The New York Herald Newspaper, January 28, 1862, Page 8

“ / 4 —E——————— Report of the Senate Naval Committee a the Morgan Ship Purchases. (CEROURE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. ae, ke, ae. THIRTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS. FIRST SESGION. Semate. ‘Wasumcron,, Jan. 27, 2802. ‘Severa) petitions in favor of emancipation of the slaves ‘were presented. Petitions were alse presented for the employment of ‘WP. Sumnuan,(rep.) of Ohio, presented a petition from the Mayor, &o., of Springfield, Ohio, for a national ar- mory there. Mr. Lams, (rep.) of Ind., presented a petition from the Board of Trade of Indianapolis, in relation to a national i ‘THE FUBLIO LANDS, Mr. Kuna, (rep.) of N. Y., presented a petition against ali farther trafic in the public lands. THR COAST SURVEY. ‘Mr. Hans, (rep.) of N. Y., presented s memorial from the Chamber of Commerce, and others, in favor of the eontinuation of the coast survey. FRAUDS ON THE GOVERNMENT. ‘Mr. Haxnis also presented the resolutions of the Assem- eee Serie ct Bow Fou relative to frauds commit- ‘upon the government, &c. REPORT ON THE MORGAN NAVAL PURCHASES. Mr. Hatz, (rep.) of N. H., from the Naval Committee, made a ‘the answer of the Secretary Fesolution in regard to the ‘‘Morgan SUPPRESRION OF THE REBELLION. uch war statistics as.in the rep.) of Wis. putting the Super- cent Ceneus tadse the aitsotion St the Beers. far. On motion of Mr. Fassexpen, (rep.) of Me., the latter ee modi 80 as to read “the it 'ILSON, (rep.) Of Mass., introduced a effectual suppression of the slave trade. 4 ill for the Referred. Mr Legislature of New York ere gg 9 to vote for the abolition . Referred. SECRET SERMONS OF CONGRESC. up the resolution making an addition of both houses, as follows:—That of the Houge or Senate shall rise seat, and shall say that the Executive department desires immediate action on any mat if g be HI tH Bi member, and'if by any as the body in which it occurs shall impose. Wape moved the resolution be so modified as to strike out'the limitation of the debate to five minutes, ‘though he thought we never learned anything aftera Person had spoken for five minutes. Mr. Scuner, (rep.) of Mass., offered an amendment, that the question of going into recret session shail be sub mitted to the body in which It is proposed, and if the ma- decide to do so, then go immediately into secret without debate. Mr. Fesexnpen had no objection to the resolution, and no objection to the amendment of the Senator from Mas- sachusetts, if it referred only to the Senate; but this was joint rule, and the House would be in @ position to go into secret ‘session. Mr. Fosrsr, (rep.) of Conn., did not believe in what ‘was facetiously called secret seasion. Ho thought what transpired in secret session was reported sooner than ‘what took place in open session. He did not think secret sessions an eloment of power. He did not object to the Fesolution, however, but he was opposed to giving either Rouse power of arbitrary punishment over an offoer of Mr. Tavamurt, (rep.) of Ill., was glad the resolution ‘was offered. He said for some reason the whole country felt more hopefal, and thought the army should be used to put down the on. There seemed to be more activity and preparation for movements. He thought this was due to the War Committee. ie did not Delieve in secret session. The people onght to know all ‘that was done: but if the Senate thought it necessary to do certain business in secret sersion he did not object But it was a great power to put in the hands of any sin- gic member to compel either body to go into secret ses. sion. He said it was the rule now to expel auy member ‘who divulged the proceedings of the secret se:sion; yet what do we see now? Nearly everything published the ext day and exaggerated. He would rather have the Jar report than these garbled accounts. . CHANDLER, (rep.) of Mich. , urged the necessity of the Measure, but would leave the punishment to the discre tion of the body. If there was a traitor in the body who ivuiged the secrets he would hang him. Mr. Hae wanted to say a single word about the dis- grace of having garbled reports of everything done in fecret seasion, and gave notice that in future if he saw the rules relative to secresy broken he would bring the Subject to the notice of the Senate, And eudeavor to have the offender punished. Mr. Wan said there were measures which ought to be considered in secret session, and if we bad this rule he should move secret session on them immediately. if they were considered in open session the rebels would know all about them in am hour. The Scuator did not Seem to fealize that we were in war; indeed war was s0 mach likb peace he might not think we were in war; but the committee, of which he was @ member (Committee ‘on War) determined that something be done. We must act with the Executive Department, or else belong to Con- force the Executive to take powers which gress. ‘The resolution was molified so that when any member makes a motion to go into secret session the shail ‘de shut and the member state the reasons, and the ma- Seky euerminn whether to continue in secret session. SURRMAN the subject was tpoped till to-morrow. vie . Laman, (opp. ‘al. , proceeded favor ote. rt He contended t} peak at length public opinion 1861, was different Crom what it is now, and from Indiana was not to be judged by opinion he did when opinion was very different. if itten by the Senator from Indiana, had heen ate om the 24 of March it would have fallen referred to and read the speech of the ‘Mr. Wigfall), delivered on the 24 geese SEH Cale eae i el B i Ey ! Speeches the Senator from Indiana kaew that war was inevitable, other Senators must have known it, and they are equally guilty for not having these trai i i tors arrested. None of those speeches were believed by the people of the country, and none of these Senators ‘were cxpelied or their ames left off the roll 4 July. Ho claimed that on the ist of March there was 0 war, and mo one dreamed that war would ensue. Congress did not 4th of March without even the introduction of any mea- @ures calculated for a state of war. He Of the President and the speeches Jas and Fessenden, all made after the letter was » and all asserting that there was po war. He also faa the Secretary of State's instructions ds late as the 10th of April, a, that there was no war. The mails ‘Were not stoyped till May. He contended that all there facts showed conclusively that no one believed there would be war, and there could be no disloyal f she mind of the Senator from Indiana, when he Jeter as carly as the ist of March.’ Many » wapapers: ‘are now howling for blood. The Senator from tadiana ‘was then willing to let the Southern Ftatos go in pence Father than have war, He read an extract from the New the ‘Lammas said he was not to e diverted inte the dis- cussion of party % Hite views on State rights were well he had always opposed the be ky ‘the first. i i u i i i : i g [ i i ALTERATION IN THE RATES OF POSTAGE ON NEWSPAPERS. Mr. Courax, (rep.) of Ind., mtroduced a bill to render ‘more uniform the postage on psinted matter. Referred to the Post Office Committee. He said, in explanation, ‘that instead of the three hundred rates now existing on printed matter, it provided for three. On newspapers ees than two ounces in weight, and on which postage is now chargeable low, it makes the postage five cents per quarter ; for weeklies, when carried less than ten thou- sand miles, ten cents; for semi-weeklies, eo.» according to the number of issues per week, and on mag: a half cent per ounce, and on books other mailable matter sent the mails, one cent per ounce; when over two thousand miles, double portage. this would simplify the rates so that every post- master and subscriber could understand them clearly, hich they could not now, and it would supemede the rates of three and a quarter and six anda (aye aga RO one could pay exactly in any federal z DEBATE ON THE SLAVERY QUESTION. ‘The House went into Committee of the Whole on the fest Point Academy bill. Mr. Menzies, (Union) of Ky., in reply to the gentleman who preceded in debate, explained the position of Kentucky neutrality, which, he said, was the policy ‘by the disupionists, so that they might for awhile enjoy the benefits of the Union without sharing in the responsibility for I gg ing and finally carry over the State to the The disunionists in Ken- tucky acted worse than the rebels of the revolted States, they tried to transfer that State to the rebels a i at Pe Union men- of bone ore Spee i a - much for the general government as they possibly cou under the circumstances, and of this ge ir. Men- tempted to make Kansas a slave State. ‘Mr, Munzine (resuming) alluded to the Ostend Mani- festo, in which Mr. Buchanan, with other abler Ministers to foreign courts, advocated the purchase of Cuba. This was to buy y of a Power; but the pro- position of Mr. Stevens was to buy the pee of loyal citizens without consulting them as to the price. He stood by the constitution of his fathers, not be to the scheme gen of necessity wag no justification. Nosuch necessity exists. The ex- ecutive branch of the government is with us for the pre- fying on the war according’ tothe. Plasform oflered. by on ‘war accor ry Mr. Crittenden and in July last. Our conduct should at least be so shaped as to do the least injury to loyal men. When the rebels shall have ropented of their sins and eaten of the husks which thé swine should cat, he (Mir. Menzies), for one, would receive them back. This was the first point at which he wished to have any peace- able intercourse with them. Mr. Ripon, (rep.) of Ohio, said this question of siavery if in, over and ‘through everything; politically peaking, it is everything. He main- tained t slavery is war, prosecuting its own purposes through its own means of aggression and con- quest, and when the people of the free States resolved to put a limit to the further extension of the war, slavery wok up itsold war club. The election of Mr. Linco’n had nothing todo with this war. In the event of the elcctjon of Mr. Douglas, with a slight difference, the same contest would have ensued. In the fundamental law slaves are known only as persons, and legislation by Con- gress is without limitation as to persons. There is the amplest power within the limits of the constitution for changing the personal status of these slaves. He would confiscate the wb d of rebols; declare them free. Reasons might be found-to go further than this. Accord- ing to présént policy we are allies of our enemies against ourselves. A nation which into this contest 80 min- cingly, befooled and besotted, will find in the end there is indeed a death struggle. Gentlemen who turn their pal» lid faces away and hold their weak stomachs, must go to the rear, while the brunt of the battle will be placed in other bands. she could find constitutional right to deal with slavery he would strike it a blow, and pray God to. the blow effectual. ‘Ibe people are in advaitée of the President, abead of the slow, halting pro- gress of argumentation; the wisdom of the radical forces hag produced @ radical moyement, not among politicians, bat among the races of men. f Mr. Suxermm, (opp.) of Rhode Island, expressed his surprise at the sentiment here enunciated that Congress has power by @ single enactment to emancipate all the slaves held under the laws of all slavebolding States; and after this announcement, he was not at all surprised to hear the principle asserted that in a certain emergency Congres had power to declare a dictator to control the govérnment. According to his view tho constitution was a compact of the entire people with évery individual by which government is bound to afford protection, and the people to render obedience on the terme and conditions set forth in the constitution. We cannot take property excepting by due (process of law, and this provision is governed by the other prohibiting the passace of any bill of attainder. The constitution must be taken as a whole, not in detatched parts. It is an instrument of delegated and limited powers. We have no right to in struct the Executive in the discharge of his duties any more than the Executive has to instruct Congress how they shall perform theirs. The powers of Cougreas end when the armies are in the field; then the President is at the head of them. The laws of peace give way to the laws of war. A state of peace is inconsistent witha state of war. The two cannot exist together. He argued, quoting from the Supreme Court decisions, to show the execution and direction of war is with the President According to the laws of war he had no doubt the Presi- dent in marching the armies in the enemies’ country, has the right to order the capture of the porvenal ‘pro perty of the rebels, but he would not under- take to legisiate rebellion down. He would put it down in the only way it could be put down, namely, by fighting, and alter the war was over he would act in reference to the slaves with the best light he should then He believed Congress has now nothing to do with They should not be divided in council, their energy in prosecuting the war. ‘THE WHAT POINT ACADEMY BILL PASSED. Promiscuous debate was here closed, when the Military Academy Appropriation bill was read, and reported to the House without amendment, and passed. ‘THE RXRCUTIVE, JUDICIAL AND LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATION BILL. The consideration of the Executive, Judicial and Legis- lative Appropriation bill was resumed. Mr. F. A. Conkuina, (rep.) of N. Y., moved an amend ment that no provision in a bill shall be combined as giving authority to any Senator or representative to re- ceive more than two mileages for this Congress. ‘The Cnamay ruled the amendments out of order, #s in- dependent legisiation ithoul concluding action on the bill the House ad- Journed. PURCHASES OF NAVAL VESSELS. The Senate Committee on Naval Affairs in Reply to Seerctary Welles. The Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom was referred the letter