rt the Central
American states into slaveholding communities, and thus strengthen
slavery in the United States. It was the counterpart of the
movements in Kansas, and was supported by powerful influence in
the southern states.

Another investigation of great importance was ordered by the House
of Representatives, upon the following resolution introduced by me
on the 18th of January, 1859:

"Whereas, D. B. Allen, a citizen of the State of New York, specifically
charges that certain officers in the navy department, in awarding
contracts for the construction of vessels of war of the United
States, have been guilty of partiality, and of violation of law
and their public duty: and whereas, grave charges have been made
that money appropriated for navy yards and for the repair of vessels
of the United States, has been expended for partisan purposes, and
not for the purposes prescribed by law: Therefore,

"_Resolved_, That a committee of five members be appointed to
examine, 1. Into the specifications and bids for, and the terms
of, the contracts for the work and labor done, or materials furnished
for the vessels of the United States, constructed, or in process
of construction or repair, by the United States, since the 4th day
of March, 1857, and the mode and manner of awarding said contracts,
and the inducements and recommendations influencing such awards.
2. Into the mode and manner, and the purpose, in which the money
appropriated for the navy and dock yards, and for the repair and
increase of vessels, has been expended. That said committee have
power to send for persons and papers, and have leave to report by
bill or otherwise."

This investigation occupied most of the remaining session of that
Congress. The committee of five was composed of Messrs. Sherman,
Bocock, Ritchie, Groesbeck and Ready, three Democrats and two
Republicans, of which I was chairman. The committee took a mass
of testimony, disclosing abuses and frauds of a startling character,
covering over 1,000 printed pages. The majority of the committee,
Messrs. Bocock, Groesbeck and Ready, submitted a report condemning
the glaring abuses proven, and, while reporting the inefficiency
and incompetency of subordinate officers and employees, yet declared
that nothing had been proven which impeached the personal or official
integrity of the Secretary of the Navy. They proposed the following
resolutions:

"1. _Resolved_, That the testimony taken in th