Year: 1876

Mr. ClymeF Balu he WOulu lepNc tnN
House and country to Judge OF that. II
the statement Of the gentleman from New
York was correct, then il was impossible
for the statements made by the other four
members OF the committee 10 be correct
lie wished to state once for all that il
any OF the members OF the committed
(when witness Marsh left the ROOM had
made the slightest suggestion that he
should be retained, neither himself nor
any other member OF the committee
would have made the slightest objection,
To state that he (Clymer) was responsible
for Marsh's dicharge, more than any other
member OF the committee was TO state
what was neither just nor fair, but he was
willing to share the full responsibility for
il with every other member OF the com.
mittee. He repeated his beliefthat there
was no legal power In the committee to
have detained Marsh, and that his deten.
tion by the committee would have been
an outrage and wrong.


Mr.. BLACKBURN


said he had no doubt that the House was
as sick Of personal explanations growing
out Of the transaction as the country and
the Republican party were sick Of the
transaction itself. He had no doubt the
gentleman from New York meant to tell
the truth, and lie was only sorry that
the gcntleman's statements were not cor
robOrntcd by either the committee or the
record. Mr.. Blackburn then proceeded
to disprovc from the record OF the COM
mittee Mr.. Bass statement that the COM
mitiee had only two meetings before
Marsh was telegraphed for, and he re-
peated that from the day that Congress
convened until Marsh's testimony had
been completed and signed neither OF the
Republican members OF the committee
had crossed tho threshold Of the commit
tee-room, although having notice OF the
regular meetings OF the committee,
and that neither OF them would have
ever come il a special messenger had not
been sent for them. The suggestion OF
the gentleman (Bass) in regard to the re-
tention Of Marsh had reference only to
holding him until he was cross.examined,
and he dared that gentleman TO deny that
he never did oppose the discharge OF the
witness after the CrOss-examination. He
(Blackburn) denied that Marsh had made
any such statement us that he was going
to leave on the 10 o'clock train. Refer
ring to Bass having left the committee
room in order to have conference with
the President, he suggested that he had
entertained the hope that the recently va
Gated War Office was about to be filed by
n member OF the Committee which had
unhorsed its late occupant. As to
whether the gentlemen had been sent for
tobe converted into Secretary Of War,
or TO advise the President and counsel in
regard to the prosecution Of Marsh, lie
(Blackburn) did not know. The gentleman
from New York and the Lord only did
know. II that gentleman wanted Marsh
detained, why did he not suggest it to the
President or to the Attorney General TO
stop him? That gentleman Bass had
sat in the committee room asserting by
his silence to the discharge OF Marsh, rs
did every other member OF the committee.
Whether lie BASS had acted in good
taste or had illustrated his appreciation
OF fair treatment, he (Blackburn) was
willing to leave the House and country
todctermine. lie repeated that the gen.
tleman (Bass) never objected to the dis
charge OF Marsh after his cross.examina-
ton and he saw the witness leave the
room without making n single objection.


MR.. RAss


insisted that the record Of the committee
bore ont his original statement that the
committee had held only two meetings
prior to telegraphing for Marsh, these
meetings being on the I'd and 10Th Of Feb.
ruary. As 10 the suggestion about his
advising the Attorney General or Presi-
dent TO stop the escape Of Marsh, he re-
gartlcd il ns too absurd to require m an.
swer. The only tribunal in the world
that had Jurisdiction Of Marsh was the
Committee on Expenditures in the War
Department, subordinate to the authority
OF the House. The witness had been dis
charged before any Republican member
OF the committee had any knowledge of
it. How could tho Republican members
of the committee have known when the
chairman left the committee room with
the witness what directions were to be
given to him. Denunciations had been
hurled in this House by Mr.. Blackburn
at the head OF the Secretary Of War and
the charge made that he had sought to
shield himself behind the diShonor OF his
family whereas every other member ofthe
committee knew that the struggle had
been made on his part to avoid their dis
honor and shoulder the burden himself.


Mr.. BLACKBURN


said he was glad that that sentence had
gone on the record that he blackburn
stood before the House and country Us
one who had done all that an honorable
man could do to shield from criticism and
censure an innocent woman. The gentle
man from New York was welcome to
stand before the country rs lie did now
striving to shield from punishment a
guilty man. Applause from the gal
leries and sneers from the Republican
side OF the House.


Adjourned.