The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-03-27
The Dear and Dumb Institution and,
the Committce Report.
Ausrrs. March 81, 1879.

the Committee Report
AUSTIN, March 81, 1879.
Editors Democratic Statesman:
The card of Gen. McCulloch deserves
u1tice from the committee. The ex-
pianation OF Gen. McCullcch In regard
to the letter virtually convicts him Of
the very thing he tries 10 avoid. The
facts about that letter are generally
stated in the sub-committ tee report.
The origin Of the letter was ssveiled n
obscurity." It was handed TO the
committee. A member OF the con-
mittee in private conversation intefr6-
gated the General concerning il. Be
disclaimed any knowledge of il or its
contents. Then Itwas that the COM
mittee summoned and examined the
mutes. Mr.. Lacey, after telling the
circumstances connected with the au-
thorship Of the letter, said that imme-
distely upon his return to the Asylum,
after leaving the letter with the COM
.mittee, Gen. McCulloch asked him
"if he had delivered the letter to Gov
ernor Roberts; that he told the
General, that the committee had
it; that the General became very
angry, and said that the COM
mittee had no right to keep it.
Now, this may tend to show that Gen
eral McCulloch had no knowledge Of
its contents; it may to some people,
but the committee couldn't see it in
that light. In connection with this It
may be well for as TO state that the
General excused Lacey and Others, and
gave them permission to come TO town
for the express purpose of delivering
the letter to Gov. Roberts. Lacey
also states that the General insinuated
to him that if he carried out his in
structions in regard to the letter he
would be promoted next session. This
may also tend to show that the GEN
eral had no knowledge of its con-
tents. The dehcacy OF General Nc
Culloch in Withholding his endorses
ment from the ''euiogy Of himself and
family" Is very commendable. BE Is
hardly consistent, however, for II is
patent that he once endorsed II, &C.
knowledging that he wrote 1t him.
self. General McCulloch did dis
claim any knowledge of the. contents
of the letter before the committee,
and demanded the letter, saying that
he would like to see that f'celebrated
letter." DIR. Motley refused to give
him the original, and instructed che
secretary of the committee to furnish
General McCulloch with q copy, and
the copy was delivered to him. This
was early in the investigation; orally
General McCulloch never did mentloD
the letter again, and never would have
done so had not one of the sub-com-
mittee, upon the final examination,
just as the General was leaving the
room, referred to IL. Then IL was that
be, apparently much embarrassed, con-
fessed to the committee that he was
the author. Now IL appears TO us that
the card of General McC Cullooh amounts
to nothing. It conflicts with no state
ment contained in the sub-committec
report. To use o vulgar phrase, IL
was devoted simply 70 whipping the
devil around the stump" Whatever
his language may have been, the COM
clusion of the committee was and iR,
that he tried to convey the impression
that he was in sublime ignorance OF
the whole .sletter businessp ab initio,
nd iyaJfnitNna ); and we venture the asser-
lion, that had he been on trial before
! jury of his countrymen with hrs HE
N the scale, and had the evidence Of
the mutes been discarded, his manner
Of testlfyiDg, his first denial and sub.
,equent confession would have cost
him his life. e----.
In regard to the card of Captain
an answer to that, did It desire
,ne, would properly come from the
hUuSr. H0 uUnIUs nuvIng u5oa aDJ
improper means to induce Lacey 20
work for Gen. McCulloch and de-
hes that Gen. McCulloch ever asked
aim to. use improper means to
get anybody TO work for him. lie
ioes not deny having conversed with
Lacey about his evidence before the
nor does he deny having
to Lacey that he change OF
Modify his evidence. On the contrary,
~ announcing that Lacey misunder-
Itood him in ''toto;p he virtually ad-
nits having talked with him on,the
nbject Of his testimony and the char
Icter thereof. Considering the relative
position of the two men, any attempt
o influence Lacey by fair means or foul
vas to say the least very improper.
dc must have known OF the tenor Of
Lscey's evidence, for in testifying be-
ore the committee Capt. Ramey was
7ery unfortunate in explaining to the.
committee that Lacey could not and
aAa fall ~
If the word ''bribe.p This was alto
yether:: eratuitous, and he must have
lad presentiment Of what Lacey's
uture examination would bring forth.
We are sorry that Capt. Ramey
made the expose In the Gazette. II
was our intention never to have done
10, and il he had done wrong or gone
STRAY were willing to attribute Il 70
lis extreme goodness Of heart and q
Iurplus of zeal in behalf Of his old
riend, General McCulloch. We sup
pose the publication was caused by q
10 glory which some
lines causes good men TO rush into
print. In regard TO the assertion OF
he Gazette that the matter In the sub
report would disgrace q
Police Gazette, we can't say how true
his may be. We are not responsible
or the matter, but We do know Of q
Gazette" whose columns q collec-
ion Of all the anathemas, slang
phrases and vulgarities has not and
;annot disgrace. We repeat that tho
eport Of the sub-committee is true
md correct, and that senseless pnbli-
,stioDs on the subject will necessitafe
publication OF all the evidence upon
which the minority and sub-committee
eports were passed.
Crow, for minority.
p. s. In support Of our remarks on
he letter question and the impression
eft on the minds of the committee BY
he denial and subsequent confession
n the authorship by General MeCul-
och, we respectfully refer him TO Sen
tors Motley, Lair, Grace, Blassingame
nd Mr.. Garrison.
CRow, for minority.
The SrATEsxAH has received .
n~bl.k a a.. I~9t~r~rI