Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-05-11

,Dh A. the ptcrcr authorities. The so.n.
.r su,t men pfo out vi tho tctViao me
80, il will be- Tor tho morals oi Tho vol.
uute army in thc field
srr iNyEstta'uoN M rnnAuriUuiN
From iniotu atJu which wns cummunl-
c,trJ to youi committee that irpuds were
prac,.ccd IN Philadelphia, your commit
Toe deemed IL duty 10 proceed to the lat
ter e,ty, TO institute au inquiry into tive
exist,rcs ofu alpmcuce on tho part ct ol-
ecers engsgcd in the recruiting service.
Accordingly, on the 81 dRy Of March 1864.
your committee arrived IA Philadelphia,
and proceeded 20 exam ne such witnesses
as we're brought before us, whose evidence
we heard paUeat,y fora whole day bat
finding that tho scope OF inquiry which
rirtt he oueucl up in that locality prom
;srl "a involve A length Of time and =
field Of labor that might occupy months,
YOUR committee WAS compelled to uoan-
don the investigation in That quarter, nud
leturn to their duties at the seat Of Gov
ernmeat The lateCsss and the certainty
OF speedy adjournment, Hdmonished
your committee OF the necessity OF bring,
Ing their labors to a close, aud We accor-
dinslv returned 70 Harrisburg on the "a
day 0! March, 1854
The result OF the inrestica,ion @. Piila-
delpLia was Of he ncst icsultory and uu-
corrected character, embrocugR class Of
cases that required extended inquiry, but
which came properly within the province
Of the military authorities, itth0se IN com
raaud wo1id but 10 their duty TO the Gov
eynr0eu, and men under their immediate
command. Your committee would re-
rcark here. however, that the loose and
reckless manner c!do.ng business on part
Of the officers connected with the recruit
ing service cg volunteers, calls loudly for
The mosl searching Investigation on the
par. of The government at Washington,
and he Immediate institution OF reform
10 th2. branch o; the service.
Many cases Of great hardship and inhu
nanity we're brought 10 the notice OF your
committee, which vii! claim the attention
of the proper authorities, Us exhibited in
the testimony Of the Complainan,s, which
will accompany this report; but which
were beyond the reach oi your committee,
CT Es bsiieye for want Of the power 10
make sUca an investigation Is would h.
necessary 10 expose the abuses tFat
have been doubtless prSc.ced upon the
volunteers enlisted and detained IN bar
racks io, Philadelphia. Your cong itleo
must say. however, 10 one iEstaT &C. n
sergeant distribgto- oNe hurdgcd and &c
- dollars which be hsl retained from u e
soldiers.
Your committee did not desire 70 en-
trench upon .Ls irncli1nS Of the autlcIi-
ties .! the general gopcrBmeui, IN pn b.
.DE iAei. inquiries too tlT; or into Local.
tics tGat come witIiu tho proI5c sphere
Of Cor gross or the War Department and
tdsy ildUlge the Iou9 That even these
delicate illusions 10 the fact that abuses
20 exist g; Philadelphia ia lAe eulis,iag
department.. may not be altogether lost
cIt that il g,ay &c the means OF inducing
:hose whose dolly it is, 10 make inquiry,
sRd reform sny existing abuses tia, may
se discovered.
Your committee, IN conclusion, desire
70 remark that, il :heii opinion, no time
SHOULD be lost n bringing TO a speedy tri.
a. those officers whore conduct has brought
reproach upon The service; the moral
saec; Of which upcn the men Of their regi-
uents can produce 20 other result than
taat CT Inspiring the deepest contempt
!oc oticsrs who could descend TO the lcT
and crCaH!y ar:!nces ;c which they resort
70 Chez: sri aefga2i the soldier Of his Just
due.
!: "a 'hr opinion Ct your committee
that Co. Richard White. Capt, David Fox
and Capt. Walker should immediately be
summoned before coart Of inquiry 20
answer such charges as the Secretary Of
War should feel disposed to base upoa this
report.
Your committee deem j! proper 10 add,
;hst shs great length 20 which their re-
Port las already been extended, ard the
near approach Of the adjournment Of the
Legislature, have prevented them from
Incorporating iato it NAM inItauces Of
wrong whi:h the evidence developed -
They nave given those instances which
seemed nos; especially to demand notice
ard as types Hs the whole. Your com.
-aittee, however earnestly invite the at.
teE:.ou 0! the Legislature and The military
Authorities O. Govei nneni, as well as the
good citizens OF the Commonwealth, TO the
evidence accompanying the report, and
all may ascertain for themselves the char
ac:er a. the wrongs perpetra;ed, aHd that
the offenders, military and civilian may
meet the scorn Of the community, even ir
!; ehould bs found, what it is hoped may
not bs TIE case, that they have so arrang-
81 ile!r plans as 10 escape the punish
neat of criminals.
a.! oI which IS respectfully submitted.
THos. ST. CLAGR,
CHARLEs M'CASpIEss,
GEO. W. STEIN,
P. FRizER SMI1U,
r. r. REID,
TuoNAs J. BARGUs.
Committee
A.Iest-cap.. GUsT L. BsAuy
Clerk OF Committee