Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-07-15

~ 81 Court. =. t3
The present Congress, not satisfied with
all the Legislative power vested in that
body, has almost entirely usurped the Leg
islative powers of the State Government,
and still is unsatisfied, and has assumed
Executive powers of kingly nature. But
this is not all. 1t further proposes to act
in the capacity of Grand Jury for the peo-
pie of the United States. -----,--z,
The Ne,o York Tribune, of recent date,
referring to this matter, remarks: Isl
"Mr. Butler offered important resolutions
in the House yesterday directing the ap-
pointment of a committee to investigate
the facts, connected with the assassination
of Mr.. Lincoln, and empowering the COM
mittee to report bills granting amnesty to
persons who shall give evidence. In sup
porting his resolutions, General Butler said
that the military trials had been confined
to single issues, and that no full and COM
plete Investigation had been made. The
resolutions were adopted by vote OF 100
to "a. We think this step is properly TAX
en-. Vague charges of completely in the
assassination have repeatedly been made,
not only in newspapers but in Congress !;
Mr.. Wilson, the chairman of the Judiciary
committee, has said that the testimony al
expedient; it is well, therefore, that Con-
gress should obtain all the facts connected
with the crime, and that they should be
published for the information OF the world p
What is it Congress, under the lead of
such men as BUTLER, will not yet assume
to do? Who was Mr.. LINCOLN in this Re-
publican Government more than any other
citizen that the public money should be
wasted in useless investigations by COM
mittees of Congress? Why not have the
case investigated by the Courts? If there
is any consistency in Democracy, Mr.. LIN
coin was no more to the Republic than
any other citizen, and his murderers should
be hunted down, and punished the same as
any other criminals. -,...' q.
Why does not Congress appoint COM
mittee to visit different portions of the
country for the purpose of investigating
crime? The theory and practice are sim
ply absurd, and the ugly-taced, devil-eyed
old thief, who is inaugurating this scheme,
is doing it for a far different purpose than
the one expressed in the resolution.
1t is notorious fact, that this whole in
vestigation has been productive of enough
u CduSc q HdIlOH W tCcl
A portion of the witnesses have already
been convicted of perjury, and in the trial
of SURRATr class of witnesses have been
called by the Government that are a dis
grace to any people.
The truth is, Buffers proposition to
"grant amnesty" is for the purpose of man.
ufaeturing evidence in, order to enable him
to procure the execution of Innocent per-
sons. 20 szs...-asi-- ''- l. t1f -..t F. -5~- o.. q
After this long lapse of time, the Gov
ernment proposes, through the demoral-
izing influences of Congressional Com
mittee, to induce those who acknowledge
completely in that crime to purchase ann
nesty by perjury.
What is the force of such evidence?
Congress has no more right to meddle
with this affair than it has to assume to act
as Criminal Court for the entire country.
What picture. Old BEN. BUTLER-the
convicted thief-surrounded with the MEM
bers of his Committee and his perjured
creatures, purchasing amnesty by implica-
ting some Southern citizens with this
crime. fia H zen sf-.'' .- 40