Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1866-03-09

he had not clerical force enough 10 make the
necessary comics. He did nothing but wait |
and keen US waiting. He says nothing, and
he gives us nothing. ! am not making
complaint. ] am only stating the facts brief |
liz and concisely. Yet, he had al these papers
There wss Governor Perry, Provisional Gov.
ernor of South Carolina, man whom we all
know as having been rebel Judge. He had
been elected senator, but we don't yet know
in any official manner that he has even been
hardened. Then, too, there is Humphreys,
a rebel brigadier-general, a man covered all
over with treason He is reported elected
az Governor Of Mississippi, even before he
was pardoned. We should like some official
information as to bis status and TO the status
of Perry, and all the RESI-. IL is IAN important
matter whether these unFArioned ebel haveof
have not been elected to high offices of nonof
and truss, and the President was the only
person who could give us the facts 10 The
cases, on which to base an opinion for the
guidance Of Congress These papers and
documents, called for by both Houses, were
Just what we wanted at the fret stage OF our
Inquiries | make no complaint. only
state facts and say that up to this day, we
have neither been able 10 get the information
called for, nor any reason why it Is withheld
In view Of all these facts how can any one
have the face 10 charge us with delay, or
with delaying the work of reconstruction /:
While we have been waiting on The President,
we have done the best we could under the
/ circumstances. Failing TO get the iniorma-
ton in his possession, we have necessarily re-
sorted to the taking Of evidence. The com
mittee was divided into four subcommittee,
and one or more Of these has been almost
constantly gagged in examining witnesses,
in getting iacts and opinions on which we
may make up the Judgment that we are re-
quired 30 make undet the resolution Of The
two Houses We have other duties to per-
form, and, of course, have not been able to
give all our time 90 this work but we have
been engaged in 10 early and late, whenever
there was opportunity. Meantime, the testi-
mony, for which both Houses respectfully
asked, the papers In the control of the Pres
dent, are all kept back, are all shut up be-
yond our reach Where has been the delay
Whose the blame that we are not yet able &,
reach well-fouuded conclusion don't say
reasons may not exist for not furnishing III
with these documents, | don't say any thinl
about il, for know nothing aboutir. | onl,
| hul NAht 90 'Ail' ANr bANA ANAh9f a. 80 NV VIZ
committees fault. They have sought for in
formation on every hand, while the grea
source Of the very information they first want
ed has been kept away from them withou
explanation.
Elr. President, / should not have allude
to this matter, but that unjust charges Of th
gyayest character have been made against III
committee If which am chairman. We hay
thrice asked the President for such infofmi
ton as is ia his possession, for all these doc
uments relating to the beginnings Of tn
governments set up in these lately rebellion
states, and TO this date have got neither ar
swer nor documents. We have borne man
taunts and charges, but now that they CON
from high sources, now that they are made
the senate, il becomes us to reply in sell
defence, and to show that if there has bee
. delay, it is not our fault