of the Secretary of the Navy, in answer toa resolution of the Senate of the 9th instant, relative to the employment of George D. Morgan, of New York, to purchase vessels for the government, ask leave to re- port:— That have given to the subject that careful con- sideration which its important chatacter seemed to de. mand, and they now submit the result of their examina. tion to the Senate. By the letter of the Secretary the committee and the Senate are relieved from all embar- rassment as to the evidence of the transactions under consideration, as the facts are plainly stated by the Sec- retary, who, without endeavoring to conceal or cover up any of the prominent features of the case, claims in his letter that ft is a matter for praiee rather than censure, and that his eonduct was the faithful fulfilment o” hie publie duty; and Mr. Geo. D. Morgan, the ageat employed, and who admits in his letter to the chairman of the Commit- toe on Naval Affairs in the House of Representatives, which the Secretary of the Navy adopts and makes a part of bis report to the Senate, thai he has already received seventy thousand dollars 000) for the brief period of afew months in which he was employed, solemnly de- clares, upon hi and responsibility ag pond and a man of business, that he regards the s ed by the Secretary us wise, abd, if faithfully and well carried ont at this time, highly conducive tothe pub- lic interests. If this be true, and the transaction deserves aise, and is the faithful fulfilment of public duty, and, Ie taithtully and. well carriod out, highly. coutuelve 46 the public interests, then it ought to be incorporated into our ordinary and regular mode of farnishing supplies for our army and navy, and extended to as many branehes of the pu! service as posetble % ‘THE QUESTION OF COMPENEATION. In order to form a proper estimate of this system so much janded by the Secretary and his agent, let us s00, in tho firet place, precisely what it is. The government proposes to buy a large number of yossels, an employs an agent Lo purchase them. allowing him to receive from the souler two and a half per cont on the price for each veesel—in other words, one-fortiesy must ‘be remem! made a purchase posed to'buy, that the. most ‘sophistry can imposo u the simplest understanding’the impression or belief the United States does not directly pay this money. LB CUSTOM. It is claimed that this arrangement is in accordance with the usual mercantile custom. However that-may the committee will say something cf that here- pgp: al committee are of opinion, in the language of an em! and highly ctable gentleman of New York with whom they have had occasion to correspond, that the ‘ & government agent for purchases ceveneins, Um seller foe his compensation, and compensation dependent upon the extent and costliness of bis purchases is immoral and corrupt- ing: and tends to extravagance, to collusion and to fraud.” {oman virtue is frail enough when surrounded by all the inducements to honesty which can be thrown around it as safeguards, and accordingly it has been found to be the wisest policy in the conduct of the ordinary affairs of life, as far a8 practicable, to make duty and interest to coineide; but by this system of the Secretary a direct Pecuniary premium is offered to dishonesty and treache- ry. Instead of its being for the interest of the agent carefully to guard and protect the rights and interests of the government for which he acts, and to purchase the vessel for tho lowest price at which she can be bought, he has adirect pecuniary interest in paying the largest possible price which the seller can, with any show of de- cency, demand, and.thus his interests are brought in direct conflict with his duty. Now, although Mr. Morgan, with the seventy thousand dollars'in his pocket, ayers upon his ‘character aud re- sponsibility as a merchant and a man of business” that is is “‘a wise system, and if well and faithfully carried ut at this time, highly conducive to the public inte- rests,” yet it unfortunately happens that the universal judgment of mankind is of a very different charactor. Thus no judge or juror is allowed to sit in a case where he has the slightest pecuniary interest, and if it were known that a referee, arbitrator or umpire between two parties was to have his com; on dependent upon the amount which he should adjudge the one sy. to pay to the other, all men everywhere would join in denounc- ing his decision as, if not dishonest and corrupt, at least unworthy of any confidence. The proposition that one man should act as agent for another and have a direct pecuniary interest adverse to his employer, and prompt- ing him to make large purchases at high prices, with his compensation constantly increasing in direct proportion to the number of his purchases and the extravagance of the prices which he compels his employer to pay, seems to your committee to be @ proposition 80 monstrous as to require no argument to demonstrate its inexpediency and immorality. At the time this arrangement was made there were many other other things of which the government was in pressing want, as well as vessels, such as horses, beef cattle, arms, &c., and if the system adopted by the Secretary of the Navy for the purchase of vessels wero wise and a faithful discharge of a public duty, why fargo cep try eer gfray oe = a ? Yet what would have been said if an agent ‘been employed to purchase horses, and to receive as a com- tion for his services a commission of tws anda if per cent on the amount he should pay for them? ‘Does not every owe perceive that such am ement would have been an invitation to fraud ands premium upon dishonesty? And your committee are by no means satisfied that just such a consequence as might natu- rally have been anticipated to follow auch an arrange- ment has not resulted in the present case, and that, instead of saving, as the Secretary fiatters himself he has, some twenty-five per cent on the amount de- manded by the seliers of the vessels purchased, he has not actually paid more for those vessels than they might have been obtained for if no such course had been adopted. Indeed, to your committee it seems altogether probable that such was the fact; for the very announcement that an agent was in the market to buy vessels for the government, and that he was to be paid twoand a half per cent on the amount paid for the purchases he might make, we sub: mit, would naturally suggest to every seller that here ‘was a rare opportunity—such as never had occurred be- fore, and in all human probability nover would occur again—where the interest of both buy@Mand seller united in fixing the largest price that could be demanded and —— shocking the moral sense of the commu- nity. TUE QUESTION OF ECONOMY, Nor are the committee at all shaken in this opinion by the ostentatious display in parallel columns in the table ailixed to the Secretary's letter of the price asked and the price paid for each vessel. The manner in which a great saving is made to the gevernment, or rather is made to