The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-05-07
BURLINGTON WEEKLY. HAWK-EYE
THIRTY.EIGHTH CONGRESS-.

BURLINGTON WE.
THIRTY.EIGHTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, May 4.-HcusE.-Mr.
said he would consent
that the resolution should be referred TO
the Select Committee.
Mr.. SPAULDING objected.
On motion of Mr.. STEVENS, the House
then went into Committee of the Whole on
the state Of the Union, Mr.. Steele, of n. r.,
in the Chair. 49,
The Fertilization Bill was reported to the
House, and passed with amendments for
repairs at Great Brewster Levels and Deer
Islands, in Boston Harbor, appropriating
$500, 900 therefor, and for repairs to the sea-
wall at Buffalo, $4,000.
Mr.. VOORHEES, obtained unanimous
consent to make statement.
Mr.. VOORHEES, said that two members Of
his State had been cruelty wronged and
outraged and he expressed the hope that
the facts of the case would afford lesson
Of decency aud Justice for the future. The
gentleman from Ohio (Garfield) had chosen
his (Voorhees) district for an assault on
two of his personal and political friends,
who are thus made the victims of party
malice. At the time the gentleman from
Ohio (Gartield) brought forward what he
claimed to be true copies of letters from
Judge Eckels and Jno. g. Davis, addressed
to General Breckenridge recommending a
young man named Rankin for position in
the rebel army. He denounced the letters
to be q forgery. The gentleman from Ohio
(Garfield) said that he would produce the
letters but he did not, and he tVOrhees)
now called upon him (Garfield) to do 90
now. The copies of the letters did not
meet the promise of the gentleman Gar
feld) who should have the manliness to
make good the charge or retract all he has
said. The character of Judge Eckels and
of Mr.. Davis would not suffer at the hands
of the gentleman from Ohio (Garfeld) nor
would the Democratic party be injured in
any way by his blows. He (veorhees)
claimed it as point Of honor, that Judge
Eckles and Mr.. Davis were his friends.
. Mr.. VOORHEES, then proceeded to prove
by letters from Judge Eckles and Mr.. Da-
Wis, and by the assertions of others whose
ters were base, impudent and deliberate
forgeries, and that they were acknowledged
to be such by the person who forged them,
and from whom the gentleman from Ohio
(Mr. Garfieldl obtained the copies. This
was n0thinX more or less than conspiracy
to ruin the patriotism, and perhaps the life,
Of the most prominent private citizens. II
it were not for the serious character of the
transaction, he would have pronounced the
administration.
Mr.. voorhees, in conclusion said, that he
had proved beyond the. possibility of q
doubt that Rankin forged the letters, and
had left witnesses Of the forgery. This
whole matter was without = PARALLEL
Judge Eckles had no hope for the restora-
ton OF the liberty or peace of the country,
power, aud in this he was that gentleman's
true representative. Mr.. Davis formerly
represented the Terre Haute district, and
was no stranger here. All who had served
with hum would bear willing testimony to
his high integrity and patriotic bearing,
Mr.. GARFIELD OF Ohio, said that he had
not heard that Judge Eckles denied the
genuineness Of the letters attributed to
him until this morning in presenting the
copies of the letters. He (Gartield) did not
pretend it was such evidence as was proper
in court of justice. The letters were put
III the hands Of the chief of police in Nash
vile, and the person doing so certified I'M
der oath as to their genuineness. They
were presented to the General in chief aud
himself (Garfield). Indiana friends were
consulted upon the subject and they came
to the conclusion almost unanimously that
the letters were genuine. He (Harfield)
had submitted accordingly copies which
were read to this House. The statement
made by the gentleman (Vorhees) was
from q paper published in Indiana, and
this was called the evidence in which the
House were to believe the letters were
forged in that Slate. iisa~
resolution that the secretary of the treas
ury inform the House whether there is en-.
plOyed in the treasury department q clerk,
or an assistant register by the name of Gar
nett, and whether said Garnet had not
held position in the rebel army, if he was
not prisoner in the old capitol prison and
who recommended him for the position in
the treasury department.
Mr.. FENTON suggested the resolution
be referred to a select committee now in
vestigating affairs in the treasury depart
ment
Mr.. FARNSWORTH said he brought NO
charge against the treasury apartment
but thought an inquiry was proper as this
Garnet had been a captain in the rebel
army.
Mr.. SPAULDING of Ohio hoped that
the resolution would be acted upon.
Mr.. STEVENS said the resolution had
better go over until tomorrow.
Objection being made the resolution was
laid over.
SENArE.--Mr. LANE, of Kansas, intro.
duced a bill instructing the Military Com.
mittee to inquire into the expediency of re.
porting bill to pay for property taken
uuIiIB Tue war; excluding save property
Objected to and tabled.
The resolution of Mr.. SHERMAN was
| then taken up. 1t is as follows: That G
quorum of the Senate composed of ma
jority of the Senators be duly qualified o,
chosen, and that If n majority Of the Presi
dental electors vote for one person. he shal
be the President of the United States: anG
if the election or appointment devolve up
| on the House Of Representatives, and thu
votes of majority Of the States represent
ell III the House be cast for one person
then he shall be declared President elect 0
the United States.
| Mr.. DAVIS opposed the resolution Al
considerable length. The resolution con
curing in the Senate was passed-ayes %
nays IL. n
The conference committee on the hi!
Establishing bureau of military tustic,
was not agreed to-2l to II.
WASHINGTON, May 5.-HousE.-Th,
House went into committee of the whole OF