Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-08-09
'Tle Assassination Conspiracy.
Report of the Committee
of Investigation.
Startling Revelations Of OFF,
cial Rebel Completely.
WASHINGTON, july IN.

o.. ul.-g. .r WASHINGTON, July ~.
In the House of Representatives to day
Mr. Boutwell, Of Massachusetts,, from the
Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was
referred the resolutions OF the House OF
Representatives of April 9th and 30th, 1866,
instructingthe Committee to inquire into
the nature of the evidence implicating jeff
Davis and others 10 the assassination OF Pres
ident Lincoln, and also whether any legisia-
tion is necessary in order, to bring sueh per-
sons to a speedy and impartial trial It it
should appear that they we're implicated In
the assassination; and also whether any leg
islation is necessary 10 order to bring said
persons to a speedy and impartial trial for
the crime of treason, have investigated the
subject. as directed, and made preliminary
report thereon. ia. .r.. ,
The committee say it is notorious that said
Davis was guilty of the crime Of treason,
according to the Constitution and laws Of
the United States, aud the committee are of
the opinion that there are no obstacles to
speedy and impartial trial which can be re-
moved by legislation. Thisi also the opin-
ion of Attorney General Speed, as given in
bis testimony before the judiciary Commit
tee. The evidence in possession OF the com
mittee connecting Jefferson Davis with the
assassination OF President Lincoln justifies
the committee in saying that there is proba-
BILE cause to believe that he was privy to the
measure which led to the commission OF the
deed; but the Investigations which have
been made by the War Department apd by
the committee have not resulted in placing
tho Government in possession Of all the
facts in the case. 1t is probable. however,
that the further prosecution Of the investi-
CATION by the committee and by the officers
of the Government will result finally in
full development of the whole transaction.
The capture of the rebel archives has put
the Government in possession of mass OF
letters, papers, and documents OF various
kinds, only portion of which have as yet
been examined. The examination thus far
has thrown light upon the general policy OF
the rebel authorities, which in many. par
ticulars, involved a total disregard of inter.
national law and of the usages OF civilized
war.
The Secretary Of War, through Francis
Lieber. IL Chief of the Archive Office,
has furnished to the Committee cupies Of
various letters and papers found in the War
Office at Richmond, bearing upon four points
of the policy of the rebel Government:
Firet-With regard to negr1es bearing
arms.
Seoond-The condition of the rebel pris.
ems and the treatment of prisoners.
Third-Orders issued and letters written
by the rebel Secretary of War in relation to
the Union prisoners.
Fourth--Views and suggestions of jeff.
Davis in regard to Union prisoners.
Copies OF these papers have been furnish.
ed to the committee, and synopsis thereof
is herewith submitted as a part OF this re
port. While the evidence thus furnished
does not bear upon the question submitted
to the committee, it has been thought ad'
yisable to lay il before Congress and the
country, as showing the brutal and inhuman
| policy Of the men who instigated and
guided the rebellion, and as being in that
particular Intimately connected with the
attempts that were made to burn the cities
| of the North to destroy it's commerce on
the rivers, lakes aud ocean, without regard
to the loss of life, and finally with the assas-
sination of the President of the United
States. p. .fsr.
REBEL POLICY TOWARD NEGROES,
|, In 1862 JEFF Davis issued an order, that
all negro slaves captured in arms should at
once be delivered over to the executive au
| thorities Of the respective States to whieh
they belonged to be dealt with according to
the laws of such States, and that the like
orue. DC eAecutea l" oM.o~ a. o tha ITn;ts5
60 all eohmisslouSa = om;so " nonn.nv m ~;sb
states army Iou9u sels,nk ~ a;nst ou ,ba an.
armed slsses 10 1.M. a.suIsIs,ot s.".a 80 H. Con.
thority OF tne olneren. "r o..eSe Sn,th Ca,n.
iederaey. by 'ns ss,u.es nsSross a. ~ eussosd IN
INA: slaves or otner nesaoe str;sS hu
muoqy Or insur.ec.'un, Ne's 81 a ,SxSa | &C.. =,
tive . Justices OF .ne .eaJe s.n sru h o mss az, an.
holders; asfoelateu .oss,u,' ~ La, u, n,n;sh
powered ana sutnolllea 10 aan.o, .ne pu"''n
ment @ OF oea!n upcn saOn a,a une F.ou Ietto ar. a,
Inc com@,..es 6as.Ia ines q9''0 Anda,son snS ~
fne reSel Ieners o. o. ~ m"oossa on.,,a, ~a, ~n.
niroy omi.i, 20 sno" .s.a sus' vs W au"I t.Ian T.
lntended 70 pe snoGp 10 s,sis ,;ssnsrs s0a tbs, =,
arms ana th., u .assu .h pS.",a .n,hns; h
were 20 % tufnea over 70 na; an: So 49, '" Th.
tues, 10 sceoroance WIN ''F Jaws o''e's Ap'
oommttee say
The policy OF the. rebel autnonties wa
modified the following year; put tne deeiar
stisns made and the actions done IN pufsu
an,e of these declarations, are eeeclqsise 'l
proof of the brutal and malignant lieenng'
by which the leaders OF the rebellion iweIt
| controlled. and rendered 1t not only possible
hut probable that they would at once ongas'
in projects for the assassination OF the ohie