appear, is by putting down fabulous and ernp- neous prices in the colt of prices asked, side by side he proces paid. us, the price asked for the ip ffississippi is two hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($250,0¢0), and the price paid ig two hun- dred thousand ‘doilars ($200,090), making a sav- ing in this trade alone of fifty thousand dollars 000). ico asked for the steamship Eaglo is two bund and fifty thousand dollars ($260,- 000), and the price paid is one hundred and eighty- five ‘thousand dollars ($186,000), showiug an apparent saving of sixty-five thousand dollars ($65,000). The steamship James Adger hasan asking price of one hun- dred aud twenty-five thougand dollars ($126,000), whilo the price for which she was sold was eighty-five thousand dollars ($85,000), making an apparent saving in the pur- chase of this vessel of forty thousand dollars ($40,000. ) But the most remarkable case of success that Mr. Mor- gan had in reducing the price asked down to the price actually paid was iu the parchase of the steamship Ala- bama, where the price asked wes one hundred and twenty thousand dollars ($120,000), while the price paid only twenty-three thousand dollars (#23,000); thus showing a saving to the government, in the pure of this single vessel of small vulue, of ninety-seven thou- sand dollars ($97,000)! From these statements, taken from this table, your committee, with coniidence, appeal to the Senate and the country to’ judge whether it was mado in honesty and good faith, with a view of stating fairly what were the actual prices demanded for these vessels, or with the false and fraudulent purpose of holding out to the go- vernment and the country the idea that such vast amounts had been actually saved to the government by the agency of Mr. Morgan MR. METCHILL. Nor do the committee ‘h much weight to the certi- ficate of Mr. Samuel L. Mitchill and several other geutle- men, who have given to the Secretary of the Navy a certificate that these vessels have been pure lower prices, not than the vessels were worth, the usual market prices at the time, but *‘at lower prices than have usvally been paid by the government.” Neither do your committee place especial confidence in the judgment and opinion of Mr. Samuel L. Mitchill in this matter, when it appears from the report of the Sooratge of the Navy that more than four hundred thousand dol- lars ($400,000) of the amount disbursed by Mr. was paid to the firm of 8. L. Mitchill & Son, of which Mr. Samuel L. Mitchill is supposed to be the senior partner. ‘TESTIMONY OF NEW YORK MERCHANTS, Nor is it the fact, so far as your committee upon a diligent inquiry have been able to learn, that such an arrangement as that made by the Secretary of the Navy with Mr. Morgan bas the sanction of the Chamber of Commerce, or of any other mercantile community on the face of the earth. And it would be strange indeed if it wero so. No usage can ‘ail oF be established among any intelligent and upright community that does not rest upon the solid basis of common sense, common honesty and sagacity. Your committee, believing that no merchant in possession of his ordinary mental faculties could be guilty of the ab- surdity of employing an agent to buy for him a@ vessel and make his compensation entirely dependent upon the price he should pay, and to increase in proportion to the extravagance of the sum paid, applied to several gentle- men whom they «upposed to have knowledge on the sub- ject, and inquired of them if they ever knew of such an ‘arrangement, and they have, without exception, answor- ed in the negative. To other gentlemen they have ap- plied in writing, and, among others, to the President of the Chamber of Commerce of the city of New York, ask- ing the same question, and in no instance have they re- cerved an affirmative answer. .One of the Vice Presidents of the Chamber of Com- merce, in answor to a letter addressed to the President (the President being absent from the city), encloses the rates of commissions recommended by tho Chamber in cases where no express agreement is made, and in that list of commissions two and one-half per cent is set down as the commission for purchasing or selling vee sels; but he adds:—In the sale of vousels, as in the pur- chases, brokers are frequently employed, and in such ‘cases a brokerage is generally’ agreed upon by the perties selling.”” Two anda half per cont, instead of being, he Secretary, the least possible expense the very highest ovor sanetioned or r the Chamber of Com. tion in New York for a broker , or commission m it, for making a large pur- chase, is generally, if not always, regulated by contract, and does not exosed half the sum paid by the Secretary of the Navy to Mr. Morgan, and in such large purchases as those made by him for the government should not ex. ceed one-fourth of one per hood ‘Your committee can well finagine that a person desirous of selling a vessel, and whose necessities aro urgent, might deem it expedient to contract witha broker to make & sale of her, and, to @ve stimilis to bis effores in that direction, might well jay hin a commission to ve regulated by the amount ior which bo should sell the vessel, In that case it would be for the interest of principal and agent to procure the highest possible ve competent authority assigning a fair quantum merwt for the particular servic, oF must be supported as's claim for work and labor. ground of responsibility; aud nothing can be more clear than that, of all possible modes of remuneration ,a per- = is the least congonant to general principles of equity. 3. “Ido most entirely repudiate all analogy between meroantile profits and official charges.” ‘‘ The merchant charges his commission because he is a merchant,” &c. After going on to state with characteristic clearness the very different grounds on which commissions and official teed rast. baadiaeet* 1 ae therefore, ex animo, expunge from the vocabulary of the court the very term commis- sion, as far as it relates to services marshal, or any officer of this court.”’ - ing of the Court in this judgment goes with great forco ‘against compensating official services with commissions, after the custom of merchants, in which the committee entirely concur. CENSURE OF SECRETARY WELLES AND MR. 8 It is said to be necessary not only that justice should ‘be done, but that the public should satisfied that it is done; and in this view your committee regrot that in the city of New York a man oould not have been found to transact this business for the Navy Department out of the family connection of the Secretary; for, however pure ana honest his purpose may have been in the selec- tion, it cannot fail to give rise to suspicions that other motives than a single purpose to subserve the public in- — may possibly have influenced the choice that was fe. The time, too, at which this arrangement was made, by which such a vast and disproportionate amount of the Public money was paid for so inconsiderable a service, was peculiarly unfortunate. The country was-engaged in a war in which its very existence was at stake. Tho mation had been aroused, and was contributing men and money without stint to defend the national life, vin- dicate the national honor, and restore the rightful su- premacy of the constitution and the laws. The energies and the industry of the country were tobe taxed as they never had been before, and the pressing necessitics of the government had compelled it to resort to new and untried sources of revenue. The hut of poverty and the splendid mansion of wealth were alike led upon to aid in bearing the burden which rebellion and civil war had thrown upon the nation. All this was borne, and would have been borne cheerfully, if the taxpayers had seen or been convinced that their money was to be faith- fully aud oconomically appliett to the purposes for which it was raised; but when they see immense sums squan- on or political favorites for small and in- considerable services, confidence iu the government is impaired, public credit is paralyzed and the very exist- vence of nation is im ‘The seventy thousand dollars of the public money now in the hands of Mr. George D. Morgan, in equity and good conscience, to the government and not to him, and should at once be restored to the national trea- sury, and such reasonable compensation for his services paid to him as justice may require. THE TRAITORS IN OFFICE. Important Report of the Potter Investi- gating Co mmittee. The long expected report of the Potter Investigating Committee, appointed by the House of Representatives at the extra session, to investigate the cases of disloyal clerks and other persons in the employment of the go- vernment, has at length been completed, and will be pre- Sented to-day. More than five hundred charges have Deen thoroughly examined, with excellent effect in some Snstances, and with very unsatisfactory evidence in others. The clerks in the various public departments are nearly all more or less compromised by the results of this investigation. The princtpal charges against them are sympathy with the rebellion, abuse of trust reposed in them, and the general expression of treasonable and disloyal sentiments. THB CHARGRS AGAINST DISTRICT ATTORNEY CARRINGTON. The evidence in this case discloses the fact that last summer, while be was captain of a volunteer company in Washington (as well as District Attorney), his troops were ordered up to Seneca Mills, in Maryland; but here- fused to go, saying that ‘he would not invade his native State,” and’ that he ‘could not lift his hand against his mother.” At ime he is charged with saying he ”® tho evficace goes to sow id “would not invade Virgin: that he notwithstanding received his pay as captain kept the office of District Attorney, given him by a mem- ber of a republican administration. The committee con- cluae ‘that Captain Carrington’s sympathies are divided, and that such men cannot be trusted to represg the re- bellion or to defend the constitution and the laws. HOW LIEUTENANT COLONEL MAYNADIER AIDED THE TRAITOR | FLOYD IN 18 TREASONS. This officer holds the position of assistant to the chief of ordnance. The principal charges affecting his loyalty are:—first, that he was a party to the effort. in December, 1860, of John B. Floyd, then Secretary of War, to remove cannon to the South, under the pretence of arming forti- fications at Galveston and Ship Isiand, which, in fact, had no existence; but in reality, to furnish the munitions of war for the intended rebellion; and, second, that he was a party to the sale by Floyd of 100,000 or more muskets to A. A. Belknap, and 20,000 to other parties, in violation of law, and to the great detriment of the public service, the object being to disarm the government and to arm its enemies. The first of these charges was formally pre- ferred by Colonel Craig, of the Ordnance Department, in June last, againat Major Maynadier, to which the latter answered in a letter to Adjutant General Thomas, dated the Zist of the same month. He says:— I was not called on for any information as to the condition of any fortifications on the Gulf coast. The Secretary of War sent for me and gave me a positive order to send the cannon pertaining to the armament of the forts on Ship Island and at Galvos- ton to these forts. I jknew not avd it did not be- come me to inquire into the reasons or motives of the Secretary of War for giving an order clearly within hig province. My duty was obedience and not questioning, and I simply obeyed. 1 ascertained {rom the Engineer Departmgnt what kind and calibre of guns compoced the armament of these forts, and the proper kind, 80 ascer- tainod, were directed to be sent. Article 60, Ordnance Regulations of 1852, prescribes that ‘the arming of per: manent fortifications will be specially directed by the Secretary of Wa 4 ‘The principal witness on this charge is General H. G. Wright, of the Engineer corps. He swears that Major Maynadier applied to him for information regarding the number of guns for fortifications at Galveston and Ship Island, and that his answer was as follows:— My reply to the question was, in effect, that the works referred to were in no condition to receive their arma- ments; that the first mentioned was not defensible, not being preparea for its first tier of guns even, and that, at the second, the ground for iaying the foundations of the fort had not been broken, and finally, that the guns would not only be useless there, but in tho way of any opera. tions of construction. I'stated to him, moreover, that the armament of the works had never been fixed by tho armament board, and that, while! could give him the number of guns the eontemplated, I could not give him their calibre. In answer to this, he stated, in effect, that he had the positive order of the Secretary of War to send the guns, and thi Je he was bound to obey the order he was ‘not responsible for its propriety, and re- quested me to give him the information he wanted. This request I as far complied With as to show him the plans of the works, count the number gf pieces of ordnance Tor which they were designed, and (®give him my opinion as to what the kind and calibre shouid be. In auswor to many other questions tho witness further stated that he ‘presumed that the purpose of the Secre- tary of War, Mr. Floyd, was to place a largo number of heavy guns in positions where they coul seized by the rebels or disaffected authorities of the Gulf States, aa I could see no other purpose in sending the guns to those places at that time.’ He adaa:— “1 was so fully impressed with this idea that I pro- kented the whole matter to General J. G. Totten, at that time in this city, but not thenon duty in the Engineer Department; and he submitted a statement of the facts in anote to General Scott, What further action was taken in the matter I am unable to state positively, but Tunderstand that the detention of the guns at Pittsburg grow out of Genoral Scott’s action.”” Lieutenant Colonel Maynadier dwells at length upon the fact that the duty of ordering the armament of for- tiflcations belongs to the Secretary of War. But in H. G. (now General) Wright testifies before the Military Committee, as to the usual course pursued, that— “The Engineer Department reports to the Secretary of War that the particular work is ready for the whoie or a part of its armament, describing the armament hooded. It then remains for the Secretary of War to or- der the armament to be supplied or not, as he may see ye ord: oea to the Ordnance Department, I be- lie Colonel Craig, for ten years at the head of the Ordnance Department, states oh oath before the same committee, *‘ that when fortifications are ready for armament ‘the usual practico is for the Chief Engineer to tify the Chief of Ordnance that the fortification is ready for its gune, naming the kind; his communijcat! is retorred to the Secretary of War, who directs the exe- cution of it.” This is the testimony of high officers of the army, and there {# no doubt that Lientenant Colonel Maynadier, in gxccuting the order of Floyd for the transmission of one fundred and forty-one of the largest cannon from Pitts. diel ft with the full unfuished and the s clear that May. burg to the Guif of Mexico, no doubt knowledge that one of the forts wi other wot yet begun. It js seareely me iret He i i i] i £ if i i it ff i i i | I AH f ! i do 80. - honestly, and their decisions or ul a eer on et ioe in nowtse responsible for ™m.? ‘This statement goes to show that Lieutenant Colonel the confidence teh egg Se ge Maynadier to Adjutant Genoral Thoma: have already cited the following passige:. from the Engineer Department what kind and calibre of guns composed the armament of these forts, and the proper kind so ascertained was directed to be sent,” In is report to Secretary Floyd, dated December 21, 1960, he says:—'I have ordered forty-two ocolumbiads and four thirty-two pounder guns to be sent to the fort on Ship Island; also seventy columbiads and seven thirty-two pounder guns to the fort at Galveston harbor. ‘These pieces of ordnance belon; ments of the respective forts. hat Colonel Maynadier calls @ strict and literal fulfilment of his subordinate duties. General Wright had informed him: first, that the fort at Ship Island was in no condition to receive an armament; second, that the ground had not been breken at Galveston for the construction of tha fort; and third, that the armament of the forts had never been fixed by the Armament Board. After comparing the evidence of Genoral Wright, an intelligent, distinguished ana highly honorable witness, with Lieutenant Colonel Maynadier’s report to Floyd, your committee submit that the latter displays a facile Teadiness to carry out the treasonable scheme of his supe- rior ag much at the expense of truth as of the public weal. And this brings the committee to tho considera- tion of the second charge of disloyalty which has been preferred against Lieutenant Colonel Maynadier. On the 30th of October, 1860, Colonel Craig made an official report to the War Department, stating that the stock of muskets of all kinds in the public service, in- cluding the army, navy and marine corps, amounted to only ‘530,000, dispersed among the arseuais of the coun- try.” In former years, he states, the number had been nearly 700,000, and was not then considered too great for the @ountry. He at the same time insists that ‘“no further red@iction by sales of the old model serviceable arms aged be allowed until our arsenals are better supplied.” THE OPERATIONS OF THR TRAITOR FLOYD. ¢ 12th of the month of November Colonel Craig from duty as head of the Ordnance Bureau, on the 22d of the same month Maynadicr was sub- stituted in his place. The day preceding the appointment & proposition was made te Floyd by A. A. Belknap ‘to purchase of the department from one to two hundred and fifty thousand of United States flint locks and altered’per- cussion muskets, and tohave the same delivered to me or my agents in New York city.” This fact is taken from Belknap’s evidence before the Milltary Committee of the ‘ast Housetof Representatives, Report No. 85, which your committee have felt at liberty to use in this connection: “(As originally written,” says Belknap, “the was for two per gun; but the words ‘and fifteen the paper was presented to the War Department.” On the back of said letter is the following endorse- ment:—The within ition is accepted to the extent of one hundred th: muskets, and as many more up to the maximum number as the service will spare,” Signed J. B. Floyd, Secretary of War. a baequently Floyd, by a strange froak, professed to Tees tha ‘he supposed ‘whan he sccopted the bid, aud lees 8] w e bid, a said that they ahould not be delivered for less than $2 60 per musket. Belknap leaves us to infer that the new terms were accepted, and says that “Secretary Holt re. fuses to give me the guns.”” Lieutenant Colonel Maynadier speaks of this transac tion as a mere bid on part of Belknap, and declares that “ Not a single musket bas been sold to Belkna| any price,” According to the testimony of Colonel Craig beiore the Military Committee, 10,000 muskets were sold toG. B. Lamar on the 24th day of November, 1860— iseissippi on the 4th of December, Louisiana on the 16th of the sales, then, occurred within less than 8 month after the removal of Colonel Craig and the appointment of Lieutenant Colonel Maynadier, and im- mediately subsequent to the appearance of Colonel Craig's report, in which he protests agamst the sale of more small arms. Colonel Craig states that only 50,000 of the 141,000 arms sold during Floyd’s administration of the War De- partment were advertised, as required by the law of (825, and that he protested against furthersales. The consequence was his removal, and the substitution of Lieutenant Colonel Ma: ier, under whom these im- mense sales were to aid the cause of treason by a corrupt violation of law. ‘The 20,000 last mentioned were sold to parties and to States in open or threatened rebellion against the govern- ment,and the fact was as well known then that they were to be used against the government of the United States as it is now. In the evidence of Bell he mentions George Saun- ders, a well known traitor, as one of his advisers in the purchase of the 100,000 muskete. The whole conduct of Floyd leaves not a doubt that he believed he was making sale to parties in the interest of the rebellion, aud it were affectation to suppose that in annulling the original ent at the rate of $2 15 he was actuated by hon- orable or patriotic motives. The only rational explana- tion of his conduct, in cancelling the contract, therefore, is to be found in the supposition that he discovered that a mistake had been made, and that his felloty conspirators could not obtain possession of the arms. It is aremarkable fact that the Secretary of War has dismissed, by the advice of the Adjutant Gensral, all these charges of treason and corruption as unworthy of investigation. ‘THE DIFFERENT CHARGES AGAINST PAYMASTER DODGE. The evidence of James W. Deeble, a clerk in the Navy Department, goes to rhow that during the last Presiden tial campaign, and subsequent to the election of Mr. Lin- coin, he had frequent occasion to go to the counting room of Boyce, Thomas & Dodge. The Thomas reverred to is the Adjutant General of the Army. ‘obert P. Dodge, says the witness, several times en- gnged me in conversation on the subject of politics. * * After endeavoring to convince me, as formerly, that the republicans wore wrong and that the South was rigbt, and referring to his Bible to prove his positions, but with- ‘out success, he remarked, in a manuer which ‘surprised me, that ‘Mr. Lincoln could never be inaugurated."