Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-02-17

which Mr.. Calhoun discharged hi 5 Official d.
ties, are thus distinctly put in issue by the di.
rection which the Committee have given to the
examination, claim the right OF calling before
them all the heads Of the subordinate Depart
ments, who were his able coadJulors in the
great work Of reform, and OF showing by their
united testimony the condition IN which he
found the Department. the fidelity and unremi.
ling labor with which he devoted himself TO its
Improvements, and the high perfection Of its
arrangements which crowned his lahors with
success equally conducive to his own tame anc
TO the welfare Of his country. must Therefore
REQUEST that the committee will examine The
following gentlemen touching this branch OF
the inquiry: Mai. Gen. Brown, Gen. Thos. S.
Jesup. Gen. A. Macomb, DR.. j Lowell, Col.
N. Towson, Col. G. Gibson, Col. G. Bomfora,
| Col. J. Roberdeau, and Col. John r. Wool IL
am NOT greatly mistaken, il will conclusivey
appear from their evidence, lbat the system of
rigorous responsibility and strict economy
which Mr.. Calhoun introduced in the opera
tons and disbursements of the military eslab.
| lishment, have effected an ANIMAL saving in the
national expenditure Of more than million Of
dollars, to say nothing Of the striking improve,
ment made in the moral OF the army, as well
as in its military discipline and efficiency.
Although the views already presented show
the injustice Of holding Mr.. Calhoun in any de-
gree responsible for the formal irregularities
| which may have existed in the formation OF
the contract with Elijah Mix, it is due to the
historical truth of the case, that should state,
tina, in point Of fact no injury resulted 10 the
Government from those irregularities, or from
4, of a. xvif
| On the contrary, it was conclusively shown
in the investigations which took place the sub.
| ice, in the House Of Representatives in May,
1922, tha, previous 10 the formation Of the con.
tract, notice. was actually given and inquiries
made at all the points where suitable stone
could be procured, and that Col. Armistead, 10
use his own words, "made experiments, by hav.
| ing the stone quarried near Georgetown by Ia.
borers hired by the United States, and found
tha, il could not be procured and carried 10
Old Point Comfort for less than SO so per perch
together with tie great uncertainty oil getting
vcssels to transport it," The testimony OF Com,
Rogers, Gen. Mason, Mr.. Baker of Georgetown,
| and various other witnesses, all concurred in
the uncontranicted statement, that S3 SO per
perch was the lowest sum for which the stone
could be delivered. And accordingly 50 50
was the lowest bid except that Of Elijah Mix.
1t is apparent therefore, that the contract at So
per perch would have been ruinous to Mix, but
for "the very unexpected and rapid fall in the
price Of labor and transportation" adverted to
by the witnesses in the former examination
Such was the conclusive force ofthis testimony
in 1922, that the bare reading oft, without
single word Of commentary or argument, indu.
ced the House Of Representatives,, by vote OF l3l
to 90, to reject the report and resolution of the
select committee, which recommended sus-
pension Of all appropriations for the fu6ment
of that contract. Although, therefore, the cha.
racter Of Mix was, even al the date Of the con-
tract, stamped with infamy, the fact was then
wholly unknown to Mr.. Calhoun, and believe,
to every officer Of the Engineer Department;
and however much some Of those officers may
have suffered from having to deal with man
so profligate and unprincipied, it is clear that
the Government has actually saved $4,000 in
the whole contract, by accepting his bio. And
I cannot but remark, in concluding this part
Of the subject, that the vigilant regard for
the public interest with which Mr.. Calhoun has
invariably enfogsed upon Mix the performance
Of his contract, has evidently brought upon
rise 10 this investigation.
| CanNOt UTiUS WIS SVintHWulSouoH 10 d CloSc
without formally and distinctly protesting a.
gainst blending the examination and trial Of
charges against the subordinate officers Of the
War Department, with the present investiga.
zion. The injustice Of such course to those
officers, has been already stated. !, would be
literally condemnning them without trial. The
injustice to Mr.. Calhoun is equally great, though
not quite so obvious. Upon principles ofasso'
citation which the committee will readily com.
prehend, it would be visiting upon Mr.. Calhoun.
| by most severe and cruel dispensalion, the
guilt Of these subordinate officers, established
by mode Of proceeding having none Of the
forms Of legal accusation and trial, but ASST
ming the most odious Of The prerogatives OF
those inquisitorial tribunals fortunately known
to us only by the history Of less favored coun
| tries. 49,
| Finally, cannot but express my sincere re-
greet az the extraordinary delay which has char
acterized this proceeding; and at the great in
justice and injury which have unavoidably re-
suited 10 Mr.. Calhoun from that circumstance
alone II is now more than four weeks since
this committee was charged to inquire whether
the Vice-Pres!dent Of the United States had
| h,.,, o,,i1fv If he inf ;r;n