Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-01-25
C3NGREssIONAL,

CONGRESSIONAL.
In TIE SENATE yesterday after our repor,
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
resolution authorizing retsliation upon rebel
Mr. Sumner offered a substitute, deprecating
retaliatory acts, which was discussed at
length, and finally postponed till to-day.
the enrolment bill, which were referred 10
the Military Committee. Adjourned.
The Butler Brooks case was again taken up
MI boutwell,, after charging Mr.. BROOKS
with slander, proceeded TO examine the aifida-
Wit made by Samuel Smith, to which Mr.
Brooks alluded on Monday, and produced
various papers to refute the statements there
in made It appeared from the reading that
both the District Attorney and Marshal ofNew
Orleans, having made diiigent inquiry, ascer-
tained that those composing the firm OF Smith
AID Company were bitter rebels, and agents
for the Confederate loan A commission mad
examined into the case, and il was an admitted
fact that Smith had concealed fifty thousand
dollars In gold, bat which that man st first
pertinaciously denied, but which 1t was sus-
pected was the property of the Confederate
States. In the opinion of the commissioners,
there was sufficient ground for It's detention.
1t further appeared. from letter OF Gen.
Butler to the Secretary of the Treasury, that
, two paymasters came to New Orleans with too
little money to pay off the troops. Some Of
their families were, on this account, in almost
starving condition. He appropriated the
fifty thousand dollars towards the payment of
the troops left unpaid, one Of the western
regiments not having received money for many
months. l could not. said General Butler. let
my soldiers 60 unpaid; so he lent the fifty
thousand dollars. There was, at that time, no
considerable differen ce between gold and pa
per. This money was twice used in this way,
and was finally returned to the hands OF Gen
Butler. The money was taken from the United
States mint by the rebel superintendent, or ex-
changed for gold, and was concealed by being
bricked up in the vault Of Smith and Compa-
ny. General Butler subsequently asked the
Secretary OF War to take the money and re-
lteve him from further responsibility. This
was on the 11th of February, 1863. But the
Department compelled him to retain the money;
nor would the Treasury Department take 1t,
and, therefore, he was obliged to retain it. A
correspondence. 1t appears, took place between
Edwards Pierpont the counsel for Smith, and
General Butler. the latter stating to him, in
OF the money, repeating it had been lent to pay
troops, but holding himself responsible for it
In final settlement, taking care that any
rights a,ga T., Of IS Smith M. d Company. should be
these men were bitter, active, and un-
repentant; refused TO take the oath of alle-
glance as long as he remained in New Orleans.
MIR. Pierpont expressed himself satisfied with
the explanation In another letter 10 that gen.
tleman General Butler said if the War Depart.
ment directed hmm to pay the money into the
treasury, and If Smith would file a paper re-
beving him from all personal respons bility,
he would give draft for the Government,
Which would be honored at once. In reply to
Mr.. Pierpont's statement that Smith was
loyal man, General Butler said. / trust that
hls conversion is sincere, and l have so lived
as to DEFY my enemies. The most extrayagaut
what can l do about itl Although thin
skinned to newspaper attacks, some of my
friends say / ought to explain and show where
the gold went. Having written to the Secre-
tary OF War, the Solicitor of that department
in reply said the matter of indemniflcation had
been referred to the Judge Advocate General,
who was OF opinion that the question of in
demnlhcation could not be determined at this
stage OF the proceeding, and while the conduct
OF General Butler was pending in all it's bear
ings. If the applicant acted within scope OF
MS power, and claimed protection against suit,
1t could be maintained. General Butler was
also informed that he could also publish let.
ter necessary to his vindieation.
tThe above is gathered from q large mass of
documents and letters as read by the clerk
AIR. Brooks rejoined, charging MIR. Stevens
win using language unbeccming the dignity of
the House. For thirty years, ever since he had
had any knowledge Of Congress, he had never
heard member from the South address white
men In the manner the gentlemen addressed
" bite men yesterday. The gentleman spoke of
the tithlest garbage elected from the stomach
OF malignant haze. He did not know what
vocabulary the gentleman, had been studying;
ne did not know what schools he had been >
attending during his vacation; but even in the
Five Points of New York, no su ch language as
that is used. There are three gates in London
somewhat ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, the gate OF the
prisoni CIlppiegate, the gate OF the cripples;
and B1lllngsgate, the gate of the fisher women
The gentleman must have studied his vocabu.
larry in all OF these gates, prior 10 his coming
here and delivering his lecture to his Repub.
llcan friends. Laughter on the Democratic
SIDE. There We're certain sewers which run
out with mud, filth, and garbage. The Ian
guage did not rise to the dignity OF parlia.
blackguardism
Mr. Stevens replied in a similar manner: and
after further discussion, the appeal from the
decision OF the Chair with reference to the
alleged breach OF privilege, was Withdrawn.
and the House adjourned.