Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-07-30

cial pmploye," are entirely unauthorized,
and exposes him to the grave suspicion
that he was simply obeying the instruc.
tiuns Of his superior, or ut least assumed
ont Il justification OF the suspension OF
Gen. Wells, and acted accordingly.
Second. That the administration of the
affairs of his office by Gen. Wells was
faithful, intelligent, honest economical,
and pure that he devoted his whole time
and attention to the discharge of its du-
ties that in the employment of the force
in his district he exercised wisdom, dis
Greatness, and prudence that no consider
able, if any, reduction of the force EN-
ployed could have been made with prop
or regard to the security of the revenue
against smuggling. Your committee call
especial attention to the letter from \. w.
bingham, one of the most accomplished
aud experienced treasury agents in the
country, believing That the facts fully
Justify its statements ; also tO'the letter of
Senator Edmunds.
Gen. Wells was Il brave. faithful soldier
in the union army was from time to time
promoted from the lowest to the highest
rank for conspicuous gallantry in the ser
vice and ii seems to your committee that
the public declarations of the president
and the spirit, if not the letter of the law,
demanded his retention in his office until
the expiration of his term. Surely nc
political eXigeucy can justify defamation
OF his character SuspectlnS that n
NlnsloW, special emploNe,' posi- NOR
tenn could not have been the suspendng
cause in the mind of the president, in the
face of mis- public declaration that no faith
full officer should be removed except fOl
cause, your committee reported, and the
Senate adopted April 10, 1856, the follow
ing resolution;
Rcsolred. That the secretary of the treasury
I,a aud Ia. h.t ,.1,X - Al tt
the senate, as soon US may DE, copies Oh an
b n,ir. nf thaf dn.rt,nt m No
s',i,iert Of fin" coli ct1rshin Of ciIstGms of The
district of Vermont, ana on tvc subject of the
management of affairs in that district, since
the LIST day OF April 1855, and specially u copy
OF an aHuaNlt OF Lcslcr =. nan, men lontu
IN t,lc l,hptrs u'.oliipanA 'e Lnt ~ w, ~,
March issG tn the Senate in response TO :,
reso ution of the Sennte of the 9th of Feb
ruary, 1856
And the secretary of the treasury de
clined to transmit the affidavit of Lester
G. Hill, because it was admitted by him to
he false and scandalous. did not enter
into the reasons of the president for the
change i'm the iucumbency of said Office ~
was not an official document on the files.
In the language of a distinguished sena-
tor, this conduct of the secrp-
tary is i'm plain and valuable
violation of the statute which ~.
requires him to give information to cit her
house of Congress An affidavit filed
in public department cannot be con
sidered as a private or confidential com
munication. To be an affidavit the paper
must be sworn 10 before "A public officer in
"A solemn and judicial WAY and can have.
from the very nature of things, no quality
of confidence or secrecy in ito
Now, Mr.. Wells was suspended july 25.
1885. and all of the charges against the
conduct of his office. transmitted to the
Senate by Executive Document f. are
dated in the month of August following.
Then they. of course. did not enter into