United States to transmit to the Senate
the report and the evidence aud any papers IN his pos
session shedding light upon the subject Mr.. Grimes
said lie understood that the whole proceedings both In
the institution oil the Commission and its subsequent
action. grossly in violation Of the articles Of war;
which provided "that such commission should be
created except by the President and him alone. lie
Informed that the President wholly ignorant OF
the formation 81 such Commission. lie CGrimes) con
sidcTed it nothing but Commission empowered 10 hsh
up testimony doT0RatOry 10 officers OF high standing IN
Gen Curtis. who arraigncd ex parte testimony,
without his presence He had been informed that every
particle of the testimony rejecting upon Gen. Curtis,
taken by the Commission, was disproyed by testimony
now IN the possession of the President and the War
Department 80 satisfactory the evidence that the
President announced nj once that Gen Curtis was nee
from all blame. II this resolution passes 1t should be
accompanied by q request for any testimony which
should properly accompany ii, that the country may
have opportunity 10 Judge OF both sides. lie did not
want parts statement 10 go out 10 the deriment
OF soldier when the records Of tho War Department
entirely eKoneTated him.
Mr.. LASR, On.. Kansas moved 10 insert after the
word q" President" the words II not incompatible
| with the public interests"
Mr.. POWELL had no objection 10 the amendment OF
The Senator from Iowa Tint Senator bad stated that
this Commission was organized without the knowledge
Of the President This was, DO doubt. the truth The
Secretary of War was In the habit Of doing things
without the knowledge OF the President just as he
pleased, very much % the deriment OF the best In
terets OF the country. IL tho President allowed such
things be done without his knowledge, no uos not
entitled the COMMUNICATION of the country. HeshOud
instantly dismiss such official from his service. He
(PowelD hoped that Gen. Curtis was exculpated. lie
had visited the War Department on one occasion for
the purpose Of examining into law he had introduced
here TO prevent frauds upon tho War Department and
wa, fs,ly refused the gryero ct rcadng the reports
pardonabe rldrBess Senator and be had not put hs
foot inside that Office since He contended that be hsd
equal right TO tue pr, ileges Of the War Department
with Republican Senators.
Mr. Lane had no answer bnt this 10 make TO the as.
sau from the Senator from Kentucky tho President
and Secretary Of War while In the performance oil
duty. II be either OF these officers he would con-
slider il the highest honor that could be paid him TO DO
assaulted by tie senator non Kentucky
Mr.. SH.igNAS lUn. Ohio said the evidence In the
possession the President abuBd anty vindceted Gen.
Curtis from the charge OF speculation In cotton. lie
had II from the lips " the President himself that the
removal OF Gen. Curtis Was for another cause;
Mr.. POWELL said the Senator from Kansas bad stated
that n he the President Secretary Of War he
would want no higher eulogy than his censure Ii he
thought the SECRETARY II War performing his duty
he would have word Of censure FOR him. OF one
thing he certain that the praises Of the Senator
from Kansas would BE- very damaging to tie President
and his War S'Setary.
never heard one word from the senator Powell in de-
nunciation Of the leaders OF the Rebellion while he
beard day by day. denunciatons Of the officers Of the
Government.
Mr. JOHNSON Cond. Un., Md hoped the Senator
from Massachusetts would withdraw his objection 10
the passage OF the resolution a. amended Gen. Curtis
was not the only officer whose reputation had been
damaged in public estimation by the Commission Nine
enths Of the evidence before would hot DO received
In 4 court OF justice.
Mr. WILSON said be would not resi. The passage OF the
resolution after the amendment " the Senator from
Iowa As general rule however. he did not think II
proper 10 call for the reports OF and evidence taken by
commissions sent out by the War Department TO reform
abuses 10 be spread before the country.
The subject was informally postponed
PROMOTION or EsIIsTMESTs
The bill TO promote enlismons came up in order, the
MOI recommending q general emancipation policy as
a war measure.
MI BRows addressed the Senate for two hours aud a
hall In support OF the proposition that Congress ami
the Executive clothed with ful power TO eradicate
Slavery measure and asserted that the present
struggle ia which we were engaged would have 10 be
fought over again II during its continuance the inst
tuition OF Slavery not eradcaed by the exercise OF
these powers with which Congress and the Executive
are CLEARLY clothed. Mr.. Brown quoted continuously
from Patrick Henry and John Qgincy Adams, In sup
port Of the existence Of this power He commended that
Missouri which forty years ago came into the MON by
an oct Of Congress dedcsttng her 10 slavery. would
now gladly hail the passage Of smother act dedicsne
her Ia freedom.
The further consideration Of the bin then post
poDed.
Mr.. Wnsos called up the bill TO equaze tie pay Of
soldiers
Mr.. DAVIS Con. I'm. KY offered an amendment pro
ydng that the District Court shall appoint Commits
soner to determine the value and make ards 10 loyal
owners for snyes taken into the service. Mr.. Davis
announced his intention TO address the Senate to.
morrow on the amendment.
The Senate went into executive session. and nj.
ter adjourned.