The New York herald., 1874-01-31

conddence in the presidents but the President
could not know mems hearts or the Jealousies or
rIvalries which had sprung up toward him. He
intended no reflection on the President or any
Mr.. Woon,. Cdem., ofN. r., disclaimed having
any unkind feelings against General Howard, but
he had felt IT his duty some years ago to present
charges against him, which charges had been re-
lerred 10 committee and the House. on the re.
port or that committee, had exonerated General
Howard and had presented hlm TO the people OF
he states as pure gGSo had ad as
he says now, that he desired inquiry and was
ready for it; but he had quibpled and avoided and
being told; so when the secretary of
War first called on him to explain
yet ne had avoided inquiry. He would yet prevari-
cate ana avoid and merp0se every possible tech
nica objection TO inquiry and the Ies0l9t,on re-
line Ol that avoidance. The joint resolution would
have to 20 to the Senate for its action, and thus
resolution requesting the President TO convene
court OF inquiry to try the charges.
Mr.. WooDEoRp lrep.l Of n r. spoke h OF General sni
placed musket In the hands of the slave and mad
raised the black man to the full stature OF man
how SANDER and the shafts OF venom had followed
General Howard from that hour Till now. Tney
mad even heard At Inns m0ment sneer 1Gss
craftsmanship and Christian soldiership pad COW
cred the wrong, SO much the ,o,sS worse noNs 1os
to cover crime. But there had never been
an hour when sincere and earnest CHRISTIAN
craftsmanship and Christian manhood were more
needed in the country and in the House than to-
day. The friends OF General Howard pleaded 10r
simple justice. They asked for no delay.
Mr.. COBURN, OF Indiana, declared that no man had
greater admiration OF the character and services
OF General Howard than himself; but he could see
no earthly reason for discussing his character or
his merits now he (Mr. COburn) had confidence
that the President would fairly and justly and hon.
ssty and kindly appoint court m TINS matter =;
General Howard. His name was knit in common
with that OF General Howard in all the great trans
actions OF which the country and the republican
party were proud. The glory OF the President was
inseparable from the glory OF General Howard. la
general sense, the President had nad had the man
General Howard or the republican party. Why,
then. all this defamation about what General How
ard had done VINO proposed to do any thing un-
kind, unjust or unreasonable The resolution was
reported from a committee all of whose members
were friendly TO General Howard, and he would
tell the House that no longer ago than yesterday
ne had conversed with General Howard, who had
told MIN that the resolution suited hin, and that II
might be passed without objection. He felt that
the proposed limitation OF the Presidents power
by giving the accused the right of challenge was
an imputation on the President, and, while he did
not believe 1t to be offered in that spirit It's direct
effect on the mind OF the country would be that 1t
was an expression OF u lack OF confidence IN the
Mr.. SPEER, (dcm.) OF Pa. suggested adding
proviso to the amendment that the sutliciency OF
challenge shall De determined Oy the President ON
reasons PUBLICLY assigned by the accused.
Mr.. BUTLER, lrep.) OF Mass, SAID he did not re-
gard the amendment as an imputaton against the
President any more than the challenge OF grand
juror was an lmputatlOn against the marshal VINO
summoned the jury. He supposed the case OF Gen.
paragng opinions as to General Howard, being
appointed in the Court OF Inquiry and asked
whether in such case the accused should not
have the right OF challenge.
Mr.. HAwLEY, (rep.) Of H.. member OF the
Military Committee, entertained no nnfrlendly
that he should have a fair and impartial trial, and
they believed that the resolution offered proposed
the airest and best way. The only necessity Tor It
was that II increased the Court from the regular
number, three, to five.
Mr.. DoNNAN, trep.) OF Iowa, another member Of
the Military Committee, believed it best for the
character OF General Howard that the Court should
not differ from any otner court ol inquiry. He
therefore was opposed to the amendment.