? And when Tasked him why, he replied—“Some one will kill him.” Remarking that he onght not to utter such senti- ments lest he might tempt lese Intelligent and conscion. tious persons to attempt a fulfilment of his prediction, I left his place of business. This was after Mr. Lincoln had been elected. > Another witness, William H. Craig, ewears that he knows Paymaster Robert P. Dodge, and ‘that the feelings and sympathies of his family are with the Southern se- cessionisis.” third witness, T. J. generally regarded in tl cessionist.”” Mr. McCobb is or was appointed clerk to Mr. Dodge, as paymaster. The first witness, Stepnen H. Sherman, swears, “I am well acquainted with John MeCobb, who 18 clerk to Robert P. Dodge, paymaster in the army. — * * —# — Liknow, from repeated conversations with Mc- Cobb, that he is’n rabid secossionist—the most bitter I ever heard talk; I know him well.” William H. Craig swears, “<I know MeCobb, clerk for Dodge, paymaster; he is a wssionist all over’? T. J. Lugendeol swears that ““McCobb, clerk to Dodge, is a secessionist; I have heard him say s0.”” Another witness also swears that Boyce, the partner of Dodge and Thomas, is a violent secessionist; and, in a word, there seems’ to have becn but one feoling among the partice, that of deep sympathy with the rebel ene- mies of the country. All this evidence 1:: these cases leaves but little doubt of the disloyalty of Mr. Dodge and his clerk, Mr. McCobb. ‘THE DOINGS OF LIBUTENANT HARRISON OF BHRRMAN’S BATTERY. William 1. Craig swears that Lioyd Harrison was also inted lieutenant under the patronage of the Adjutant neral. He went to Alexaudria and enlisted in Shafer's company. He came back and boasted that he heid a com- mission, notwithstanding he had eulisted in tho rebel army. He was ted a lieutenant through the intlu- ence of General . Says now he was drunk when he enlisted in the rebel army. . that Lloyd Harrison, Secon berg Js generally regarded as a secessionist, I have heard him utter secession sentiments. THE CAME OF EX-GARDENER JOHN WATT, NOW LIBUTENANT UNITED STATES ARMY. John Watt previously occupied the position of gardener, under Mr. Buchanan, at the White , but since received the appointment of a First Lieutenant in the United States Army, ‘The Postmaster of the city of Washington, Lewis Clep- hano, swears that John Watt, jor at the President's House, ‘has the reputation of in league with the — nm phy agsoriations are such as to lead any one LJ John Piant, an employe at the Capitol, testifies that “the associations of John Watt, gardener at the Presi. dent's House, are with known secessionists, and inti- mately s0."’ H.W. Gray; of Philadel, testifies that on the Sunday week following the battle of Bull run he met John Watt, gardener at the President’s House, at the St. Lawrence Hotel in Philadelphia, Heard Watt say that ‘tthe Southern confederacy must bo acknowledged; that the United States never could conquer the South.” He also sai that‘ the offl- cors of the federal army were of no account, and spoke highly of the Southern officers, and said that Jeff, Davis was the best and bravest man in America.” Mh the course of further conversation, Watt eaid that ‘ the fe- deval army was composed of rubbish, and that the sol- diers were cowards.” Franky Smith, of Philadelphia, testifies to beiag pre- onbeel, swears that Mr, Dodge @ city Of Georgetown as a se- - gliah capital to be in, by the way—forms, if I rightly re. member, the subject of the initial chapter of one of Dick- ens’ novels. Camp life in a rain storm—s very eommom condition, just now, of army life this skie of the Poto. mac—affords a theme admitting the same elaborate de-- scription, I am not certain, indeed, but that Dickens,. quaint phases of human character, would find here wider scope for graphic description than in the whole of London» with its miles of streets and acres of housetops darkened “by an overhanging, leaden, dull, impenetrable fog. Eve- Ty species of winter weather indigenous to this climate: has been ours for several days. There have been snow and’ hail, and sleet and rain, and the state of the roads has vacillated from the icy hardness and slipperyness of the Central Park ponds, in their palmiest skating pe- _riods, to the deepest mud and slush prevalent in the- down town streets of New York under the olden regime- of ex-street cleaner Aroularius. Proteus, with all his: power of changeablencss, never assumed more diverse: forms than our weather. “Pluvius is to-day in the as- cendency. It rained at reveille, at dinner call, and it- rains still—a continuous, dismal, soaking rain. In ordi- nary times and places, this kind of rainy weather, unin- termitted for forty-eight hours, drives men to forges- their families and debts, to rash parchases of strychnine,. razor sharpening and unchristian experiments with pis- tols, hempen rope, and the capacity of water to prodace asphyxia. Here it is different. These are not ordinary times, and this is not an ordinary place. The outburst- ing storm brings outbursts of mirth, the clatter of the rain on the canvass tents re-echoes the clatter of human feet, attuned to the merry dance; voices rise in gong, keeping symphony with the wintry wind, and the story and boisterous jest go round with the circling blast. There is merriment everywhere. Only those on guard have to weather the storm, and these, after their two- hours’ stntinel duty and drenching, join in the merry scenes with more appreciative . A rain, is the soldiers’ holiday, his day of aan: toepank pare doxically. Daily drills aro dispensed with, and allowed to enjoy themselves in their own tents and their own way. I will not attempt to describe these tent scenes. different tents in any regiment—and it is throughout all the regiment t & com! ture of social enjoyment and ‘industrial occuy singing, dancing, speech ae rer seeing writing, gun cleaning, aucti ying, dad cooking, thet quly’ the penoll delineate with any approach to fidelity; and impromptu comical uttcrances unsurpassed masterly cunning of the most facile ever le Looking on these scenes gives a terrible shock to one’s preconceived notions about the terrible sufferings of our” The fact is, our soldiers are a set of jolly 3 i i icheaiye Fula: poor soldiers. fellows, and they enjoy their present life with a keen zat, and that, too, despite the pictured Mardships of ing: pseudo philanthropists, who go abon! i$ money under the pretext of expending it in providing