Year: 1862

done TO be complained OF In the matter al
General Stone, who lies at the bottom Of this
sfs2|nIi00 11(e( w.


'conoUcy o. tYiYs Waf. I soUgflt no POSITION
upon that committee-I had nothing to do
with getting it up. but when it was raised,
being placed at its head, l cast about as did
the rest Of the committee, to ascertain how
we could make ourselves the most useful TO
Government in the exercise of the vast
powers which it had been the pleasure OF
Congress to bestow upon us. We instituted
a pretty broad inquiry into public affars;-
and especially into the manner in which this
war had been conducted. and among other
things were specially directed by name to
look into that great terrible blunder and
catastrophe, the affair Of Balls Bluff. If.
in that investigation which you commanded
us to make, it turned out that there was an
appearance of disloyalty in the Commander
in chief. was it not legitimate for us to in
quire into ite The Senator seems to think
not. He considers that we are travelling
greatly out of our way when we take evi-
dence tending to criminate General Stone,
at the head of division of your army, on
the very frontiers mex, to the enemy; that
we had no right to look into it. Your SOL
diers had been slaughtered by hundreds,
like cattle taken to the shambles, apparently
under circumstances deeply impeaching
somebody that had the command. l do not
rise with anv purpose to argue that matter.
as told YOU before, not because could not
make out my case as believe, but because
YOU are not the triers, nor am | the A,tor
ney General to prosecute the case before
YOU: but it is my purpose to state enough h Of
that proceeding, not to justify. but to make
the action d that committee triumphant be-
fore this nation. repeat again what | said
the other day, that if there ever was a
committee that procce ded with discretion,
with moderation, with care and forbear-
ance that no man should be injured. it is
the committee OF which am chairman. and
of whose action l am proud. We are an
inquisition forsooth I! The gentleman as
sailed the committee long before he knew
any thing of its action. He accused us Of
proceeding er parte, getting kind OF ille-
climate testimony, going forward with that.
and presenting it to the Administration. to
the detriment of innocent men. / will ask
the Secretary to read this synopsis of our
proceedings, TO justify the committee from
all the imputations the Senator has made.


The Secretary read as follows:


.Januarv 90. 1852 the Committee in
formed the Secretary of War that they had
been informed by General Mcclellan that
General Stone was in this city, and that he
General McClellan) was of opinion that
General Stone should appear before the
committee in regard to the matters laid to
his charge, and the committee informed the
Secretary of War that they were willing 20
hear General Stone ~ any time.


..On January 81, 1861, General Stone
appeared before the committee q second
time, was informed of the nature Of the evil
dence bearing against him. and was allowed
to proceed and make his own explanation
in his own way.


.The committee then appointed sub
Committee to wait upon the Secretary OF
War, and inform him tha; there was a con
fict of testimony IN relation to Gen. Stone.
and to communicate 20 him what that tes-
timouy was"


Mr.. WADx-Thas sir. is the iuquisitorial
course We have taken with General Stone.
As he was likely TO be implicated in the
Balls Bluff affair, be was one of the early


witnesses that we called in. We were not


nauiring into the conduct of any indiEidu


al. That Was not what We we're placed
there, as we believed. to do 1t was no,
our construction Of power that was granted
! to u.s. We were to inquire into the facts
connected with the conduct Of the war. and
| il there were short comings or delinquen