New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-03-15
al JOURNAL or STATE LouIslANA.
ORLEANS 1876
Tho Great Democratic Biunder.

Tho Great Democratic Blunder.
The Washington correspondent of the
the Baltimore american writes:
The more the Democrats attempt to ex.
plain their responsibility for the failure of
the impeachment proceedings thus far the
deeper into the mire they sink. Mr.;
Clymer is becoming quite Grabbed, and
though in his committee room he assumes
to treat representatives of the press with q
courtesy due their responsibility, the az
sumption is so painfully apparent that no
microscope is needed to detect it, 1t has
been charged all along that Mr.. Bass. a
Republican member of the committee, had
objected to the discharge of the witness
Marsh. This the Democratic members have
persistently denied.
To-day in the House quite breeze was
raised when Mr.. Bass obtained the floor to
make personal explanation. He proceeded
at once to the charge, nor did he handle
his subject in delicate manner. He stated
explicitly than when the question of the
discharge of the witness, Marsh, was under
consideration in the committee r00E he not
only interpcsed an objection thereto, but.
in addition, argued with his colleagues
that it would be manifestly improper to
discharge the witness, in view of the an
ticipated impeachment proceedings, and be-
cause OF the fact that Marsh's testimony
stood uncorr0borated. In the midst of the
discussion the notification of the resigna-
tion of Belknap was received in the COM
mittee room, and then the subject of the re-
tension of Marsh was set aside and debate
ensued on the power Of the House to i'm
peach after the resignation of the offending
party. Mr.. Bass said that at the time the
subject was dropped he was of the opinion
that the committee had deciced to hold
Marsh because none of them differed from
his view. He regarded that silence in that
instance gave consent.
The speech of Mr.. Bass, not Notwithstanding
the bullying of Mr.. Blackburn, carried with
it weight, and what is more, effect. The
people Of the country, and indeed, even the
respectable representatives of either party
on the hoor Of the House, are not yet pre-
pared to hear with any keen relish the old
ante-beilnm argument of "You lie, sir"
While Mr.. Blackburn did not clothe his
denial OF Mr.. Bass statements in just such
explicit language, it is susceptible of at
least construction bordering very close on
the old time argument.
The Committee on Expenditures in the
War Department made but little headway
to dav. Mr..NOrdhoff. the correspondent of
the New York Herald, was examined with
reference to an article which appeared in
the journal he represents, referring to the
Pendleton scandal in connection with the
charges against the late Secretary of War.
His information was based on what General
Boynton, of the Cincinnati Gazette, told him.
BOyntOn went to Cincinnati this morning
on business engagement previously en-
tered into, and this branch of the inquiry
was closed.
Mr.. BOnfannon, of Philadelphia, was
present. but was not examined, the witness
being excused until Tuesday next on ac-
count of suffering with an attack OF the
gout.
The committee decided to hold its next
meeting on Monday next, but Chairman
Clymer announced that a meeting of the
committee would be held at his house to-
morrow to discuss some important busine s..
New, 1t is surmised by many to night that
this import mt business is no more nor less
than the private examination of George H.
Pendleton, who arrived in Washington to.
night. 1t is said that many Democrats are
apprehensive that some damaging testi-
mony against him may be ELECTED. and
hence this opportunity is taken to give him
the benefit of private hearing.
Should the Democrats pursue such a
silly course, the howl which will undoubt.
edly be raised about their heads will be
equal TO that which now besets them over
the escape of Marsh.
So sOlicitOus are the committee now to
avoid the discharge of any witness whose
testimony may be of use to the Judiciary
Committee in their prepa ration of testimony
upon which to present Belknsp to the SEN
ate. that they turn each one of them over
to j. Proctor Kn0st's committee after that
OF Expenditures of the War Department. is
through with them.
The committee have issued subpenas for
the president and auditor of the Kentucky
Central railroad, who are to bring the
books of the road to show how much money
was turned over to the company. Ii it
should appear that the company received
quite or nearly all of the $l48,0O0 paid to
Pendleton, there will seem little need Of
pushing the investigation further in re-
gard to this case. II, however. it should
turn out that there is large difference in
the amounts paid the company by Pendle
ton and that paid Pendleton by the War
Department, he will have a very uncom-
Portable time till he makes explanation.