New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-04-26
Report OF the Special Committee in tho
Blair investigation Case.
WAsHTNGrON. D. O., ApriI q. ~

|
In the House, to-day, Mr. Highly, from the
Select Committee in the Case of the Hon. F. p Blair,
made the following Report, which is pending on tho
question TO print
| XXXVIIlTH CoSGRFs. FIRST SESSION,
House. % REPRESENTATIVE,
Tho undersigned the Special Committee appointed under
the resolution of the House the .3d Of March last In
vesgate the charge made by tie Hon. J. w McClurg Mem
Der OF the House the State Of Missouri agens, Hon.
H. p. Blair IT, also Member Of te House from the
State, Of violating kss in the matter Of alleged
liquor speculation and inquire into the genuneuess
y of the alleged order for the parchsse Of liquor bearing
date Juno g. 1868" respectfully report;
That they have had the matter referred to them under
consideration from early day after their appointment and
given full opportunity both parties to produce wit
nesses before them and have taken al the testimony offered
on the subject The depo.iIous Of the witnesses thus ex
aunined are herewith submitted 70 the house.
It appeared satisfactorily in evidence before the Committee
that on the third day of June 1853 the Hon. F. p Blair IT,
then being Major General in the Army Of the United States
in actual service near vekbug in the State of Mississippi
together with eight members Of his staff signed written
order or authority to Michael Powers representing him
be agent of the Treasury Department and who had
offered bis services the procure for their own
use very moderate snountof liquors tobacco and cigars
the cost of which, in the ngase of one of the witnesses
(Cap. Maguire certainly would not exceed $50 or Sl9
after it was delivered Powers by adding to and changing tao
figures and by adding est new item twenty-five
boxes can s such extent that the invoice in the pur
chase Of the articles in Louis and permit for which was
granted by the Collector, amounted 865 As specimen
of the alterations may be- referred TO- that as TO brandy
The original order was Tor I've gallon" by IN
sering the figure before the fgre s. and adding the
word each il order nine persons had signed
it, for gallons The alterations, which the COMMITTEE DC
eve from the testimony taken before them r. have been made
in the order will be seen reference to Schedule A. hereto
annexed which contains copy Of the existing order anaa
statement at the foot thereof the articles named in the orig
ina order nearly the Committee Gao ae'eHne ' '
evidence before them
Az to the question by whom these alterations msde'
the Committee refer particularly 70 the DISPOSITIONS Of MI.
Powers aud Mr. Howard which among those herewith
submitted Judging from all the circumstance they were
probably made for the purpose Of realizing prone specu-
aton under cover the original order That they were made
by Powers cannot from the testimony be any reason
able doubt At time the order Delivered to Powers
there wss no law or military regulation in any way prohibit
ing
The Committee are therefore Of opinion ard do now re-
mort that no violation of Law committed In The premises
by Gen Blair and that a order altered and asi-
fed after had passed from his possession and control IN tho
manner hereubefore stated
The undersigned, the Chairman oil The Committee or nm
self deems proper state that the replies Of Mr. Bar IN
the House 20 the charges OF Mr. NcCmg all OF which nave
been under investigation before the Committee are not sus-
tanned by the evidence except to his denial Of being en-
gagged In liquor speculation, and Of the gsnunenes Of tho
order in question In this ,smeni s- other members Of tho
Committee do not oonearhr member from Kentucky for
the reasons that bis conclusions from the testimony are the
opposite Of those Of the Chaiaman and tie member rom
NaxYorh fyho was absent while most Of this pant Of the
evidence was sken that he not ne
ubiec embraced in the resolution appointing the COMMITTEE
and that they not, In his Judgment oaisu VI
opinion In regard to IL.
The Committee having thus completed the duties signed
20 them respectfully ask TO oe discharged from the further
c0n''a'i1'''H Vi 'D' Wx HIasY, Chairman,
RRUrUsJ. CLAY,
Washington, April 20, 1854.
SCHEDULE A-coPY ORDER REFERRED TO AFTrh
THE ALTERATION MAD BEFS MADE
HEApouARrExs ID D VISION, lSTH ARsI CORPS
NEAR NICKsBrRS, Miss. June 3, 1903
We the underlined Ooer 3utaorzn Michhtl to"es 70
nrocur. for our own use tie lolowin. articles, TO wat;
TWENTY-FIVE galou' brandy each % gallons "h.sAeN eiS,
IS half barrels aie each p boxes eatswbs = poie' ea.
god 20 boxes Havana cigars dozen bottles Boxer o'er
yeniuel 20 boxes Charles Terre' champagne 5poand
bale, virgnia smoking Is boxes csn fruits
FR,xxP. BLAIR Major Genera commanding "a Di'ii0n
i' j. NJ JSr1, Captain and Acting Qnarternaster.
Arden r. SMITH. CaPtse snd L >
LoGAy ToNPKiys, A. D. c.
GEo. A. hAGUIRg. A. ID. I.
h JOEL rst.Leuteusnt 10th No Cavity.
" d. GREEN Major and A. \. O.
NJ. A DOYLE, n l. I. ,, -,,, s,vv w.s
LIST OF ARTICLES IN TIE okDsk "hhS lhs 0AhN w"
Five gallons brandy, gallons whisky, hSnoos 90
ho,e. Caanbs boxes cset, good; boxes havana SsI
Is h,,lss Bo.ers bittsrs genuine; boxes Charles
Terre' champagne, (perhaps ~ 'poGhd oAe'
ing tobacco