Aside from the credit imparted to it by the conscientious character of both Mr.Eliot and Mr.Shellabarger, the corroboration of all its material statements by the Commission of Army officers was invaluable.

The military men were not suspected of partisan motives.

They had no political theories to maintain, no animosities to indulge, no personal revenges to cherish.

They proceeded as coolly as though they were investigating alleged frauds by army contractors or were hearing evidence touching the damage to frontier settlers by an Indian raid.

The intelligence and impartiality of investigations entrusted to army officers have become proverbial, and their report of the facts in the New Orleans riot arrested the attention of the North in an unprecedented degree.
Every thing possible was done by the opponents of the Republican party to break the force of the damaging facts, but apparently without success.