The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1878-10-17

and do in honor, that was not done.
have made but one announcement OF
my name, and that is, that L was not
candidate subject to whatever action
might be taken by my party. | have
been at all times and am now in your
hands. | have made sacrifices-it is due
to you, who so long have honored me
that should, with your verdict, and
shall be content. But L proceed from
this to answer other questions. 1t has
been charged against me that since my
advent into Congress L have done moth
ing. Permit me to reply, fellow-citi-
liens, by calling your recollection back
to the period of time at which L was
first elected. You had just emerged
from a state of military rule, and in the
Congress of the United States, efforts
were being made to remand your State
back again in this kind of despotism.
The bayonet was master in the majority
of the Southern States. The country
was profoundly excited over the exist
ence of an alleged and powerful secret
organization, armed it was claimed to
defeat the authority of the National
Government. Bloody strife prevailed
in various sections between the white
and black races. 1t was at such
period l entered Congress, among the
first of a class recently prescribed and
hIlOWI dS ItUClS- HIS W dS lllC III 81 SCc-
sion OF the forty second Congress.
You will remember that directly after
the commencement of the session, Pres
ident Grant sent in a special message,
calling tor additional legislation to give
him additional power to execute the
laws so as better to protect life and
property in certain States, referring To
certain papers which he claimed showed
that the tenure of life and property was
insecure in certain States, tO-wit: the
Southern States. The additional pow
erS sought for were all contained in the
right sought to be given him TO suspend
the writ of habeas corpus. Upon this
message a special committee was raised.
Its chairman was the Hon. Samuel Shell
labarger OF Ohio. Its chief members
among the Republicans were Gen. But
Ter, Mr.. Dawes and Judge Schotield.
The democratic members were Mr.
Kerr, of Indiana, Gen. Morgan, of
Ohio, and myself.
1t was a high honor to be placed upon SO
able and so important committee. 1t was
| post of very high obligation on me. By
my conduct upon il / was to secure or lose
respect and faith IN and for the class of
which was a representative. By my con
duct upon 1t | was to inspire or forfeit the
confidence of our friends North Caution,
prudence and honor were to be my counsel
lOIb, anu II lhllSu W Heeu Jl6lI l6ssOus bnc
| consequence OF my folly was to go beyond
me. Here we're the first steps to be taken in
| the grand work of restoration. Fellow citi-
zens, ask you to go back, look over my
work. read my speech then made, remember
| the plaudits } on then gave me, and answer
for me to my "holiday accusers;'' that in a
trying time, and in trying place, he did has
udty. 1t is ali the need of praise l ask. Go
| farther, fellow citizens, and write to Judge
| Beck, of Kentucky, and ask him what aid
and assistance | rendered his committee in
all the Investigations into the condition OF
| affairs in the Southern States. But my
place upon the regular committees upou |
| that of Naval Affairs, where | remained for
the 42nd and 43rd Congress in minority
the Republicans being in a majority of near |
| ly wo-thirds. Thus in a minority our |
whole party, well myself, power |
| less to originate and carry through meas |
ures. All that could be done was to make |
such fights would enable us to make pop |
ular issues before the people. The grand |
work of these, and indeed of the last eight |
years. whilst we have been so in the minor
| itv, has been the restoration of our sister |
| States to home rule and domestic Govern |
ment. IN this we have been successful, and |
| no panty in the history OF the world has had |
| IA grauder victory to attest its zeal and its |
| labOrs, but aye, even during this Struggle,
/ that party was faithful to the people as
| against the money power, and give, promise
| by its record during these years that when
clothed with full power that the laboring
and producing interests of the country will
be the objects of its supremess care. Need |
instance its fight against the Central Rail-
road monopoly, its exposure of the Credit
Mobiier, its war upon Custom House and
other frauds. During the time that the Re-
pubhcans were in Il majotity in the House
| again claim that did my duty.
With Il Democratic ma ority came new du-
ties and new responsibilities. The country |
believed that fraud and corruption existed in
all of the departments of the Government.
The country demanded that these depart
ments should be inv estigated. ! was hon
ored by the Speaker of the House in being |
selected as chairman of the committee on
Naval Affairs. | from the South. | had
been rebel. There were objections against
me. Mr.. Kerr had known ms in the 42nd
Congress. He believed l had courage and
was willing to work-as he told me. He
knew the difficulties | had to confront.
Millions had been expended on the navy;
millions Of public property had disappeared
in the management of the nav al service; vet
the Secretary of the Navy had been white |
washed by u report of an investigating COM
mittee made III 1879, and was in his annual
reports making glowing reports as to the eff
fciency of the navy. The country was not
satisfied. Corruption was believed to exist I (
in this as well other departments of the |
Government. Investigation, as | have said, |
was demanded. The task herculean, I
because the Secretary controlled both officers
and men. de had charge of the records {
rify, The records were as sealed book. ]
but Notwithstanding all of the difficulties in /
the way, the labor was undertaken, and to {
it | gave all of my energes-and ! have {
showed, among other things. that vast guam
Titles of materials have been illegally dis 1
posed of; that over sixty ships during the !
administration OF Robson had disappeared a
from the naval register; that large quantities }
Of old iron and clothing had been barteIed v
of uithout authority of law; that large | s
.'ties OF useless and unnecessary mate
T1iaIs had bean p1i,-s"hHsedi that fsVoritism @
existed at the expense OF the puO.lS - eIeses
in favor OF certain contractors; that broker I
age in the letting OF contracts was conduct g
ed by the immediate personal Inehos % the
Secretary; that eN cry law made for the pro
lection of the public service had been VIC n
lated; that during the existence of his Ad- o
over one hundred and eighty q
million dollars had been expended, and q
there no navy; that ships costing over
thirteen million dollars were sold for less a
han one million dollars; tFat ships costing 81
over twelve million dollars had been cut up .
and their material sold Joy less than five u
hundred thousand dollars, and taat coETuP- "
lion and extravagApce existed in nearly ev b
cry bureau of this department. The work, s
as have said, was herculean. Will you al n
lew me TO refer TO some of Its difficulties
W hen, according TO the proof, it was shown 81
that the IN mediate friends Of the Secretary b,
were engaged IN selling their iHflue with fo
he Secretary in the sprocureprent Of con- ! sc
.racts, to-wit: D. q Csttel e Co., and that
4 q. Cattel, former =. 5. Senator, was a T
--~tnsf Of tts Secretary The committee re- er
-. ~ A. @, Cattel; u vas AZ
lounced that he was sick, H. -,ils | l.,
tAted insane. he has never made pa
ppearauce since first examined. Randolph at
God, another witness. sweals falsely, and II
ommits suicide. NObhtt, the president of
be Corn Exchange Bank Of Philadelphia, III
octors hls books with erAsures. II such II,
hings be am5aE TIE honorable" what may pc
on expect of lesser lights, aid t.-ose direct
: involved Allow me to say, fellov-eiti- rel
ems, for this work have been aPplAnded no
' the country and endorsed by my party, tee
you will see by the st. Louis platform me
nd now Robson seeks his viudlcAtion, IL
said. in an effort TO 90 70 Congress II ser
othlng 10 done why should he seek yindI lat
ition Rrt what mole, fellow-citizens get
. this con asctioI tnTn Yos q TfcSpt cam his
aign document issued By the Democratic va
entral Committee At Washington, aud you
III see that, quoting from official Jocu- vie
ents and laws, IL is shown that the esti- pr,
Ates submitted from The Navy Department As
7 the years 1871 1910 was for t56,5SB, I
S.4s, and that by the laws only t40,sS4,- Ma