The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-03-11

.1tsSo cneu salu JnaI ne proposed TO snow
from the journal Of the committee tina
50 far as the Republican members O.
the COMMITTEES were concerned it was
not attended all the meetings O
the committee. The regular meeting
days Of the committee we're Tuesdays
and Fridays. He found, by al
examination of the journal that meet
ing was held on Tuesday, Feb. 20, and
the Republican members were then In.
vited to hear Marsh's statement. Mr.
Bass here read from the testimony oi
Mr.. Marsh, heretofore published, tc
show that he had arrived here on the
preceding Monday, the 2sth; that he at
tended at the committee room at /
o'clock that afternoon; that he
there met Messrs. Clymer, Black
burn and Robbins, the Democratic
members Of the committee, and
that before going into the room
he had conversation with DIR. Tomlin.
son. the brother OF Mrs. Belknap, in re.
peared, said Mr.. Bass, from the testi-
mony OF Marsh, that the first session OF
the committee on the Belknap business
was held on Monday, February 2s, ut
p. m. Why, he asked, was not the Re.
publican minority of the committee mott
fled of that meeting? The House would
recollect that at that time the commit
tee had no authority to sit
during the sessions of the House
and yet these three gentlemen claiming
to be the Committee on War Depart
ment Expenditures secretly interviewed
Mr.. Marsh. The records show that this
committee never held but two meetings
before this Belknap business came out.
The first was held on February 2, for or
ganization. This was six weeks after it
had been appointed. The next was
held on the goth, nearly three months
when this most important matter was
to be brought out the Republican
members were not notified. Mr..
Bass then proceed to speak of
the discharge OF Marsh as witness. It
was asserted that the Republican mem
bers Of the committee had asked for his
retention, but this was denied in q
speech made by Mr.. Clymer the other
day. Mr.. Clymer's speech was quoted
from, in which he said that it was under
stood by all the members Of the commit
tee that Marsh was to be discharged. Mr..
Bass said that most distinctly and une-
quivocally he dissented from the chair
man Of the committee that he under
stood that Marsh was to be discharged.
On the contrary he (Mr. Bass had
opposed the discharge. He
could show that the witness was dis
charged at II 80 q. m. Of the day upon
which the Marsh testimony was pre-
sented to the House. The first meeting
at which the Republican members met
with the committee was on Wednesday,
March 1, and that was to read over
the Testimony that had been pre-
viously taken by the Democratic
members. On Thursday, March 2,
the day upon which Marsh was
Mr.. Bass got to the
room shortly after II o'clock.
When he arrived at the committee room
he was shown the resignation of the
of War, and a member Of the
at once raised the question
Of jurisdiction, and doubted whether
the House had any power over him
after he had resigned. He (Mr. Bass
urged that the resignation was not
matter with which the committee or
the House had the least concern. They
could impeach him anyhow. He (Mr.
Bass) at the same time had urged that
It would be unsafe to discharge
Marsh. Not only unsafe, but imprOp-
or to do 80. He had urged-and the
members of the committee would recol-
lect the fact-that Marsh was uncorrob-
grated, and that it might be necessary
10 call Secretary Belknap as witness,
and he would probably contradict much
that Marsh had said, consequently
Marsh would have to be recalled. He
had also urged that the reputation OF
the committee was at stake In this mat
ter, and that they would be placed In a
ridiculous position II they. presented a
case of impeachment and did not have
the evidence to sustain 1t.
This discussion lasted several minutes
after which Judge Blair came in as
counsel for Belknap and asked one
question and the witness was then dis
charged by the chairman, without con-
sulting with or asking the opinion Of q
single member of the committee. Marsh
said he wanted to leave on the earliest
Train. and the chairman of the commit
hee informed him that he would go with
him to the Sergeant-at-armS to get his
witness fees. Or, il that was not satis-
factory that he would send him his fees
by mail to New York.
The chairman also volunteered to
send him the original contract with
Evans within few days. Marsh then
eft, and Mr.. Bass said he had not seen
him since nor had he ever seen him be-
2 o'clock the committee took q recess.
rhe committee would recollect that
act, because he BASS stated that he
lad received request from the Presi-
lent to call upon him at IL o'clock, and
members OF the committee remarked
hat he would just have time to get to
he White House to keep his appoint
nent.
Without further discussing the ques-
ion, the House at 5 30 p. IN. adjourned.
MISCELLANEOUS.
lew Orleans and Pacific Railroad-Prc-
sident Wheelock and Party Of Friends
SHREVEPORT, La, March 10.
o Geo. J. Duncan. River Reporter New Orleans
Democrat:
Mr.. Wheelock, Mr.. Green and Jack
Wharton, of New Orleans, arrived here
J. day and had a satisfactory interview
18th our citizens, at the Cotton Ex-
hange, on the New Orleans and
'aciffc Railroad. The delegation left
,r home tonight, via Galveston, much
leased with their visit.
The river has fallen five inches here
i the last "a hours. Arrived: Fonte
ellie, from jefferson; Sandy, from
over Coast. No departures. IN.
V1CKsBURG, March 1O.-Up: Thomas
herlock. 7 D. m. Down: r. E. Lee, Z
m. Weather clear and warm. River
llling.
he Union League Club-It is Opposed to
Third Term.