Year: 1867

From the Congressional Globe of


March Goth, copy of which came to


Us under the frank of Senator Doolit-


tie. we cut the following remarks of


Sen'r Howe upon the charges brought


against Judge Doolittle duplicating


him in tire New York Custom House


Frauds. Considering that the rela-
| tionship between the two Senators is


not of a very pleasant and harmonious


nature. the remarks of Judge Howe


have considerable significance


Mr.. President. one of the Senators


mentioned IN the deposition which has
been read 20 the Senate is my col


league on this floor. The political re-
latIons existing between my colleague


and myself are we'll known not to be


of the most intimate character. /
am not sure entirely that our recent
| political relations have not somewhat


affected our personal relations but |
am sure they have not affected our
| personal relations to any considerable


extent; and I know that they have


not affected the personal relations
| formerly existing between Us to that
| extent which would allow me to
| sit here and hear charge preferred


against my colleague or any imputa


tion cast upon him which l believed


most confidently to be utterly I'M
founded and now, without attempt
ing to detain the Senate to discuss
thn lo loo lao, hoI
to the country or the testimony which
has Just been read to the Senate, ]
want to say two or three things. not
more in Justice to my colleague than
in Justice to the State which he rep
rcsents.


My colleague has been a citizen of
the State Of Wisconsin since some
time about 1850 or 1851. He was for
many years a leading lawyer in that
State, very widely known to the pro-
fession, enjoying a very large prac-
tice. He was for four or five years
Judge of the Circuit Court in that
State before he came TO the Senate.
/ knew him for almost the whole time
very we'll personally and by reputa
ton, and ! have great personal salts
faction in saving here, and | think it
is due to the State that | should say
it, that in all that time | never heard
the slightest imputation cast upon
him either for the conduct Of business
in the Courts over which he presided
or for the relations existing between
him and his clients-never a whisper
which could excite in the mind of any


one suspicion of his venality or cor
rupUion and, notwithstanding, / know


that the political course which my
colleague has pursued during the last
year or year and a half is not as |
think, and as I am glad to believe,
satisfactory to the people of the State
Of Wisconsin. yet | think / know that
the imputation which has recently
been thrown out toward him rather
than upon him will create as much
astonishment ~ the State Of Wiscon-
sin as I am sure it has created here
IN the Senate among those who have
known him as [ know it has created IN
my own mind.


Mr.. President. I have not taken the


trouble to criticise the evidence. 1t
had been laid before the country sew


eral DAYS through the newspapers be-


fore I took the trouble co read 1t F; and
notwithstanding my eye happened TO
fall upon newspaper which was sent


to me with the testimony marked, !


did not take the trouble to read 1t
until found some reference to 1T IN
some of the newspapers of rly own


State and I did then run my eye
over that portion Of the testimony
which was supposed to bear upon my
colleague. Tt did not create, / am


bound to say, the slightest doubt upon


my mind as to the personal integrity
of my colleague


! have one thing more to say, Mr.
President it IS not III reference to
what action should be taken by the
/ Senate upon this communication; the
Senate viii judge Of that and de-
fer to those who have sat here longer
and are more competent to give dlrec-
tion to it than myself. But | speak
/ in behalf Of myself as well as my col
/ league. I speak in behalf of every
member Of this Senate. / speak in be-
half of every man who now or here


after may be engaged IL the public
| service, | speak IN behalf of common
+ humanity, when l protest against


dragging any man engaged in the ser


vice of the country as we are TO the


bar Of public opinion to answer for
high crimes and misdemeanors unless
there be ground laid for 1t in testimo-


ny, that which impresses the judg-
ment of men as testimony, not mere
declarations there is a difference be
tween the two. / insist that we have


responsibilities enough to meet, and


from this one we ought to be exempt ;


and I say this without undertaking "a
/ know that there is no foundation for
these things but when ] say 1T !


think | abundantly satisfy the Senate
that whatever the actual fact may be
am impressed BY the most thorough
belief that there IS no ground what


ever In truth or IN fact for arralgnlne
:. those Senators.