Mr. DAVIS. I have not had the benefit of the experience of the honorable Senfrom Maine in relation to the financial transactions of the affairs of the Government. He thinks that I would be too rone to inculpate these officers to be intrusted upon the committee. I do not believe that I would be more prone to ipleulpate them than he would be to exculpate them. Now, sir, I know of my own knowledge many officers who have gone into their respective olhccs oor and penniless, and they have own sudden y rich upon moderate salaries. have knotvn officers whose salaries were about 3000 dollars ayear to sport their carriages and fine horses, to buy town lots, to erect costly buildings upon them, and to indulge in a great deal of extravagance in living. I cannot understand how this can come about unless it is by eculation and lunder and swindling. lPhe honorable Signator says that I am suspicious of the acts of this Administration and of its officers who are in office. I confess the impeachment. I have an extensive and a deep conviction that in a great many of the money transactions of this Government there is the largest amount of plunder and of swindlin. I o not doubt it. I suppose the honorab 6 Senfrom Maine will not dictate who shall go upon this committee, or whether a committee shall be raised or not. I presume it is not his office to decide the one question or the other. I feel myself as competent on the score of ability to do justice to any man inculpated as that honorable Senator does, or any other member of the Senate. I know this: that if a man has a charge made against him and the evidence brought forward to sustain that charge is not sufficient, I should be as prompt and ready to exculpate him from the charge as any Senator whatever. But I do not ask, I do not desire, I would prefer if a committee should be raised, not to e upon it. All that I ask is, that a fair committee, an independent and intelligent committee, that would have the industry and the courage to ferret out the truth in relation to all charges brought before them, shall be raised. I have no doubt if such a committee was raised, and it industriously and patiently performed its duties, and was allowed sufficient time and sufficiept facilities, it could bring to the Treasury millions and millions of money that has been. stitution of the U.S., the plundered by faithless agents and which ought to be paid by t cm into the Treasury. I have no doubt that a arge spoil of that description could be gathered up in the State of Kentucky, and in the South, in the whole cotton region where cotton has been the subject of traffic and of trade by Officers, civil and military, of the Government. I have no doubt that such a committee as I have indicated, if raised and allowed to explore atieutly and thoroughly, in a spirit of truth and justice, all the charges of plunder and peculation, it would result in millions upon millions to the public Treasury, the honorable Senators experience and protest to the contrary notwithstanding. I do not believe in the fruits or the utility of men who are interested in stifling the truth and in covering up an investigation of these charges being allowed the file and exclusive privilege of investigating them.