Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-09-03
Speaker Blaine's Reply to One
Ex-senator Trum bulls L harges.

meeting in Augusta on Friday last, Speaker
Blaine made the following remarks.
One of the most eminent men of the Liber-
al Republican party so-calied s now on the
stump in this State pleading for the election
Of the Democratic candidate for Governor
l refer to Hon. Lyman Trumbull, Senator
from Illinois. The speech which he is deliv-
ering from place TO place, is to say the least
a peculiar one, and one which Mr. Trumbul
in his better days would not have been willing
to deliver. A large part of II is made up, &C.
cordiDg to the reports / have seen in demo-
cratic papers, of shreds and patches of Wash
ngton gossip and rehash of accusations that
were disproved upon full investigation. In
one Of these topics he takes occasion to lug
in my name and in that vein of insinuation in
which Mr.. Trumbull is SO apt, he reflects
upon my conduct in my official capacity as
Speaker of the National House of Represen-
tatives in the appointment of the special Com
miltee to investigate the charges brought
against the Secretary of the Navy. Without
directly asserting it, Mr. Trumbull studious-
ly aims to create the impression that the
Committee was so formed that fair investi.
CATION could not be had This is a serious
charge, but it is more serious against the
members of the Committee than against my
self, and more serious against Mr.. TIumbull' s
own party than against the republican party,
for MIR. Trumbull's party had majority OF
the Committee. The Committee was composed
Of five members. The resolution under which
it was appointed was moved by Hon. Austin
Blair, the present democratic candidate for
Governor of Michigan, and he was of course
made Chairman. With him were associated
Mr.. Warren of New York, Democratic mem
Der from the Troy District, and Mr..
Archer, a distinguished democratic member
from Maryland. The two Republicans were
Mr.. Sargent of California. and my own col
league, Mr.. Peters. All these gentlemen are
of high standing in the House. Thus you will
see that the Committee had three opponents
of the Administration, and two of its friends,
and have here to say that some of my party
friends found great fault with the mode in
which constituted the Committee, alleging,
as is the fact, that no party in power had ever
given committee to its opponents, with
power to send for persons and papers, and
thus to manufacture political capital if they
were so disposed. But am happy to say
that this Committee indicated no purpose of
this kind, and alter a long, thorough and ex-
haustive investigation, they acquitted the
Secretary of the Navy of even a suspicion of
corrupt conduct-Gov. Blair believe alone
dissenting from this conclusion. This was
certainly great triumph for the Secretary of
the Navy-especially in view of the fact that
his political opponents had the absolute con-
troll of the Committee. When Mr.. Trum-
bull therefore INDUCES again in his insnua-
tons let it be against Mr.. Warren of New
York and Mr.. Archer of Maryland who are
responsible for acquitting the Secretary of
the Navy OF all charges of corrupt conduct,
and who are too day cooperating with Sena-
tor Trumbull in supporting Mr.. Greeley.
f.,f a.. f.
Trumbull--at least they are sufficient for
every one except Mr. Trumbull himself Mr..
Trumbul has long been chairman of the Jul
dietary Committee in the Senate, and is
known as an able lawyer; but he and Mr..
Sumner, who is also an able lawyer, enunci-
ated some principles on Parliamentary law
during the last session of Congress which are
novel it not startling; principles which were
never recorded in Hatsell or Hansard, which
>. fferson never heard Of which Gu shing has
failed to compile, and of which Barclay is
profoundly ignorant. Taking up the well
known Parliamentary principle that select
committees should he favorable and friendly
to the purpose for which they are raised, Mr.
Trumbull and Mr.. Sumner elongated and
prolonged it until they announced repeatedly,
not in direct words but in effect, that when
committee of investigation was raised, the
members of it should be composed of persons
not merely willing to investigate, but who be-
lieve in the guilt of the official whose conduct
was to be investigated. Thus on the French
Arms matter Mr.. Sumner was enraged-I do
not use too strong term-because the SEN
ate would not appoint committee who be-
lieved in advance that the Secretary of War
had transcribed his authority and violated
the law. And so in the Naval Investigation
Mr.. Trumbull was not content even
with the unprecedented liberality which
gave the opponents of the Administration
A clear majority of the committee! What he
wanted was a majority that believed in ad
vance that the Secretary had acted corruptly.
This principle enunciated by Mr.. Trumbull
md Mr.. Sumner is net new in other spheres.
It is known wherever juries are packed to
punish an innocent man, and it was known |
o the great discredit of our Navy Depart
nent during the war, when the Assistant Sec.
etary, Mr. Fox, announced that Naval Courts
dartial "were organized to convict" Indeed
think Mr.. Fox's declaration is the precise |
asis of the Parliamentary idea advanced by |
ar. Trumbull and Mr.. Sumner, for what they |
eem to desire in all Committees of Investiga-
ions is that the committee shall be ''organ-
zed to convict" Mr.. Trumbull, Mr..
sumner and Mr.. Fox are all supporting