The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-03-11
A FIELD DAY IN CONGRESS.


house of congress ever was the scene. Tn
house, ii is known, promptly, after the Belknal
explosion, took steps to have him impeached
but after the articles had been duly dawn "
and laid before the senate for trial, 1t wa
found that the important witnesses, and nota
! bly, Mr. Marsh and Mr.. Tomlinson, BY whom
| the truth Of the charges must be established
! had fled the country, and that the reason TO
their flight was, that the President on the pre-
ceding day had issued instructions TO the al
torney general to proceed IN the crimna
courts Of the District against Gen. Belknap
and Messrs. Marsh anG Tomlinson, and al
others shown by the evidence adduced thu
far to be connected with Belknap's crimna
practices.
! Tins order on the part of the President
thus threatening the vengeance of the govern
mept on the witnesses, could have but one
purpose and one effect. These must be Il
close the mouths Of the witnesses or frighter
them away, SO that there could be 70 evidence
againstthe bribed secretary. II was, in short
repetition Of the tactics that the President
and attorney general had adopted in the Bah
cock case, of threatening BsbcoCk's accom-.
plices with cOndign punishment if they
"sQuealed" Besides Marsh and TOmlinson,
Washington, 81. Louis, Leavenworth and the
military posts all over the west are known 10
abound with witnesses ready to testify 10 the
rascality not only of Belknap, but also Of Or
Vile Grant, John 4. Logan, and others high
In the confidence Of the administration, in
the matter OF selling post traderships, Indian
agencies &c; bu, this order shuts all of them
up and makes them dumb as an oyster.
The climax Of this outrage was reached
when, IN pursuance Of the order of the Presl'
den, and attorney general, subpoena was
served upon the committee Of the house that
mad dug up the Bclknap rascality by the DIS
trct court, commanding SAID committee TO
appear before the court and reveal what they
knew about Belknap, Marsh, &c. Was ever
before such an outrage heard Of? Here was
a committee charged with the conduct Of an
important trial in the august forum OF the
horse court and so expose their case that the
defense would know exactly what course TO
take to cheat justice of its victim in the trial
before the senate.
Mr. Clymer, chairman Of the house com
mittee on Tuesday stated the nature OF this
outrage before the house, commenced on the
violation OF its privileges IL involved, and
asked for Instructions. Mr.. Blaine saw no
Of the privileges Of the house In the
case, but said the members Of the committee
could testify before the court if they pleased
Or refuse, and al most, they were asked only
% testify as 10 what had already been made
public and was well known. Mr. Clymer
Robinson, and others explained that the out
rage did not alone consist in asking the com
nl,tee to testify before District court, but
he outrage lay in this prosecution against
witnesses whom the house needed TO make
It's case before the senate, and who were thus
driven from the country or INTO other hiding
though they might even be present.
This touched Blaine and the republican
leaders TO the quick, for il was an open, point
ID charge against the president and cabinet
hat they were thus basely trying to screen
Belknap from punishment; and to prevent any
urther revelations OF rascality before the
investigating committees by threatening the
witnesses with vengeance. Blaine sprang to |
lis feet like lightning, and roared, ana FUN.
ID, and ragged like very mailman. lie was
'epeatedly interrupted, and his replies were
insulting and insolent. And thus he was al. |
owed TO iroth and fume until he was exhaust.
ID, when Mr. Lamar took the floor in reply
md closed the debate. OF Mr.. Lamar's
speech an eye witness gives this account;
Lamar, calm, undIsturbed, ominously arose
rs the gas lights flashed from above, and ba-
gan an invective which riddled the republi.
IAN leaders into a mass of quivering helpless
ness. Blame had ached for n season 10 pit
himself against the quiet Misslssppian
Never was ambition so rash never an over
hrow so signal. lie had pursued his policy
II taunts and Interruptions, as Lamar pro
,eeded, until the Mississippians patience
,avc way. lie turned upon the applaudlng
)aTtlsans who were egging Blaine on and /
making his arms sternly said, "On, you clac
Iuers who are laughing AT him will be wall.
ng before ret through with him" Sur
,Tised but not wained, Blaine kept up his in
erruptioHs, inserting inconsistent queries
low and then for the aggravation of the
peaker. The democrats, feeling for Lamar
RED, shame" "Shame" and Randall, in
he chair, 50 far forgot the dignity of the coca
ion as to forget he was the presiding officer
md called ont TO Blaine TO keep his seat. La
mar, however, undisturbed, blded his tine
nd warned his friends that he had that 10 say
which would leave him speeches. for the
present and harmless Tor the future. lie
tripped his arguments Of all their subter
uges and left the republicans high and dry
IS defenders OF fraud, champions of criminals,
md expoundeis of law they knew nothing
bout, impalIng Blaine himself on point of
aw 50 strong that he was LETT sQuirming and
helpless. No debate was ever listened 10 with
uch varied emotions OF excitement, anger,
disgust, and surprise, and the general verdict
o.night i that Blame was completely laid |
wi