t, as well as my duty to my
fellow-Senators, to call out this information. If the statements
contained in the papers be true, they are proper matters for the
Senate to examine in every sense.

"Mr. president, I have been accustomed to newspaper abuse all my
life and very rarely notice it. This is probably the first time
in my political life that I have ever read to this body a newspaper
attack upon me or upon anyone else; but when any paper or any man
impugns in the slightest degree my official integrity I intend to
have it investigated, and I wish it tested not only by the law but
by the strictest rules of personal honor.

"For this reason, when this imputation is made by a leading and
prominent paper, that there is on the files of the treasury department
a document which reflects upon me, I think it right that it should
be published to the world, and then the Senate can investigate it
with the power to send for persons and papers. That is the only
reason why I offered the resolution, and not so much in my own
defense as in defense of those accused in this document. If the
accusation is true it is the duty of the Senate to examine into
the matter."

After some further discussion the resolution was adopted, and on
the same day Mr. Windom transmitted the report of James F. Meline,
and other officers of the treasury department, made to the department
during the recess of the Senate. His letter is as follows:

"Treasury Department, Office of the Secretary,}
"Washington, D. C., October 22, 1881. }
"Sir:--I am in receipt of the resolution of the Senate of the 21st
instant, as follows:

'_Resolved_, That the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby directed
to transmit to the Senate a copy of the report of James F. Meline
and others, made to the treasury department during the recess of
the Senate, and of any papers received by him based upon such
report.'

"In reply thereto I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of
the report called for, with the accompanying statements of Mr. J.
K. Upton and J. T. Power, who occupied the position of chief clerk
and _ex officio_ superintendent of the treasury building for the
period covered by the report.

"Soon after assuming the duties of Secretary of the Treasury my
attention was called to alleged abuses in the disbursement of the
contingent fund of the department, which was under the immediate
charge of a custodian, and the general supervision of the chief
cl