Mr. DAVIS.Mr. Speaker, I shall occupy but a few moments in submitting to the House one or 2 considerations connected with the subject before us. I shall not enlarge upon. the evidence, or upon the clear, able, and conclusive report founded a on it, exonerating completely and entirely the reputation of my colleague [Mr. CONKLING] from the gross as persions cast upon it in the communication which the committee have with entire unanimity pronounced a false and malicious libel. The question, Mr. Speaker, is one of grave importance, affecting the right of a member of this House to utter his sentiments and opinions in respect to the action of any public officer or the administration of any Dept. of the Government, legitimately before the House, without being confronted by a libel; upon his private or ablic character, read at the Clerk’s desk at the suggestion of a member upon the floor. I am happy this investigation has been ordered by, the House, and I trust the report of the committee has had 0 I ask the gentleman to yield the effect on the House, and that the action of the committee in reference to the assault against the character of my honorable colleague [Mr. Coxsmxo} will meet with its unanimous a proval. know not why this House should listen with any other feelings than those of perfect indignation at the attempt made by an officer of the Government to assail the character of a member of this House for commenting on the manner in which that officer discharged his public duties. What is the history of the matter? In legitimate debate on the section of the Army ill relatin to the Provost Marshafs Bureau, the honorable member from NewYork Mr. Coss LING] made some remarks to which the provost Marshal General took exceptions. In an swer, not by way of legitimate argument on the subset before the House, the Gentfrom Maine had a letter from GenlFry read at the desk containing the grossest charges against the honorable member from NewYork, [Mr. CONKLlNG, ] involving personal turpitude and corruption, as well as malfeasance in office. These charges were such as, if true, would subject my colleague [Mr. Consuxc] to deserVed reproach, and to the loss of public or private confidence. They have been carefully and patiently investigated by the committee; abun dnnt time was offered to establish their truth and yet the author of these grave charges failed signally either to prove or even attempt to prove that he was sustained by one single fact in justification. The important inquiry arises, Mr. Speaker, whether members are thus to be assailed by persons outside of the House for words uttered lfl legitimate debate in the House affecting the action of any public officer or the administration of any Dept or bureau of the government. If such a precedent shall be establilshed, I see no end to these libelous attacks springing from what any member may deem it his duty to utter in regard to the action of any public officer. But I wish to call attention to another consideration connected with this subject. The letter of GenlFry was addressed to a member of this House, and at the instance of that member it was read at the Clerk’s desk in vin dication of remarks before made by him upon the relations existing between Mr. CONKLING and GenlFry. I do not believe that any member of the House has the right for any such purpose to send up to the Clerk’ desk a letter from a 3rd party containing libelous matter affecting another member, and to ask that it be read to the House and circulated, through the Globe, over the country. If this be not a breach of privilege, I am unable to say what is. if it be not, any party designing it may ublish the most offensive and improper matter in respect to a member and 'et screen himself from liability on the ground that he was using information imparted by another and incorporating into his speech, and thus spreading a libel upon the permanent records of the country. If we admit that principle, then, as I said before, there is no end to the libels which may be read here against members for the expression of their opinions in this Hall.