comforts for" the soldiers, and the fear{ui imaginings of timid women,. in whose minds the very name soldier is only suggestive of leaky tents, wet ground, hairless mattresses, blankets, bread of antediluvian age, pork of rancid nd ness, r pea decoction for coffee, and rebel rifles’ peering behind every tree. This is piling on the imagi- nation strong. The truth is there is not a soldier this side of the Potomac who has not himself to blame if he has not a good tent, a bountiful supply of warm woollen blankets, and abundance of wholesome fged. This state- ment is capable of clear elucidation. Aside from what- the government furnishes, all needed necessities have been provided through the State authorities and private benevolence. As for the rebel rifles, they are things more *‘heard tell of” than heard in reality. I oe what I have aaid: our soldiers are jolly fellows, and are particularly jolly ona rainy day. As to the joility of* the officers, verbum sat. They know how to enjey them- selves, rain or no rain, and it isa knowledge they exer- cise with a most appreciative intelligence. Tho cwisine: of the Fifth Avenue Hotel is but little rg and fmf Day stomachical fluid recommended by Paul to mothy. Troverbial as is the license of newspaper coi ents, that taken by acorres} lent of the Trilune to Gen, Fitzj¢hn Porter, in command of tae divas ues beyond the boundary of ordinary newspaper license. This. scribblor, following in the mendacious wake of his em- ploy ing editors, mentions General Porter as having taken & very active in returnin, tives, and on thi statement pred! the t his chances confirmation as brigadier general have lessened very ma- terially from what they were some time ago. Here ard two falsehoods in as many lines. In the first place, Gene- ral Porter has never returved, or made any effort to re- turn, single fugitive slave who has come within his lines; and in the second place, he was confirmed as bi dier in Jyly last. So much for so much. As for General slaves and the general policy of the war, the statements of Senator Wilson to the contrary notwithstanding. He is willing the government shall make any inquiries into his official conduct. But none will be made. His fealty and sound tare undoubted. Soldierly courage and ability are set forth in every line of his past. In the Mexican war was brevetted three timés for gallant conduct. A graduate of West. Point, of high scholarship, one of the youngest generals im the Northern army, and one of the handsomest, too—he is called handsome Fitzjohn—he gives: splendit’ promise for the future, and it is believed that his unwritten record willadd brilliant lustre to his past career. At Hall's Hill, his headquarters, the tents of his Brigadier Generals, save that of General Morell, who is still at Minor’s Hill, are in close proximity to his. All tive in tents, and that of his own has no covering for the ground except cedar boughs; so that in the matter of camp life he roughs it equally with the bi under hun 1, Martindale and Butterfield, and sucha glorious jon of gallant and woil disciplined regiments as his brigade, I have only to say that, when the time for moving and action does come, this division will be as brave as the bravest, and if there is such a thing ag being covered with glory, they will come out of the con- test, be itshort or long, resplendent with the glory of heroic deeds. Thaye alluded above to the appreciative intelligence of our officers in the manner of enjoying themselves. To see svldierly and domestic comfort most agreeably biondeit, one has only to look into the camp habitations of some of our colonels. Kit Carson, in all the palminess of his pioneer life, never occupied a more comfortable log cabin than that ’of Colonel Woodbury, of the Fourth Michigan regiment. It is small, it is true, but compact, cosy and elaborately set off with patriotic and war embloms. His regiment built the cabin and introduced the ornamentations and abettors to comfort. His wife is with him, and her cheerful and refining prosence adds an attractive picture of comfort. A young man, he has shown himself possessed of an old head, and as plocky as he is angacious. Colonel Black, of the Sixty-second Pennsylvania regiment, formerly Governor ot Nebr: occupies a cabin of larger dimensions and with interior appointments equally suggestive of home comforts. He has his wife and two daughters with him, the latter grown up daughters, noted for personal Beauty and pleasing intelligence. ‘But the most social cabin of all is the one occupied by Colonel McQuade, of the Four- teenth New York Volunteers, and his accomplished lady. He has hosts of visiters, having the other day no less than sixteen at dinner with him, and more than half of these Indies, He is as wide awake a host as he is a colo- nel. His men love him as they would a father; but now they are greatly troubied lest he may be made a Briga- dier General, of which there {s astrong talk. I might on and enumerate other colonels of this division w! have their wives with them: but these will suffice. Une thing is certain, that the most salutary effect attends the Presence of officers’ wives in camp. It takes off the Tough edge of campaign life. In my lust letter I alluded to the impartial cesire of this division to be called into action, They are still ready and anxious to mect theenemy. But it is not an intemperate anxiety. All the men have faiti: in the ad- fre rap gen and _ willing to ole time a order to pull up stal promi 48 come itm sooner of later’ As fur General McClellan, each day the confidence in him is strengthened. A word about the sanitary condition of the division and I wili draw my lotter toa close. Instead of deterjorat- ing in health, as one would suppose would be the caso in the present rainy and inclement monthg, there are now many i on the sick list than a month ago. Taking General Morell’s brigade as a sample, which contaits over four thousand. imen, there were this morning to Dr. Waters, ‘our Brigade Surgeon, only one hundred and thirty-foar sick and in quarters. Iknow that in the Ninth Massa- chusetta regiment there are only Sintec not doing fleld duty, which, considering that this isa full regiment of over a Jhousand men, is A fact to be wondered at, an emphatically showing that men may live in camp and maintain good health. _ A Veteran Missi: ary Killed. ht, th mibstonaty, late . Hi. @. 0. Dwight, the veteran missionary, la conrtaat nope Prafihe’ geaticman killed oa the troy and Rutland Railroad on Saturday, He has been a missionary’ - of the American Board in Turkey sinco 1832, and was on a briof visi He bas two sons in the army. vilening on Eastern roads experienced but little. detention from the storm, and to day are running on time. Traine on the Grand Trunk Railroad from Canada were tempora- rily interrupted, but the tracks are now reported clear. the Bastern Railroads. Brunoevorr, Jan, 27, 1869 All trains are behind time on the Housatonic, Ne tock and Boston roads. No train has come throug day on either vad, 5 to this country. Travel