Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-05-23

eral Blair made an order for himself and
staf for liquor and other Iuxuries to the
amount Of $s,651,-tbst it was pretended
that this large supply was for the szelssiOs
use Of himself and staf-but in reality he
was taking advantage Of his position to
smuggle oOntraband goods across the lines
for the purpose Of private speculation, in
violation Of Treasury regulations. 1t
seemed that the original order, which
called only for the moderate sum Of $3.50
worth of these Injuries for The General
and his staff Of nine officers,
and which was drawn on q Mr.. Michael
Powers, an agent of the Treasury Depart
ment in St Louis, WAS altered by that in
diVidual, by adding figure to the amount
Of each srticle, and adding the word
"esch " after each amount, so IS to in
crease ii to Ss651. What can be the OBJ
ject Of committing this infamous forgery
is not known, unless it was done for the
purpose Of finjuring General Blair.
The General, while in Congress, demsn-
ded the appointment Of a committee to in
vestieste the charge against him. The
committee was appointed, and made the
following report generating General
Blair fully from the charge of violating
any Law, and showing up the forgery Of
Powers
The special committee appointed under
the resolution Of the House Of the 23d Of
March last, 10 investigate the charge made
by Hon. J. W. McClurg, q member of the
House from the State Of Missouri, against
Hon. 2. P. Blair, jr., also 8 member Of the
House from the same State, "of violating
the laws in the matter Of an alleged
liquor speculation, and to inquire into the
gsnuineness or fslsity of the alleged order
for the purchase Of liquor, bearing date
June 8, 1858" respectfully report that
they hsve had the matter 80 referred to
them under consideration from an early
day after their appointment and have
given full opportunities to both parties 10
procure witnesses before them, and have
taken all the testimony offered on the
subject. The depositions Of the witnesses
thus examined are herewith trsnE mitted to
the House.
1t appeared satisfactorily in evidence
before the committee that on the Sd day Of
June, 1853, Hon. F. P. Blair, jr, then
being major general in the army of the
United States il actual service near Vieks-
burg, inthe State Of Mississippi together
with eight members Of his staff signed 8
written order or authority 10 one Michael
Powers, representing himself to be an
agent of the Treasury Department. snd
who had offered his services for the pur-
pose, to procure for their own use very
moderate amount Of liquors, tobacco, and
cigars, the cost Of which, in the language
of one Of the witnesses, (Cspt. Mcguire
certainly would not eXcee1 one hundred
and fifty or one hundred and seYenty-fve
dollars" 9.f
This Ordlr, as it appeared before the
committee, VS. altered after it was de
liVered to Powers, By adding to and
changing the figures, and also by adding
ct least one new item, twenty i've boxes
can fruits,) to such an extent that the in
voice on the purchase Of the articles in st.
Louis, and permit for which was granted
by the collector, amounted to S8,65l. AS
q specimen Of the alterations one may be
referred to, that as to brandy. The original
order was for five gallons by inserting
the figure before the figure 8, and adding
the word teach" it became an order (ss
nine persons had signed it, for two hun
dred and twenty-five gallons. The altera-
tions which the committee believe, from
the tes imony taken before them, to have
been made in the order, will be seen Oh
reference to schedule A hereto annexed,
which contains copy Of the existing or
der, and q statement at the foot thereof Of
the articles named in the original order as
nearly ss the committee can determine
from the evidenc before them.
As to the question by whom these alter
stions were made, the committee refer par
tioularly to the depositions Of Mr.. Powers
amp Mr.. Howard, VII Oh are among those
herewith submitted Judging from all the
circumstances, they were probably made
for the purpose Of realizing q profitable
speculation under cover Of the original
order. That they were made by Powers
there cannot, from the testimony, be any
reasonable doubt.
At the time the order was delivered to
Powers, there Wss no law or military reg
ulNblOA IL my WHJ PAeAAoAsAA6 Abs
The committee are therefore of the opin-
ion, and do report, that no violation Of law
was committed in the premises BY General
Blair, and thst the original order was ST.
tured and fslsifed after it had passed from
his possession and control, in the manner
herein stated.
The undersigned, the chairman Of the
committee, for himself deems it proper to
state that the replies Of Mr.. Blair in the
House to the charges Of Mr.. MeClurg, all
Of which have been under investigation
before the committee, are not sustained by
the evidence, except as to his denial Of be-
ing engaged in liquor speculation, and
of the genuineRess Of the order in question
In this statement the other members Of the
committee do not consent-the membrr
from Kentucky for the reason that his
conclusions from the testimony are the op-
posite OF those Of the chairman; and the
member from New York (Who was absent
while most Of this part Of the evidence
was tsken) for the reason that he does not
consider the subject embraced in the reso
luton appointing the con mittee, and that
they are not in his judgment, called on 10
express any opinion in regard to it.
The committee having thus completed
the duties assigned to them, respectly ask
to be discharged from the further cOnsid-
Grafton Of the subjeci.
WV. HIsBY, Chairman,
BRUTUs J. CLAY,
John V. L PEUYH
SCHEDULE A.
HEADQUARTERs SECOND DIVISION,
16-u Awarv Copps rrap Urrvepupa