The New York herald., 1869-02-27


Deen oandled about In tins untOward connection.
It's however, true, that the witness, Mr. Stanton.
IN reply 70 question whether he knew Of any appli
cations for money to be employed on account OF
Alaska, gave the committee 70 understand that he
tnougnt MT y Il. Painter, newspaper correspond
ent ana cerk OF one OF the House committees while
the Alaska appropriation was pending in the House
0f representatives. did suggestivey make applica-
LION 20 ne fetalned IN behalf Of that measure.
representing MI. Painter as saying he supposed
~ Walker had a good deal Of money to
dhrlQutei that ne could render some service BY In
1uenclng vctes Of some members OF Congress who
were then opposing the appropriation, and desired
this might be brought before Mr.. Walker; that Mr..
Latham, purporting TO- represent Mr.. Painter, had
IN MT. Palnter's behalf repeated the suggestion IN
erect. Mr.. Stanton did represent that he brought
this suggestion to Mr.. Walkers attention; that the
proposition was refused; mat be 50 advised Mr.
Painter, and that thereupon Painter declared 'thns
he should oppose the appropriation and try to de-
1eat IT," &c. Mr. Latham unwilling as he himself
Re saw M ann saa ad ~ @ n s
tion had been called to the Alaska matter, and he
wanted 70 see Or know II there were any fees In
gave his opinion that Mr. Painter was quite active
In his Efforts to seek out early information for his
papers, and that he might sometimes resort TO pre-
tence5 anu merest assumptions for that purpose.
Mr.. Walker, on again coming before the committee,
testified that while the bill making appropriations
lor the purchase OF Alaska was pending Mr.. stanton
DID IN substance make such u communication TO
him rs from Mr.. Painter, stated in Stant0n's tes
Iimony, and THAI more than once Mr.. Painters sug
Eest0n was ile subject OF remark with himself and
Mr. Stanton. The committee have not regarded Mr..
Painters attitude, views or suggestions respecting
the Alaska purchase as necessarily embraced within
the scope OF the House resolution. They
have not, therefore, sought information or
witnesses to eluc.date or establish Mr.. Paint
er's position. They, however, deemed II bat
right to acuaint him with the tendencies OF the tes
tlmony OF Messrs. Stanton Latham and Walker, so
came before the committee and admitted that he had
had several conversations with Mr. Stanton touching
Alaska In an endeavor to ascertain whether money
was being used to get Alaska through, and that Mr..
Stanton denied to him that he had any interest in 1t
or knowledge OF IT. II there was he did desire Mr..
Latham to see ana sound r. Stanton on the sublcct
to the contrary that from the first he mad privately
ana publicly denounced its purchase as a big swim
he had never dreamed OF being employed to
favor IT; that he could not have accepted
Of honor ana reputation; that his sole object In his
interviews with Mr. stanton was to obtain iniorma-
ton, &c. The committee did not feel called upon to
further pursue this rather personal and incidental
matter, and they do not now deem any expression
OF opinion necessary In the premises.
In presenting generally and brieay the points de-
veoped by the evidence, the committee have thought
justice TO the press, to persons and to witnesses
would be best done by grouping the facts proven,
statements of witnesses to be weighed and esti-
mated according to their respective bearings credi
bility, &c Perhaps IN closing it should be said, in
justification Of the committee, that their labOrs
in some respects, haze been the pursuit Of
knowledge under difficulties. Dcsirous Of all
the information that could be obtained from
any source, the committee, early in the
investigation directed their chairman TO tender to
the Russian Legation the opportunity OF making to
or before the committee any statement, informal or
Otherwise pertaining to the acquisition OF Alaska
The chairman followed the direction OF the commit
tee but the opportunity SO rendered has not been
could be made which would clear away the clouds
oi suspicion that in the public mind have gathered
around the acquisition OF Alaska or would unerringly
indicate the persons tfsany, who have traicked or
who have assumed TO traffic In the votes Of public men
or In the formation or expression OF public opinion
touching that transaction. 1t has thus happened
that the relations OF friendly foreign government,
being intimately connected with the gravamen of
the investigation, nave tended not little to embar
rass If not TO render unsuccessful the endeavors of
the committee to arrive at the facts involved in the
Alaska acquisition. In the absence OF previous proof
establishing completely with criminal acts or pur-
pOSes 1t was also believed that the representatives OF
such government could not be requested, much less
cited. to appear and give evidence before the
been &c Dats IN an undesred sense and consequently
barren OF Affirmative satisfactory negative detail
CALVIN +. HUBBARD.
J. A. PETERS,
4. A. PLANTS,
J. LAWRENCE GETZ.
The following paper accompanies the report:-
The undersigned, Envoy Extraordinary and Min
lister Plenip0tenary OF his Majesty the Emperor OF
all the Russias, does hereby acknowledge to have
ceived at the Treasury Department In Washington
seven million two hundred thousand dollars In com,
being the full amount due from the United States to
Russia Ia consideration OF the cession by the latter
IN the treaty entered INTO by tho Emperor OF all the
Russias and the President OF the United States,
the 30th day OF March, 1869. STOECKL. r
WASHINGTON. August l, 1853.