The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-05-08

notice whatever was given, that such a
contract would be made, shy previously
advertising fog proposals respecting the
same"
5. 1t furthermore appears, that this
contract was not only secretly made, and
therefore illegally made, but the price
allowed was just double what the same
service could have been performed for,
as stated in the remarks of Mir. Stuart,
one Of the members III the House of
Representative and, consequently, the
nation snstains a loss by this illegal con-
tract, ofS295,0oo.
4. The contract was made without
any security being taken for its specitick
performance, although it appears, from
information derived from the Newly rk
delegation in Congress, that the contract
or, nix, was not, at the time, worth one
hundred doliars!"
5. 1t further appears, that Mr.. Vande-
venter, Chief clerk in the office of Mr..
Calhoun, secretary at war, was a party
concerned in this contract, though not,
US &c says, orr sinally SO; but that he af-
forwards became so. Indeed, il would,
as it might be supposed, look too bare
faced for Mr.. Vandcyenter TO acknowl-
ejlge himself originally "a partner of his
brother-in-E,w in this contract; seeing
that he, Mr.. Vandeyenter, is the only
witness to It's execution by } g. Swift and
Liijah Mix, while all the other contracts
made in that year {l8l8) by Mr.. Swift,
in behalf of the war department have
two subscribing witnesses TO their ex-
ecution. For confirmation of this, see ex-
ecntiVe state papers, Cd Session, 5 con-
gress, vol. 5. As to the excuse and a
poogy made for the war department,
, that this bid of Mr.. Mix, was the lowest
one that was made for the performance
Of the service, they are, under the Cir
cumstaEces Of the case, ridiculous and
absurd in the extreme; and the attempt
TO palm them upon the people as
good and sufficient, is really an in
suit Offered 10 their understandings.
He must, to be sure, be the verlest
bungIer imaginable in trick and
Con,rivances, who would not resort to
something of this sort, of getting other
bidders, if it were only for the sake of
keeping up appearances and we do
know that there are men always 10 be
found who would feel no scrnpes of con-
science in lending their names in mat.
ter Of this kind, because it costs them
nothing always bearing in mind, as
most men do, that one good turn de-
serves another But why was the law
disregarded in this case (and some 9TH
ers which shall hereafter advert toy
and totally set at nought? Let him,
whose constitutional duty it is to take
care that 1t be faithfully .execnled, an
-swer this question. Too much already
has, in my Judgment, been said in this
case, by your representatives about MIR.
Vandeventer and Mr. Mix. Ii is not 10
obscure individuals like these, that you
are to look for redress in case of such
: vital Importance The law has not
been broken by them, but by the Presi-
dent and his secretary of war. If you
want proof of this, attend TO the follow
ing plain and explicit provision in the
act Of Congress OF the Sd March, 1919,
vol 8, p. 1852, 5. All purchases and
Contracts for supplies or services, which
are, or may according to law, be made
by or under the direction of either the
secretary ofthe treasury, the secretary of
war, or the secretary OF the navy, shall
be made either by open purchase, or by
previously advertising for proposals re-
speeding the same" Ia respect 10 this
contract with Mr.. Mix, it is not even
alleged, that any publlck notice what
ever had been gwen, that proposals
would be received for the delivery Of
stone at the places designated. 6ir.
Cooke, a member from Tennessee, and
chairman OF ii committee appointed some
time ago TO examine into this subject,
expressly states that publick notice otthe
intention to make such a contract in ques-
ton WAS not gwen. Hence say, and ev-
cry unprecedented man must also say, the
question was made 10 secret, and, Conse-
quen,iy, in direct violation of the law of
the land. The secretary Of war has, il
seems, given his sanction to the act, and
The President has approved the conduct
eflhe secretary of war. The President
Of the United States, then, ought, ac-
coriing TO my notion Of republican gov
eminent, to be held responsible for all
the evil consequences growing out of
1h;r ara c,r,iiar ~ hns,c NJ hara ha l. nou,e