The national Republican., 1867-03-04

made BY law that In no case shall there be settle.
ment for fraud upon the revenue which does not
contemplate first Of all payment toto the treas.
ury Of tho full amount Of duty which has been
withheld. Tho committee say that in the hasty
preparation Of the report they have not noticed
any Judicial deliyorance from the evils complained
Of The report Is signed BY McsSrS. Hulburd,
Droomall and Rollins.
Woodbridge, Of Vt, from the Judiciary Com.
mittoe TO which had boen submitted tho subject Of
tho pursuit and arrest Of John II. surratt sub.
mitted reports which was laid on tho table and
ordered to be printed. Tho report states that In
September, 1885, the State Department had in
formation as to tho whereabouts Of Surratt for Mr.
Fielding consul nt Liverpool, gave the informa-
tion that Surratt wns thon at tho oratorio Of the
Roman Catholic Church Of the Holy Gross in that
city. Mr. FIELDING informed the State Department
that he had taken no action, because tho English
Government was not disposed to give tho accused
up. Prior to that timo, Mr. Potter tho consul gen.
eral Of Canada, had advised the Department Of tho
intended departure Of Surratt for Livorpool and
upon his arrival at the latter place II was known
that he was thero awaiting steamer In order to
60 to Rome.
When II was known that Surratt was In Liver.
pool, 1t was said that 1t proposed to have Sur
ratt indicted at once for completely in Mr. Linoolns
assassination, aud that demand would bo at onco
| made for him upon that Indictment. No such In
dictment was found nor was such demand over
made. As soon as Surratts arrival at Rome was
ascertained, Minister King made demand for him
upon Cardinal Antonell and the latter expressed
| Willingness to give him up, but tho Government
here took no action until late in 1865, whom the
| Department Of State communicated with Minister
| King and he was requested to ask Cardinal Anto-
nelli II he would deliver Surratt upon an indict
mcnt, In tho absence Of any extraditon treaty,
| and If he refused, thon to ask him IL he would
enter into special oxtradtion treaty to enable
the Government to get at Surratt. Cardinal An.
tonel threw obstacle In the way, and In No
yember secured the arrest Of Surratt without aid
from Gen. King, but upon his own yolition.
The committee find, frst, that tho Executive De.
partment Of tho Government did not send detec-
tive or agent to Liverpool to identify him and
| secure his arrest, whom he was known to bo there
second, that It did not cause immediate notice to
be given to Mr.. King Of Surrstts intended going
to Romei third, that no steps wero taken to
surrats arrest In 1865; and fourth, that from the
time Gen. King notified the Department no steps
were taken in tho matter until October, although II
was known that Surratt was In the service Of the
Pope
mony Of the Secretary Of State and Of the Secre.
tary Of War, taken before the committee, was given
| In part to justify the action of the Government,
but 1t does not excuse the delay. While the com.
mittee do not charge improper motives upon any
officer OF the Government, they arc compelled to
declare that in their opinion due diligence not
exercised by tho executive department.
| Mr.. lie Blond, Of Ohio said the report looked to
him though It was intended to bolster up certain
declarations made at the beginning Of the session
by tho gentleman from Massachusetts,, Mr.. Bout.
we'll
Mr.. Boutwell, said ho had never uttered a word
| duplicating positively any officer Of the Govern
ment in this delay At the beginning of the sos-
sion he had said that the Government know Of the
whereabouts Of Surratt long before any arrest was
made, and he had waited weeks and months to see
what action would be taken. lie was much at.
tached to Mr.. Lincoln, and supposed II to be the
duty Of this Government to traverse every conti-
nent, explore evory sea and invade every island in
pursuit of oil and every ono who was In tho least
implicated In the assassination plot. Uo had per-
haps, spoken warmly upon the subject, but ho had
charged no with wilful neglect but the neglect
arose from the failure Of others to tho subject
in the important light in which he saw II. The
committee deemed II to bo their duty to investi-
gate tho subject and lay the results Of that nvest-
CATION before tho House. but they had charged will
| ful neglect upon no 0nei nor was any charge made
against the President personally, but there GER
tainly was doreliction Of duty in tho executive d.
partment somewhere.
Mr.. Lc Blond asked If the testimony of the Sec.
rotary Of War, or that Of any ono else, indicated
remissncss on the part Of the President.
Mr.. Boutwell, repeated that no charge was made
against the President, oithor personally or Off.
cially If there was any remissness the committee
did not fix 1t, but there has been neglect Of duty
somewhere.
Mr.. Raymond, of New York, suggested that the
neglect to pursue Surratt Ostentatiously might
have arisen from the fact that the Government felt
they could pursue him more certainly in more
quiet way.
The report was ordered to be printed.
Mr.. Wilson, Of Iowa, from the Judiciary Com.
mittee, which was charged with the inquiry into
certain alleged misconduct Of the President, sub.
mitted report, which, after reciting Mr.. Ashley IS
impeachment resolutions, which were referred to
tho committee, says:
The duty imposed upon the committee by tho
action of the House in referring tho resolutions to
thcm was Of the highest and gravest character. No
committee during tho entire history Of tho Govern
ment had ever been charged with more important
trust. Tho responsibility which 1t imposed was
of oppressive weight and Of most unpleasant nature.
Gladly would the committee have escaped from the
assiduous labors imposed on 1t by the resolution Of
the House, but onco imposed, prompt, deliberate,
and faithful action with view to correct results
became its duty and to this end it has directed its
efforts. Soon after the adoption Of the resolution
by tho House. Hon. James NJ. Ashley communi-
Gated to the committee In support Of his charges
against tho President Of the United States such
facts as in his possession and tho investiga-
tion was proceeded with and has beon continued
almost without days interruption, A large mum.
bcr Of witnesses have been examined and documents
collected and everything done which could be done
to reach conclusion Of the case. But tho investi.
CATION covers broad fold; embraces many novel,
interesting and important questions, and involves
q multitude Of facts while most Of tho witnesses
are distant from the Capitol owing to which the
IN NleWOl mhBnltuuo Ol inc inter
ests involved in its action, has not been able to
conclude its labors, and Is therefore not prepared
to submit definite and final report.
If the investigation had even approached com.
pleteness the committee would not feel authorized
to present tho result to this House at this late
period Of tho session, unless the charges had been
SO entirely negatiyed to admit Of no discussion
which, in the opinion Of the committee, Is not the
case. Certainly affirmative report could be
properly considered in tho expiring hours of this
Congress. The committee not having fully investi-
gated all he charges preferred against the Presi
dent Of the United States it is deemed noxpedient
to submit any conclusion beyond tho statement
that sufficient testimony has been brought to its
notice to justify and demand further prosecution
of tho investigation. The testimony which tho
committee has taken will pass into the custody of
the Clerk Of the House, and can 60 into tho hands
of such committee as may BIO charged with the
duty Of bringing tho investigation to n close, so
that the labor expended upon it may not have been
in vain. The committee regret its inability
definitely to dispose Of the important subject com
mtted to its charge and present this report for its
own Justification, and for the additional purpose of
notifying tho succeeding Congress of tho incom.
pletenoss of its labors, and that they should be
completed.
Signed by James F. Wilson, George S. Boutwell,,
Thomas Williams, Burton G. Cook Wm Lawrence,
Francis Thomas, Daniel Morris, and Frederick E.
, Woodbridge.