Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-03-09
CONGREssIONAL.
WAsH1xaTOE, March 8.
anrAnn

The petition Of Eli Thsyer and others,
presented Monday, was incorrectly stated
to be in favor Of the passage Of law con-
fiscsting lands Of the rebels and distribu-
ting them among the Freedmen. The Pc
titioa in reality asks Congress to eonfs-
AoiA, s,i4ariv ard giihnI.t .saarva. the lambs
Of rebels, and TO give Of the same without
any other formslity than occupation, one
hundred and sixty acres TO each private
in the naval service, and TO each man In
the rank and file Of the Union army, and
of the rebel army who will take the pre-
scribsd oath Of allegiance to the United
States, and that ihe lands thereafter re-
naming to be open 20 settlement under the
Homestead law.
Mr.. Powell called up the Joint Resolu-
ton requesting the Secretary Of War to
transmit the report and evidence Of the
Military Commission, Of which General
Mcdowell was president.
Mr.. Wilson opposed the call for these
papers, as they were necessary to be with
held thst they might be issued in the pros
ecution Of officers who were eulpsble.
Mr.. Grimes said the whole proceeding Of
the Mission were grossly in Violstion Of
the articles Of war, which provided that
no such Commission shall be created ex-
cept by the President, and he was wholly
| ignorant of the formation Of such Com.
mission. He considered it nothing but q
Commission to fish up testimony deroga-
tory to officers in high standing in the
army. He referred to the case Of General
Curtis who was srraigned on ez PGFte tes-
timony, without his presence. He had
been informed that every particle Of the
testimony rejecting on General Curtis,
taken by the Commission, was disproVed
by testimony in the possession Of the Pres
| ident. So satisfactory was the evidence
thst the President at once announced that
6enersl Curtis was free from all blame
II this resolution passes il should be &C
compsnied by Q request for any testimony
which should properly accompany it. He
did not want any ez-pGrts statement to the
deiriment Of soldier when the records Of
the War Department entirely exonerate
him.
/ Mr.. Powell said it was no doubt the truth
that the Secretary Of War was in the habit
Of doing things without the knowledge Of
the President, very much to the detriment
Of the best interest Of the country. If the
President allowed such things to be done,
without his knowledge, ho was to blame
He should instantly dismiss such an ON
cisI. --, ...-r..# ....
Mr., Lane, oil Kansas, said if he was
President or Secretary Of War, he would
consider 1t the highest honor that could be
paid him to be assaulted by the sensto1
from Kentucky.
MI. Sherman said the evidence in the
possession Of the President abundantly
vindicsted General Curtis from the charge
Of speculation in cotton. He had it from
the lips Of the President himself that the
removal Of General Curtis was for another
cause.
Mr.. Powell said the Senator from Kansas
had stated that If he was the President OF
Secretary Of War, he would want no higher
eulogy than his censure. If he thought
the Secretary Of War WAS performing his
duty, he would have no word Of censurt
for him. OF one thing he was certain
that the process Of the Senator from nan
sas would be very damaging TO the Presi
dent and his War Secretary.
Mr.. Lane, Of Ksnsss, said he had beer
here three years and had never heard ont
word from the senstor (PoWelD in dsnun
citation Of the leaders Of the rebellion
| while he had hesrd day by day denuncis
tions ofths officers Of the Government.
Mr. Johnson hoped the Senator from
Massachusetts would withdraw his objeo
t ton TO the passage Of the resolution .
amended.
General Curtis was not the only Office
whose reputation had been damaged II
, public estimation by the Commission, an
nine-tenths Of the evidence before it Woul
. not be received in Court Of Justice.
Mr.. Wilson would not resist the pss
sage Of the resolution.
: After the amendment Of the SenstO
from Iowa, requesting the President Il
transmit the evidences, So, the subject va
informally droppe.9
Q The special order was taken up, bein
the amendment Of Mr.. Brown, to the bi