White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1865-08-17
A Tremendous BODY.

1t must be that the election of man
to Congress, gives him a monopoly Of
common sense over other people and
that his appointment upon some impor
tsnt Committee. gives him further mo-
nopoly Of that valuable commodity over
bis fellow members. Several years since.
Congress appointed Committee on the
Conduct of the War. with apparently no
limit to their duties or 10 their term Of
service. Since that time, this COMMITTEES
have been making frequent reports upon
everything connected with the war
sometimes containing valuable and i'm
portant matter, but more frequently
amounting to mess of bosh. All the
Committee have to do, is to sit in their
room, guzzle whiskey. examine such tes-
timopy as they choose to, and then report
according to their humor. There is no
military question too deep for them, but
they are familiar with everything relating
to arms and warfare; and their reports are
generally accepted as law and gospel.
They may make or unmake Generals,
punish or promote them. or do whatever
they choose-becsuse, forsooth. they are
q Committee Of Congressmen.
Are Union prisoners starved !? The
COMMITTEES investigate and report. but no
abatement of the starving is visible.
Does General make failure Of q great
campaign? The Committee 60 to work,
examine lot of officers, who perhaps
are envious, and think they could have
done it better; they send in their report.
and the commander is shelved or excul-
pated. as the case may be.
Is mine laid to blow up rebel works,
but accidentally explodes prematurely,
killing many of our soldiers? The Com
mitiee take it in hand. and to screen q
favorite. perhaps throw the blame upon
some officer who had abou. as much to
do with it as the man in the moon.
Is canal attempted for strategic pur-
poses. but destroyed by q sudden food
from the heavens ? The Committee 60
to work, and decide whether God AL
mighty, the General who planned the
work, or the engineer who was overseeing
it, is to blame for the accident.
Is an expedition sent against some
strong fort, and for good reasons aban-
doned, but the fort soon after taken by
another commander =? The Committee
60 to smelling. and decide whether or not
thing could have been accomplished at
time when it was not tried.
Does Government vessel sink in q
terrific gale. in a region where ships are
never safe ? The COMMITTEES go to work.
and pass their judgment upon the builder
of the vessel, the commander, the pilot,
and the engineer.
Is portion of our army repulsed 10
an attack, or overwhelmed by superior
plumbers The Committee, sitting sfar
of, in safety. make a report. elling all
about how it might have been avoided.
Is an important expedition sen: into
the enemy's country, but the commander,
instead of pushing on to his work. fools
away his time in cotton speculations. un-
til be is surprised and routed; and then.
for spite, relieves subordinate officers
The Committee get on the scent, and
make the country see it in an entirely
different light. Ew ys.sH asa
Is colored garrison, after surrenderiug,
under promise of protection, brutally mas
sacred, and the telegraph and newspaper
correspondents lay the full particulars be.
fore the public within q day or two after.
ward ! The euterprising Committee. six
months later, submit their report. contain.
ing the same facts.
Is there q rivalry between the manu-.
facturers of big guns. each one wishing
to monopolize the Government patron.
sge? The Committee know all about
guns, and send in a report. recommend.
ing one and condemning the others. They
enrich gun-msker; and doubtless the
gun-maker. in return for the favor, en-
riches them.
Does q gallant and Christian officer.
who thoroughly understands the Indian
character, end the sufferings and condition
of the people of the frontier, administer
q terrible but just chastisement to the
trescherous savsges? The Committee.
listening to the howls Of bogus pbilsn.
thropists, send out and obtain the Indi-
ans version of the affair. ther make a
report condemning the officer. and csus-
ing his dismissal from the servic.
We might go on repeating examples
for a month. But it is unnecessary now
to say more than that the Committee on
the Conduct of the War is one grand
humbug. = s. ?
I RE- Santa Anna, in his recent procla-