Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-12-03
che GomsIlt..t.oMaI elabtg.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, DECEMBER /, 1880

Ill
faoour'tssm.-The reader has Mr.. Ingha m
charged with the grossest and mast fragrant favour,
tism, IN rejecting good suretes rendered by the Col
lector Of Philadelphia because they were ornaments
u the Administration, and would not lend their in
'ence with their principal. to advance MIR. Ingham's
'rading Views-und in accepting bad sureties who
were jackson men. but who would be will Or TO in.
cur the PROSTITUTION he solicited. This is the charre
--and that charge has not been met
phe following disclosures made bv Mr.. Prentiss
In the Frankfort Kentuckian, smack of favour,tism
IN another Department They are thus usherad in
by the Kentuckan.
From the Frankfort Ken,uckiau of Novembe, 10
1t is necessary to premise few facts We have
repeatedly expressed our belief that the sIudian Bill
was based ON corruption. 1t appropriated $500 600
60 oJ eAPenaeo IN orioery-nomnally, to induce the
southern Indians to emigrate, but the monev was
ieit 10 the discretionary expenditure of the executive
This expenditure fell, in the natural distribution of
executive business, to the War Department
In the month of February last, the War Denar.
ment issued proposals in the National Intelligencer
tor furnishing rations for the emigratinp Indians
Mr w iliam frentiss was one of those who put in
proposals, and he locest of the IeooI b;dders
The following is his statement
I'm the 18th March, delivered at the War Densr,.
ment, within the time and in the manner reoured bv
the advertisement, an offer for the contract to fur
nsh the rations at cents per ration On tbo
2lst OF March, the day after the bids were tn have
been examined, and before had received anv com
mHnication from the War Depar,me a pronos;t,on
was made TO me on the part OF Governor Houston
and General Van Fossen, who were then in this c;,y
and who mad offered for the same contract m viii
draw my bid and JOIN them. by which arranqemen,
1 was gwen to understand l would Ike more money
from mali The contract at the price at which thew could
obtain 1t, if my bid was out of the wav then eomid
from the whole at the price had offcred-I did mn,
acede to their proposition.-Knnwinp that Gov
aaus1on' Ia bosom friend of the Screi airy of WAR;
a rtlnn u,,fh Vt
aware OF his influence led to believe that in tho
desire to serve hun my rights might ,e violated In
deed the tact OF his early knowledge of the amount
OF my offer was full evidence OF his Intimate knor,
ledge vi every thing connected with the bids there
lore Called at the War Department on the Odd The So
cretary not being at the office inquired OF the Chief
Clerk II any decision had yet been made in regard to
the proposals. The Chief Clerk Informed mo that
4 would find In the public prints the period des,ona
ted when the Secretary intended acting on the propo
sails he had received. rfO
On the 24tn addressed the Secretary III. fouSr,
ing letter
WAsHInGToN Cry, March Oath 1880.
70 the Secretary of WaS:
SrH: called on your Chief Clerk Yesterday for in
formation respecting the contract for supplying the
ENGRAVING Indians with rations and was informe d
that would ind In the public prints h.. period des
grated hat you intended acting upon the proposals
that you had received.
examined the papers, of this morning and find
nothing on the subjec You will confer favor by
Informing me whether you have acted on the propo
sails you have received, or what course you intend
pursuing
Fshould not be thus inquisiiiye mad not handed
In proposal and feel some anxiety respecting the
result. Yours respec,fnlIv
WILLIAM PRENTISS.
On the 25th ] received the following reply
DEPARTMENT OF WAR, March the 25ih 1880.
Sra: The Secretary Of War Directs me TO say that the
proposals for furnishing TO the emgrating
creeks and Cherokees are not yet acted and that
you will be advised of the result as soon as decision
IS made Yours yery resDectfIlIly.
G. RANDOLPH, Chief Clerk
WILLIAM PRENrrss, Esq present.
q few days after received the above letter was
called upon by Gen. Va Foszen, 1.-THE partner ofGov
Aouston) who told me that the Secretary of War
had informed him hat he had hcared was concern
ed with Luther Blake in my proposals, and added
that the Secretary had stated that Mr.. Blake was
Sub Agent it would render the bid entirely Illegal
As no such connection existed between Mr.. Blake
and myself, and DESTROYS of removing every obiec-
tion, addressed the following letter the Secretary
Of War:
TO the Hon Secretary Of Wnr.
SIR:-At an interview with General Van Fosscn
this morning, was informed that you under the
IMPRESSION that was concerned with Luther Blake
IN the proposals that put IN for furnishing the En-
igrating Indians with Raons. take this occasion to
inform you, that If you have received such informa
ton it IS incorrect. l not, shall not, either
directly indirectly, be interested with him in any
way whatever. Respectfully, your obt serv't
VIM PRENTISS.
Washington City, April H. 1880
on the 18TH April, received the following answer
from the Secretary
U1ar Office.
SIR: Your note Ct YESTERDAY is received l have
no recollection of saying to General Van Fossen
that you and Mr.. Blake were all concerned or
nected III your bids The bids do show it; and
L am quite sure body informed me; but at
any rate, it would make difference to the depart
nent, who should associate themselves together in
contracts to be made. Very respectfully.
J. II EATON.
April Is, 1890.
After the receipt ofthis letter, Gen. Van Fossen
aSain repeated whai he had previously stated and
reasserted thai, Notwithstanding the denial of the
Secretary, he had told him what have mentioned
above IN relation to connection between Mr.. Blake
and myself
Gen. Van Fossen then informed me- flor the first
tlme,) that he had the control of another bid (which
was IN the name of Benjamin Hawkins an Indian, and
at the same price at which had offered nine cents.
lie then offered TO put Hawkins bid against mine,
and to buy or cell with me-iO give or take any a.