Year: 1862




resolution that created us Committe


to inquire into the manner in which thi


war has been conducted: to ascertain b


the best evidence and the best lights W


could, wherein there was anything i


which we could aid the Administratio


in the prosecution of this war. an


wherever there was delinquency, tha


we might ferret it out, apprize the AID


ministration of it, and demand a remedy


suppose it was for that purpose tina


the Committee was created with tn


immense powers. that were deuolye'
upon it. l do not say whether ie wa


wise or unwise to create such Com
mittee. The Senator from New Yorl
Mr.. Harris yesterday said he though


it was exceedingly unwise, because tn


Committee, as he supposed, were con


Quoting the war; that is, placing tn
armies in the field and debating tn
policy Of the war We did not constru
our powers in that way. We knew tina
in the vast business that pertained t.
the executive brauch of the Government
it was impossible for them to look into
everything connected with the conduc
of the war which they would like tt
know, and which it was most essentia
to the country that they sh ould know
Therefore, having leisure to inquire into
many alleged abuses that they had nc
power or no time to investigate, We took
it upon ourselves to investigate them
and, [ say here, with discretion and
with a solicitude to I'M ure no man, tha
has never been exceeded in any inves
tigation of any Committee on God s
earth.


Sir, we have not published what we
have ascertained to any mortal man, ex
cept to those who were armed with the
power Of administering the remedy
No idle curiosity has prompted any
member OF that Committee to proclaim
to the world, as idle gossip, the. testi-
mony that was before it. | challenge
the Senate, and every man of it, to- tell
me which member Of the Committee, Oh
where, have we made known to the
public what was going on before US.
admit that as we ascertained facts, the
existence Of NAL lpractices, short com
ings, and things inconsistent with the
proper and beneficial conduct of the
war, we have sought interviews with
the President Of the United States, we
have sought them with the Secretary OF
War, and on some occasions with the
whole Cabinet, and there in secret
have disclosed the testimony that has
come to us, and we have cndeavored to
work out redress; and in innumerable
instances | know we have done it, where,
had it not been for that so much ma
hgneazl lulllmittee. the Administration
would have been entirely lgnorant q
what was going on. Patriotic as they
are, vigilant as they are, anxious as they
are to ascertain the truth on all sub
jects, they are not invested with ON,
niscience; and with six hundred thous-
aud men in the field, and innumerable
officers, it may sometimes happen that
there may be an unworthy one in that
number without their being aware OF it.
We have cndeavored on all occasions to
enlightcn them, but not to stab any
man in the dark, Us | understood the
gentleman to insinuate, but which he
backs out of now, and says he did not in
tend any such thing, or did not say any
snch thing.


Now, with regard to General Stone,
we are not the tribunal that ought to
try him. | do not believe We should be
put in possession Of that kind of testi-
mony that tends to implicate him. |
do not believe that it would be ny duty
either to the public or to General Stone
here in the Senate to proclaim to the
world all the testimony that came be-
fore the Committee on the conduct of
the war; But this much in exculp pa
ton of the Executive will say in gen
eral terms, in order to repel the insinu-
ations Of the Senator from California;
will say here in my place that there
was, and is, probably cause for the ar
rest Of General Stone. [ am not going
to detail the evidence. l regret that it
becomes necessary that I should say
in public on the subject. 1
had rather trust it with those whom the
Constitution and the law charge with
the execution of this matter; but his in
discreet friend will drag it out here,
and | say, then, in behalf ofsthat abused
Executive, that there is probable cause
for his arrest.


We are .tyrannical-the nation is
tyrannical, says the gentleman; and he
quotes authorities from nations at war
with each other where there is no sus-
plclon OF treason-where all is loyalty
on both sides-where nations have ma
tional feelings sufficient to repress every
thing favoring the adversary, and to
bring forward everything favoring their
own nation. He cites these preoedents
to enlighten us in the midst of civil
revolution, where traitors are in our
midst, where you cannot walk :he
streets without meeting men whose
hearts are opposed to the prosecution of
the war. No, sir; you eannotgo through
the. Executive Departments but YOU
meet with violent enemies of the Gov
ernment you are endeavoring to main
tain. lie reads precedents from Eng
llsh history to show the forbearance of
that nation in times Of civil strife. |
wonder .hat the reading of that did not
carry him back to the time when Eng
land was involved in civil war. If it
had, would he not be astonished at the
mlldness and forbearance of the Cover
ment in the course it has pursued to-
ward these traitors in our midst? Sir,
if you look at the old records during
those troublous times, you will find that
men on slighter evidence than would
impeach the gentleman were hung up
by the neck until they were dead, and
yet he lauds tn mildness of the British