New-York tribune., 1867-02-27
TIE COMPROMISE INVESTIGATION


REPORT or MIR. wENTwORTTI's COMMITTEE TO THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
nj TELEGRAPH TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON Feb 26-Mr Wentworth, from the
Special Committee appointed to investigate alleged
political bargaining between the President and GER
tain members of Congress, made the following re-
port ts.+igEgs
The Committee were IN session wien the resolutions IN
structing them to fepor today were adopted and
member had opportunity TO Explain al that time the
S5tHss 1S Committee had made. The organization OF
the Committee va doSssa n Consequence Of one of the
original appontees having been excused but since their
organization they have been as dgcnt III the prosecution
of their duties a the interest Of the question pending be-
for, the House would permit They have had frequent
meetings during the sessions of the HOuss they
examined witnesses fast the shortha repor
Ter corld write ont the testimony, with large number OF
slips OF newspapers before then pnrpolG 70 co" % n
such reporters before them with reference to the h
orty Tor their touching the matter referred
TO them by the House Although those reports were ns
widely at variance rep0tSscnt from ths c'ptal usn
av are vet they were all denied when traced back Their
origin substantially follows Persons not Members
Congress- after the southern delegation so called hhd
paid their recent Writ TO this city, hnd been free III n
mating that Congress and the President we're aDont
To become rcconclcd The reporters ifCm their gallery
noticed two Of these persons having The most friendly
relations with the President while the recent Reeonstruc
ton bills were pending, sitting m tunes inside the bar OF
the House when they we're not entitled to do SO Ihsy
saw them at other times call several members into the
cloak and otherwise hold private Conversations
with them. THIS attracted hclr cnlIvNiN 10 III, NJ
that they resolved Ia ascertain what II ncant o
they learned that private meeting being oaGa 10
hear proposition from certain rlenos ol lh SlnI
which likely 10 cvoAuate III restoring me loiihcr
friendly relations between im ana IRE Jotlly Oh & to
,css And based on TINS Jact cohle'ie' "eIo scu o'
and various reports made touching The rfonstructlon
not only Of the President but also "i lht Sape' e
suppression OF the mp lchInrnt ana ING az ~
pointmcut ~ members N tins H0nse hO~lc
to the President 10 office. The two persons
alluded TO- were called before the Committee. One OF
testified that he had seen the President as olteh ah
his position n reporter chat h- relations were of
the most friendly nature His visits "cre Prptiay i
intimate relations with the President and 70 his cOOsr-
alton with the person before alluded To. They had come
meeting NJ the Metropolitan club room They wanted.
aud considered they had found from sixty to seventy
Conservative InrmbcIs, who could, through concert OI
action numerically control the organization or the parry
opposed to the President They invited no bchocrsls 10
attend the meeting. and Radical. ~ they construed
p4rty dsuniOns The meeting was held, bus many III
vied did not attend, and those IN ntirndanrc were
that the person. calling the meeting were .yeaSns by
anth1rv Of the President This they could not then 40.
~ .. n~etmc adjourned with the understanding that
coniu certain membcrsof Congress were 10 can upon
him .d report al future meeting To be heid or IN.
purpo. II hearing their report These pors,-' called
upon tue President, and reported that he expressed
Willingness 10 coufrr with such gentlemen ~ might soc
tit 10 call upon him. Member, Of Congress tAcn called
upon him aud % meeting called 40 another place To
hear their report This meeting on the evening PRIOR
60 the introduction Of the resolution authorizing he cfc'
tion Of tins Committee Their report was maj thc lrlohs
who had represented the President ls dcsroG@ oi hdg
suuir coulu0u GROUND which lac and Congress could
occupy the subject of reconstruction were more th
justified by hi position ~ communicated 10 t.m INC
rrtptatiou of events In Congress prevented othrr meet
iuc. Members attended one Ui the mcetings Who dld
moi attend the other, and members Invited 10 'a'h al.
tended neither Such is substantially the testimony "i
fhe two persons who claimed thd thcy requested tha
movement. They declined 90 give names ana thr 'oh
lutce did not si- upon H. bccaufe they could De called
should further Developments render II necessary Inc
Committee had proceeded 40 nrilcr when called upon 10
aud as the witnesses have hdd Hu opportunity 10
their testimony since Wll"uOW l1 TIE -hnil mana
rcpDrcr and a. portions of u that Ought
10 bc suppressed III the examination to 90 no iufiF
the Committee have deemed prudent not 20 Drhg tue
Testimony before the House. Indeed, some ot u ~ not
vet written out and the Committee have not been
ported proposition for reconciliation TO bc
discussed between the President and ncnherr of Con
gIcss attending the meeting, nor have tlry TRUSTWORTHY
gXpcctatiui- Of obtaining such knowledge from olhtt
Witnesses. II appcars that snly TIE disposition o ho
parties reconciliation asserted NJ Ule llHi meeting
and that was but the Friday evening before the last
measure for Reconstruction was so unanimously sup
ported by the opponents of the President policy IN The
House. No testimony has been gwen rejecting IN the
eIst prn the integrity of the President, nor has there
any member ~ tins House. The harmOhi0ns
vote OF the majority upon the last keconstruc-
tinn bill compared with their carucat votes
uuou matfcr, OF difference with the President,
show nrOads upon their rights. Willis The TACT tha o
member tine Democratic minority was invited To thest
private meetings by the pfOicssed friends OF the ifci
dent t,dc OF Congress- II Testimonial 10 thcir Irh
ness OF purpose and principle. kcgrett1nS Their haL
t0 make a more elaborate report, In tho short space
time allotted them and fcoliug confident that Nhai
the House - Harmonious action with The Ifci
dent, they are eitcCtuilly Interrupted, the CON
mcc ask 10 bc discharged from the further coHside
ijOu OF he subject JOINS WENTWORTH, Chairman