Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-12-03


I Inc first proposition as follows:
Uov' .. Houston and Robert Rose propose Il
iufnisn the ratlons TO the emigrating Indians, a.
greeable to the advertisement OF Goth February n,
thirteen cents per ration.
II that proposition should not be accepted Gov
Z. houston and Gen. Van Fossen will agree 10 take
the contract at le cents per ration. Aud neither
oi the ABOVE proposals should BIZ accepted.
zen Van Fosscn will agree to take the contract
! at ten cents per ration.
Immediately after this last conversation with Van
fossen went to the War Department.; but, prev.-
GUS to Calling the Secretary called at the Com
mssary Generals office to inquire if it was not usu
al alter birds had been received and examined. to
permit the bidders to the several proposals tbat
were oiered was there informed that after the
expiration OF the time for receiving prop SAILS the
SUBSTANCES or them was entered in . book kept for
thet purpose, and that the persons who had made
proposals were permitted to As this was the
usage OF the Department, felt that there was no
improperly IN my making the request in the case in
WHICH was Interested. | therefore called at the
omce OF the Secretary of War, and endured of
nun II ne mad yet acted on the proposals. lie stated
.hat ne had not, and observed that was q very
important contract, one of great consequence, and
Oh much responsibilty-that the Department did not
WISH any one to lose by a contract with the Gov
eminent; that the supplies for the few Indians that
aad emgrated cost the Government (per Major
Lewss report) eight cents per ration that in this
case there would be- immense number viii CHI
wouid make II more difficult to be complied with;
thae when the whole BODY arrived upon their In pds
there would not be stalk OF corn IN that country
ana that beef would be extremely difficult to pro-
ou.e' that ne would not act finally the business
without consulting the President then requested
PERMISSION co see the bids that had been offered and
observed that / had reason to believe this perm,s
sionhad been extended to others, from the over
lures That had been made to me. He replied that
ne Ioula not permit me to see them, but that he
could inform me that my bid was the lowest bid but
one. asked HIM If that not the bid of Sub
Agent, and illegal bid He answered that It
was-and that after he consulted with the Presi.
ha lat
adopt.
On the 23d April, l addressed another letter to
the Secretary:
WASHINGTON Cry, April 90, 1880.
10 he Hon Secretary Of War.
SIR:-Some time having elapsed s.pce I had the
iohor OF an interview with you respecting the con-
.iact ior supplying The emgrating Indians with ra-
uois ana not having heard any thing more from YOU
OH the SUBJECT, hope you will not consider it tres.
passing loo much your time, to request that Won
wouid nave the goodness inform me of the result
OF your interview with the President
When you ref1eci on the Importance of an arrange
hent tnat business of much Importance REQUIRES
TO enable an individual put IN proposals for supply
ing SUCH an extensive amount of provisions you may
Judge OF the tIme and anxiety have appropriated 20
his BUSINESS and more than thirty DAYS has elaps-
ed since (agreeable usage) we should have receiv-
cd decision from you, you may imagine to what g x
tent MS unusual delay calculated 10 weary the pa
ehce OF an individual VINO is well assured that he is
ehtteo 70 the Contract by law, Equity, and usage.
have no right 20 expect tavors ct your hands blu,
nave me right OF ali freemen contend for nv lust
due; that is all L ask, all wish
You will Confer favor by giving what infor-
nation yos this business as early as NAV sut
WIN. PiRENrIss
AND On the same day received the following reply:
Wan DEPARTMENT, Esd April, 1880.
SIR; have received your letter to-day, and am at
loss TO CONCEIVE how you have inferred that the
CONTRACT to be made for supplies to the indians is
yours ''by law, equity and usage" Your bid does
not gIVelt to you, for 1t not the lowest bid. Eut
ft were the lowest 1t would not impose an OBJ lioat-
Ion 10 enter into contract upon 1t. Proposals
asked !or, through the public papers, but that crcum
stance did not take from the Department the right
OF exercising proper discretion, and TO d4teririine
whether 10 contract not. II law had existed, re
curing proposals. and for the lowest offered to be
received, an obligation would have been imposed in
favor OF the person offering lowest bld but this is
not Inc case; IL was course adopted apart from any
legislative ifecton, and TO act or not is matter of
discre io0, not of obligation. Since the proposals
were submitted, and recently, circumstances have
arisen winch impose the necessity of advertising
new Dds upon certain and specified conditions,
else to contde the business to the Commissar lat s
Department One of these cources will be adopted.
Very respectfully,
J. II EATON.
On the LIST Of November addressed to the Secre-
tary letter or which the following is q COPY:
Washington CITY, Nov. /, 1880.
SIR: Since the receipt of your letter of 23d April
have been anXiously waiting TO hear what course
you have adopted expecting the proposals you re-
ceived previous to the 20ih last March, for supplying
the emgratlng Indians with ra,ions; but, owing to
circumstances not within my knowledge, have rot
heard from you the subject.
presume your nattention to this important BUSH
ness is to be attributed to the arduous duties you have
been under the necessity of attending to Abroad
Having perceived your arrival announced in this
mornings paper, avail myself of the earliest oppor
tUmy OF requesting information on this business
Y on will therefore confer favor by furnishing me
with an answer as early as may suit your conve
nlencc.
Respectfully, yours, &c.
WILLIAM PRENTYSS.
To Ike Hon. j. II. Eaton, Scc'y Var.
On the Cd of November, the following reply,
which concludes the correspondence was received:
Wdr Department, LIST .NoU. 1880.
SIR; have just received your letter of this date,
asking what determination had as to supplies
to be furnished the emigrating Indians.
There are no Indians emgratDg. Whether
any will must depend upon the RATIFICATION by the
Senate of which will he cd fnr