Mr. THORNBURG, (rep.) of Tenn, another mem
ber OF the Military Committee favored the Investi-
cation of the charges by that committee, and pro-
posed to have the matter referred back Tor that
purpose.
Mr.. HAwLEy, (rep) of Conn.,, another member Of
the Military Committee, was opposed TO that CON-
mittee conducting the examination, because II it
completely eXOnerated General Howard his case
would be as unsettled then as now. large pOr-
tlOn OF the people would believe 1t was case OF
political wnitewashing.
Mr.. LAMAR, (dem.) OF Miss. said that he was
neither the friend nor the Toe OF Generad Howard
but that it would be better Tor that offcers repu
tatiOn that he should meet the charges with a
sn s8 he od
his past career. He believed that in the absence
OF any special regulations an accused party had
1t was part OF that public law which envelOped
all Investigations unless there were some special
prohibitions.
MIR. TOWNSEND rep) Of Pa. replied to Mr..
Woods remarks IN relation to the last lnvestiga-
ton OF the Howard charges, and declared that all
insinua tiOns against the fairness and Impartlalty
OF the committee on that occasion were ground
less.
Mr.. ALBRIGHT (rep.) of Pa. another member OF
the Military Committee, favored the amendment
declaring, however, that he mad originally been in
favor OF an investigation by the committee.
MIR. YOUNG, fdem.) OF Ca, another member ofthe
Military Committee, regarded the amendment as
an imputatOn on the President and on the officers
OF the army, and he sent to the clerks desk ana ma
had read despatch, just received by him from the
War Department in reply to a telegram from MIN,
stating that it was held by all authorities that the
accused had the right to challenge the members In
MIR. BUTLER, Of ssachusetts-what harm, then,
MIR. YOUNG-lt ia rejection on the Chief Ex
ecutive OF the nation.
Mr.. BUTLER I'm low tonel That is our busi-
ness.
Mr. SPEER, of Pennsylvania, thought it bad taste
on the part OF General Howard and his friends to
have met the charges, not with @protes,atlons @ OF
General HOward's past life 1t was an old familiar
trick with criminal pleaders, who had no o.her de-
1ence to throw the good character OF their client
into the jury box.
Mr.. WooD. OF New York. repeated his assertion
as to the uniarness OF the committee " w1cn sa1 nad
said that important witnesses against General
Howard had been excluded from the committee
Mr.. G. +. HOAR (rep.) OF Mass, who had been a
member OF that committee, repelled Mr.. woods
allegations and said that alter he (Mr. Wood had
consumed sixty days Of the time OF the committee
three days had been allowed to General Howard.
and then. MIR. Wood desired to reopen the case,
which would have required witnesses to be
brought rom South Carolina. General Howard he
said, mad never pleaded the statute of limitations
Tor anything in his life.
UNPARLIAMENTARY LANGUAGE
Mr.. WOOD retorted upon Mr.. Hoar by stating
that that gentleman had been the friend, the
al fhn nAsy,oa fhn anf onA fhA mall
legal tric4ster who had engineered the case or
General Howard.
As soon as the word "trickster" was pro-
nOunced the speakers hammer lell.
Mr.. GARFIELD, (rep) Of Ohio, called Mr.. Wood to
ORDER and the Speaker decided that the express
sion was unparamentary.
Mr.. WOOD withdrew the word "trickster."
Mr.. RANDALL, (dem) OF Pa, moved that Mr..
Wood be allowed to proceed In order.
The motion was agreed to.
Mr.. WHEELER, (rep.) OF n. Y.-Has not the hour
to which the gentleman from Indiana (Alr. Coburn)
was entitled expired
The SPBAKER--Just this moment.
Mr.. WBRELER-Then / call Tor the regular order
OF business.
Mr.. WoOD-I hope my colleague will not interfere.
Mr.. WHEELER-l insist on the regular order.
The SPEAKER then put the question on Mr. Frye's
ondr md Z was odn ava