"Resolved,  That  in  the  letting  of  contracts  for  the  con
struction  of  steam  machinery  for  the  vessels  of  the  navy,
during  the  present  administration,  nothing  has  been  shown
which  calls  for  the  interposition  of  the  Congress  of  the
United  States;  but  it  is  manifest  that  the  present  head  of
the  Navy  Department  has  displayed  a  very  laudable  zeal
to  secure  the  greatest  amount  of  speed  and  efficiency  attain
able  for  said  vessels.
"  Resolved,  That  nothing  has  been  proven  in  this  investi
gation  which  impeaches  in  any  way  the  personal  or  official
integrity  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy."

This  report  of  the  majority  of  that  committee  was  an
attempt  to  cover  up  the  disloyalty  of  an  officer  of  the


100  HON.  JOHN  SHERMAN.  [CHAP,

Government,  who  was  at  that  very  time  doing  his  utmost
to  put  the  navy  in  a  condition,  such  that  it  could  not  be
used  to  prevent  the  rebellion.
The  following  are  the  resolutions  accompanying  the  re
port  of  the  minority  of  the  committee,  presented  by  Mr.
Sherman,  of  Ohio :

"Resolved,  That  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  has,  with
the  sanction  of  the  President,  abused  his  discretionary
power  in  the  selection  of  a  coal  agent,  and  in  the  purchase
of  fuel  for  the  Government.
"Re-solved,  That  the  contract  made  by  the  Secretary  of
the  Navy,  under  the  date  of  September  23,  1858,  with
AV.  C.  N.  Swift,  for  the  delivery  of  live-oak  timber,  was
made  in  violation  of  law,  and  in  a  manner  unusual,  im
proper,  and  injurious  to  the  public  service.
"Resolved,  That  the  distribution  by  the  Secretary  of  the
Navy  of  the  patronage  in  the  Navy-yard  at  Brooklyn,
among  members  of  Congress,  was  destructive  of  discipline,
corrupting  in  its  influence,  and  highly  injurious  to  the  pub
lic  service.
