Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-01-30
On the subject of making an .pprop,,.


alton for the investigation of the cipher dis
patches by the Potter Committee. Mr..
Hale (Rep.. Me- reminded the House Of
his effort last session to have an inquiry
irto tie very same subject matter now pro-
posed 10 be inquired Into, aud how that
effort had been resisted by the other side of
the House. He had said then represent
Ing his party friends) that the inquiry must
be made ample and broad. He continued:
The committee entered on its duties and
took up one tale after another, which were
presented to IL by responsible or by tire
sponsible persons. IL went TO one State
aud another in search OF information. IL
Auaigued after the most serious fashion q
distinguished citizen OF the Republic the
Secretary of the Treasury-and followed
. that eiew until 1t ended (as everybody adj
, mits) In exposure. At last. after certain
cipher dispatches that have been construed
by key Individually correct had been p,t
on the public market by a leading and ew-
terpfising newspaper of New York. this
committee felt itself confronted with the
very question which II had declined To act
upon, and after two months have been
passed, at the demand Of public sentiment,
and not being willing q assume) to re,uain
longer IN tn. position OF refusing iuves;iya-
ton, II has at last through its chairman pre-
scented the proposition that the investlya-
ton shall be made broad and large.
Tor one have changed not n point in nv
position. l do not understand that my
party friends here about the have changed
We feel that, as this machinery has been
pot In motion, IL should now be permitted
| TO 90 on, and that IL shall make investiga-
don into the one side ms well as into the
other. care nothing for the reasons that
have been urged at this stage by the gentle
man rom Massachusetts. Originally, ~ hen
| we were on the threshold OF this matter
those reasons might have had force. but
to-day with me they have no force.
lfthere are any cipher dispatches which
the " ]. Tribune has not found out, snd
which have not been presented to the pub
lie. lie, this committee dig and deIve till
they be brought TO light. II there has been
by any hands single scrap Of paper bear
ing on this subject matter In any State that
has been tor any partisan purpose DESTROY
ed (Which do not believe.) then let this
committee never rest. day or night, until
the parties who have for any such purpose
destroyed the dispatches are brought before
| the committee and the House Let them
omit nothing In their inquiry that shall 20
| TO show the whole transaction between the
time of the election and the time OF the in
suguraiion clearly. fully and explicitly
Enough has been shown already to indi.
cate unerringly to the public mind the ex-
istence of a conspiracy which ought to be
brought out.
also have some personal sympsthirs tn
the matter. do not want this committee
to deal. during all the duration Of its local
life, In fallscies snd explosions. or to rum
mage around among the Jenkses or the
Wcbbers or the Andersous. Let il take to
itself some subject where the parties iuier-
esied are Of reputation enough TO dignity
and cDnoble Its report. | have some little
sympathy also lnsturaliy) for that simple
hearted old man OF New York. who by uu-
fortunate friends was taken from his bust
ness aud his privacy. and thrust upon The
county - s. 'is-llct. ta' ca ,litv'' - u.hi-
er on the Republican side ) Who became
the apostle of reform. the embodiment oi
all that element which has since she'd it,
light over the country; who. duriu. tho
canvass, notably and VIGOROUSLY r.irsiurd
iI"m participation In II, and In hi closet
awaited the verdict OF the American peo-
| pie, taking no hand or part In that notabl,
campaign. He has found himself sur.
rounded with alleged friends and coniedcr.
ates and relatives and coparcener. and
nephews, who have attempted TO force b IN
on the American people after he WAS de-
f-ated, and who have attempted 10 paT-
chase. as the dispatches indicate. electoral
colleges or canyassing boards. The simple
hearted old gentleman has had no oppor-
tuni,y 10 come IN before us or any commit
tee snd picture. rs he alone can picture
the character of the men close about him
who .ndeayor,d 10 blast his reputation.
smiroh his correct life, and to thrust him
into the White House by practices which
no doubt he will come here and condemn.
and defy their trainers and projectors 10
/ prove against him. | would not miss
! -u..3 ''vt nave URN miss-the opportunity
Of being allowed Ia do that. With The
tender personal sympz.hes which my
friend from Massachusetts (Mr. Butler
has. know that when this appeal is mad,
TO him (thst this opportunity DE given) b.
will withdraw his objections and that Their.
will be unanimous consent that this in
curry may 20 on. that justice may be don,
aud that personal vindicaiion may b,
made.