untry, a hateful instrument of war, which deserves no place in a free
government in a time of peace."

Thus Mr. Conkling not only assailed the office, he assailed the officer,
and in a manner calculated to kindle resentment, especially in an
officer of high rank. General James B. Fry was provost-marshal-general.
He was able to command the friendship of Mr. Blaine, and on the
thirtieth day of April, Mr. Blaine read from his seat in the House a
letter from General Fry addressed to himself. Thus Mr. Blaine endorsed
the contents of the letter.

In that letter General Fry made three specific charges against Mr.
Conkling, but he made no answer to the arraignment that Mr. Conkling
had made of him and his office. Thus he avoided the issue that Mr.
Conkling had raised. His charges were these:

1. That Mr. Conkling had received a fee for the prosecution of Major
Haddock, and that the same had been received improperly, if not
illegally.

2. That in the discharge of his duties he had not acted in good faith,
and that he had been zealous in preventing the prosecution of deserters
at Utica.

3. That he had notified the War Department that the Provost-Marshal in
Western New York needed legal advice, and that thereupon he received
an appointment.

The fourth charge was an inference, and it fell with the allegation.

Upon the reading of the letter a debate arose which fell below any
recognized standard of Congressional controversy and which rendered a
reconciliation impossible.

At that time my relations to Mr. Conkling were not intimate, and I am
now puzzled when I ask myself the question: "Why did Mr. Conkling
invite my opinion as to his further action in the matter?" That he did,
however; and I advised him to ask for a committee. A committee of five
was appointed, three Republicans and two Democrats. Mr. Shellabarger
was chairman, and Mr. Windom was a member.

The report was a unanimous report. The committee criticised the
practice of reading letters in the House, which reflected upon the
House, or upon the acts or speeches of any member.

At considerable length of statement and remarks, the committee
exonerated Mr. Conkling from each and every one of the charges, and,
with emphasis, the proceedings on the part of General Fry were
condemned. The most important of the resolutions reported by the
committee was in these words:

_Resolved,_ That all the statements contained in the letter of General
James B. Fr