The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-04-13


thus perpetrating fraud both upon tn
Government and the freedmen.
IS. That he was interested in tn
purchase of q form ofabout 30D acre
near the %lunatic Asylum, in this coun
ty, for which public funds and othe
property of the Government wer,
used. Buildings were erected there
on, built of lumber belonging to tn,
Government, and then let or sold t,
freedmen at exorbitant prices anC
and that he and his brother, Charlie.
Howard, were personally interested il
this transaction as a private pecunia
ry speculation.
IA. He has discharged the dutie:
of the of1ic, of Commission of the
Bureau with extravaganza, and ir
negligence, and i'll the intcsests Of
himself, his family and friends.
IS. lie is in favor of q ring known
as the Freedmen's Bureau Ring, with
conetctions and influences with the
Freedmcn's schools of the South, and
the political machinery of a party in
Southern States. and whose practice
ii has been to devote the official au.
thority and power of the Bureau to
personal and political profit.
In conclusion, Mr.. Wood offered Il
resolution ~instructing the committee
on Freedmen's Affairs to examineand
report whether General Howard has
managed the funds intruSted TO him
as Commissioner with integrity, and
whether all money appropriated for
ami received by the Bureau has not
been diverted to other purposes than
those directed by law, and, with au-
thority, to send for persons and pa
pcrs.
Mr.. Maynard raised a question. OF
order whether the unanimous consent
to make Il personal explanation eX-
tended to q permission TO offer reso-
lutiOns.
The Speaker replied it did not.
Mr.. Maynard objected to the RESP
luton being offered.
Mr.. Wood said he selected, for in
yestigation, a Committee composed
entirely Of Republicans, and he doubt,
ed whether the gentleman from Ten,
nessee would take the personal and
political responsibility Of keep;ngs out
the resolution.
Mr.. Maynard said lie would take
tire responsibility to do what he con
sidcre his duty
Mr. Wood-I have made nay state
mient and offered my resolution, and
the majority of the House may take
the responsibility and consequence.
The Spaaker-Ihe resolution Is
not before the Home ".
Mr., Dawes remarked that alter tho
statement made by the gentleman
from New York he thought the mat
ter should be referred to n committee
for investigation, and moved a reso,
luton for that purpose
Mr.. Peters hoped there would be
no objection to that. As q Repre-
sentative ofI State that was proud o.
the name Of General Howard, he
hoped those charges, in which there
was no truth whatever, would be fully
investigated
Mr.. Dawes said when he made the
motion he was animated by the same
motive expressed hy the gentleman
from Maine. He had the fullest con.
fidence i'll the integrity Of General
Howard, and thought it due him and
the country that such statements,
made by Il member Of the House, be
fully Investigated, The gentleman
(Mr. ~Wood1 in presenting charges
against General Howard, made him.
self responsible for them. lie trust.
ed the investigation would be made,
and if General Howard was guilty
would deal properly with him Z; but
it the gentleman from New York had
allowed himself to be made a vehicle
for unfounded, malicious and treach,
erous SANDER, the House would deal
with him.
Mr.. Wood said he was willing to
take tlr personal responsibility of any
charge he made, and he hoped when
the House had considered the inves.
tIgation of General Howard it would
turn its attention to the gentleman
from Massachusetts (Butler), and in
vestigate him also.
After further discussion by Scheme"
Shanks, Dawes, Cox, Peters and Hal
the resolution by Dawes "a adopted