Mr. Med GALL. I wish simply, ifmy colleague permits me to have the floor, to move an amendment to the resolution. It is to insert after the word “charges” the words, “and also all frauds on the part of Government officers where the matter may be inquired of at the port of NewOrleans and in the States of mississippi and Arkansas.” Mr. President, I am not much in favor of these olice committees. I am inclined to think that it is somewhat inconsistent with the dignity of the Senate to be engaged in this kind of espial to find out things; but, nevertheless, it has been made the order of the day. When ever a committee was asked from the opposite side of the Chamber, with a traveling commission, to inquire into anything concerning the war, it was always granted, and their expenses paid to go from here to StLouis, from there to Louisville, and from there to NewOrleans a traveling legislative committee to go and inquire into things. The Senfrom Maine now thinks that that is not a legitimate system of inqui I think with him in truth that it is not a legitimate system of inquiry. I think it would be very difficult to entice me to go 08 and play detective East, West, North, or South; but it has been done. Even this great committee that you have had here, the committee on the conduct of the war. wasn detective committee. They wanted to know how a man would swear before he could be introduced there; at least some did. it is the business of the majority hereto affirm; it is the right of the minority to object, and, if necessary to protest. We, the minority, questionin teexercis. of administration by what we cal an infirm majority, come in here and question the conduct of their administration ilirough all their offices. Can we not question? Will you confine the business of questioning to yourselves, the majority; or willyou permit us, who have to watch youthat is our business now as a minorityto question you? No, says the Senfrom Maine, we will not permit you to watch us. Now, there is no man on this Senate floor who does not morally knowI will not say in a thematically that there have been immense frauds in the cotton business. There is not a man who knows anything about the valley of the Missis sippi that does not know that men who went in there povertystricken came out millionaires; or at least millionaires in franes. I undertake to say that a man who was rejected in this 1866. Senate Hall for a commigion in the quarterinasters Dept, who was not worth $10,000, who was a common gambler in in own State, and followed that business, went own to NewOrleans, and it happened to be his multiple luck to have a general of the Federal Army who was a brother of his. Gentlemen ask for a statement of facts. What I state I do not doubt, for I heard it from a witness to a willthe climax of it at least. After being rejected by this senate, he went down to NewOrleans. He lay down at the Balize and controlled the entire commerce of the ort of NewOrleans while his brother comman ed the forces at the city of NewOrleans. He came back, and I suppose, by the providence of God, he died in the city of New lork, and made his will there, and it is in the surrogates office. He left $2,000,000 to be divided between his heirs and his brother. No person will have any difficulty in ascertaining who I intend to, remark about when I say these things. I believe that almost all Senators are acquainted with the name of Benjamin F. But ler. I dare say all I am informed about and all I think, and it shall not be laid to my door by the Senfrom Maine, or anyone else, that we do not challenge facts. I am satisfied that one of our principal general officers made $1,000,000 in cotton down on the Mississippi while hewas commandingourforcestherc. That it was a common business on the part of the Officer I know. That it should be inquired into is due to justice and truth; and if the majority will not allow the minority to inquire into it, then the majority cannot belong predominant.