Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-02-20

seems ,,U itnut SCrup.CS 10
the means by which his object TO he accomplished.
From Il view of the whole evidence ON this part Of
the subject the committee unable find any thing
warroniine The belief hat the Office the head of tie
Department Of War had any aCcncy in the pulca,ion
Us this letter in the PheniX G.lcttc
II rs dnc, however, Ia Mr. ailypn, that the Gem
rHlitee should state, that his Ia the
House OF Representative founded exclusively en-
the publication in the rhcnix Gazette of the G8th OF
Dccctnhcr, and the facts assumed in that communion
ton viz: That the letter Og Mix to c author of Han
cock, had been made the basis of an official act and
would of course, be fled among the records OF the De-
parInent, pro!essedly stated the first upon the
authority OF that rapcr, aud tte second inference
iior' the statement contained in it.
In The early stage oi'i's Investigation, the Commit
ice discovered from us letter IF Major Fan!even.er
so T. Mix, dated the 9TH OF August, 1871 3, and To which
ihey refer that person whose name TO have been
.;ep secret, sled in the contract commonly
called the Min, Rip Rap contract.
On making this discovery, the Committee felt bound
possible 10 bring TO light this hidden associate: and
IN following up their inquiries, they haze been led in
to much "'Gcr field than could al FIRST have been an
tcipaied They have, III short, found necessary TO
so thoroughly into the origin and history ofihe Rip Ran
contract which involved the necessity Of su.nu,ouing
n:'nerous witnesses, from distant parts who we're be
eved TO possess know ede Of i!s conrac consequent
! ~ requiring 'nuch tune icr their examination.
The Committee are, EDv ever, unanimously OF opin-
io tat there is nothing al the evidence 10 warrant
belief, the slightest suspicion, that the Vice
iresldent was interested IN any contract made with
me department oil ~ whilst he entrusted it'll
the discharge OF sc duties that Inc either directly
indirectly participated IN the profits Of any such
'cac; or that ic connved at such participation in any
OF his subord mate officers.
From the prominent figure which Elijah Mix makes
in this transaction throughout, occupying the tw0-fo!d
attitude OF an i"oruur and witness, 10 demand
c The Committee direct expression of the opinion
they hare formed of his general character veracy
as well of the specific opinion they have formed IN
relation 10 some Of tie most prominent parts OF his
testimony.
On the subject Of lis general character for yoracity
they have no hesitation in saying, that he is entire
y destitute OF the slightest claim 10 be believed upon
his cath.
They have to this conclusion, rot only from
Tie testimony III respectable witnesses, going esiab
iis HE General inainy OF las Charsc er, but from the
tOt" gard for truth which he manifested during the
pTogress OF his eXan.inauon and the numerous
iradictons in which he involyed himself whilst giving
III his testimony in the presence OF the Committee.
Without attempting TO detail the numerous instances
IN wlc! Is apparent TO the Committee that he has
sworn TO wiul and deliberate fasehoods they lave
confined themselves to those parts of his testimony
which demand separate aud distinct consideration on
other grounds.
On his first examination, lie produced letter writ
ten by Major Eapdovonar to HIM dated the 7ih Of an
gust, 1918, commencing with tie following muti!ated
sentence: II very sorry that The are concern
cd IN the contract, will not agree 10 admit George on
the terms Won have statcI.p
The letter then goes state that the writer Van
davcn;erl had informed Major Cooper his father in.
contract, whose name not to be mentioned and
the letter seems 10 he designed TO prevail NJ on hr.
cooper to become one {" e surctcs Tor the ui:lncnt
OF the contract, without the condition which il ap
pears he insisting that his son George should have
one fourth OF the contract Mix states that this letter
"as oaera'ed when he received it, and that he docs
not know what were the words that have been rascd
nc committee are 'iscsdcdly Of opinion, shat the
SIRE was made br Mix for lie r.rrcsc of throwing
mystery over the matter, and Of exciting suspicion
mat t. person alluded 10 IL the part oicraiod
,Ur. Caihouu.
That the o5Ii;cra;ion was rat raae by The writer of
ne letter IS clear. from several u!vnns considerations
!! he had been DESTROYS conceal te words erased
TIE obvions and natural course wou'd have been TO
have omitted t'e IN altogether al OF first writing
them down and then making an ecasurc that rendered
the sentence nuineii,.bie.
Another circumstances that tends 70 satisfy !c Com,
mtec that tie was made by Mix is tie man
nest difference between tie ink with wi!!C tie let C: II
writ en- and that with which hc erasuIe is made ans
the equally striking resemblance between the ink used
IN nlaHng the craSue in question, and that used i.
making other crasures in the same letter which Ri,
acknowledges were written by himself. II is obvious e
tHe Committee ihat lie word ''the is left nD0bilcraet
mmedatc1H preceding the erasurc i'm order 10 raise ss
pIC0n that the word SeCietary," Secretary OF War
Occupied the biOted space which lOiOued Eut Dnf I'M
Outstanding the rules of grammar which Otherwise il
al Ingenious device, has left visible the words ',lD arc
coaca ned Immediately after HE erasura; from ~ !cI j.
evident that he definite article preceding lie otasure
must nave agreed, not WIth 'SeCrctarv, but M sutTr
common 5ubt aD;ye in the riura! number such as If.
other gentlemen ";he rest of the gentlemen acco..
dina 10 the explanation given by Major Yan,eventer.
ih'N explanation OF The words obtera'eJ wIich al
most set EVIDENT concusivey s!O" that VandGyenter
could have no motive make the oItcration and rs
clearly show tie base motives rs which Nix must hay
been aGtunfcd in making it.
II, 70 these CIRCUMSTANCES, add The oath Of Major
aHdey eoter that he did not make the crasre the fact
that Nix did, is established by conclusive weight OF
Cy dCnCc.
On his frs! examination Mix stated. hat previous to
the 18Th of April, i"1i he presented Sir, Calhoun
among other papers explanatory Of his claims letter
nom h"JoI Fandevcner to him. Mix written Whilst
ey we're both IN The city Of New York daGcd tue Isl
% April, 1871, and containing copy of A coniIcDIia,
iS'e' "b"h andovenicr had that morning written,
rom Ncw 1or's, 10 Mr. Calhoun in the first instance.
'iX stated 10 The Committee, that he could not rocol
'cc the contents Of the conGian,ia! letter father tb,
mat II informed MIR Calhoun hat Nix had 5re t,-ouobt
:" terms, and would consent the transfer TO Colds
borough.
lie aaeTmaids, during the Same examination. stated
that y contained something about Vaudeyonrcf, ronr