Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1814-12-05

the SENATE, and the House % Ne-
breSentatiUes.
GENrLEMEN-Fmdmg that there
; are many of my friends in both Hous.
7 es of Congress, who are unacqualnt-
ed with the manner, Or causes, tor
which, | was suddenly dismissed
from Office, as Accountant OF the
War Department, which ! had the
honour to hold, nearly from the estab-
lishment of the Department under
the present Constitution, l therefore,
feel it my duty, torepublish tor your
information, the statement Of facts as
they were published in the Federal
Republican, at the time Of my dis
missal from Office, and as / then pro.
missed, that | would remain at the
Seat of Government, to give Con-
gess such information as would cha
lie them, by Legislative provision, to
correct the defects in the law, and the
btal want of system in the War De.
nrtment, to check the frauds and
imposition in the Commissary and
Quarter. Master Generals Depart
ments, which has been practised by
some of their officers, to a consider.
able extent.
/ 1t may be observed, in the follow
ing publication under date ofthc 10th
July that remarked to the President,
that "a representation had been made
to Congress, of the misappiication
of publick monies, and that a
committee had called On me, for GER
tain documents part Of which, l
had furnished them with, and some
! Of which, went to implicate one OF
the Quarter. Master Generals, and his
Agent, who had PRODUCED fraudulent
vouchers to a considerable amount,
charged against the United States ::
and that should now, be deprived
ofbringing forward, and supporting
the charges against them, and expo
sing their villainy, so as to save the
| United States from imposition and
fraud to considerable amount :"
! As this is one of the cases which l
considered also implicated John Arm
strong Secretary of War, and has
been one of the motives for my dis.
misal; and as | am now deprived OF
reporting it officially, l think it due
from me to state it in a summary way
for the information of Congress, and
ifthey should judge proper, to call
frsuch documents as | can point out
to them, they will be able to get at
facts and will be satisfied of its be-
ing case that calls aloud for inves-
tigation, and an example to be made
OF those concerned.
| The persons alluded to above, are
Gel. James Thomas, Quarter. Mas
ter General for the Northern army &
his agent, Michael T. Simpson-on
inspection of their accounts it will
be seen that in December 1912, a
large sum ofpublick money was sent
to Colonel Thomas for the purpose
dpurchasing flour, and other supplies
Tor the army at Buffalo, and that on
ne exhibit of his account instead Of
bis charging the United States with
The amount of purchases paid by
Simpson for the -four, &c. &c. he
charges near double the sum paid,
and commission of 2.l.2 per cent.
on the advanced amount, by which
he publick was fraudulentIy charged
nth large sum; other charges up
aialsc vouchers, equally exception
Die were made by him, all OF which,
Nththr proof was reported to a com
Attee Of Congress on the 18th of
hrch 1914, in obedience to call
BIN Jonathan Fisk, Chairman of the
emmlttee appointed to inquire IN
Nat manner contracts for supplying
Il