I undertake to say upon good authority that almost presently before his arrest he said to the present Secretary of War [Stanton], 'Sir, I hear complaints about my conduct as an officer at Ball's Bluff.

I wish you to inquire into it and have the matter determined.' He was assured that there were no charges against him, and the secretary advised him in substance in these words: 'There is no occasion for your inquiry; go back to your command.' That was the day of the night on which he was arrested." Mr.McDougall's statement, the accuracy of which was not challenged by any one, disclosed the fact that while General Stone was a guest at the White House and at the residence of General McClellan, the latter had in his possession the order for arrest, and had held it for several days.
The resolution of Mr.McDougall was debated at some length in the Senate, Mr.Wade making a fiery speech in defense of the course pursued by the Committee on the Conduct of the War, and Mr.Browning of Illinois defending the President, upon whom there had been no imputation of any kind.

Mr.Doolittle suggested that the resolution be referred to a committee.

Mr.Wilson of Massachusetts submitted a substitute, simply requesting "the President of the United States to communicate to the Senate any information touching the arrest and imprisonment of General Stone, not deemed incompatible with the public interest." Mr.Sumner had "no opinion to express in the case, for he knew nothing about it;" but "it seemed clear" to him "that General Stone ought to be confronted with his accusers at an early day, unless there be some reason of an overbearing military character which would render such a trial improper." Mr.
Sumner had "seen in various newspapers a most persistent attempt" to connect him "with the credit or discredit of the arrest." He declared that from the beginning he "had been an absolute stranger to it." The arrest was made, he repeated, without his "suggestion or hint, direct or indirect." He declared that he "was as free from all connection with it" as "the intimate friends and family relatives of the prisoner." At the close of the debate Mr.McDougall accepted Mr.Wilson's resolution as a substitute for his, and on the 21st of April the latter was adopted by general consent.
SENATOR SUMNER AND GENERAL STONE.
The unfounded assumption of Mr.Sumner's connection with the arrest sprang perhaps from some censorious remarks in the Senate made by him in December touching General Stone's alleged course in sending back fugitive slaves.

Subsequent intelligence indicated that Mr.
Sumner had been misinformed on this matter, and that the facts did not inculpate General Stone.