The Arkansas advocate., 1831-02-16


 tte aotice. His reply was < have seen C en. Gb- son, chief of the Comnissary Department, and he has safisied me, that the Indians can be furnished cheaper to the Government through his department, and more satisfactorily to them. than by ntraet therefore viii accept no bd nor will make any contract at this time.
 Now Mir Prentiss and Mr. Blake, the Sub A . gent to whom he refers were deputy tidders, as 1 cansfiew, to the CROWEIsLS; one of whom is aCreek Agent and the other Creek merchant and the same who put in bid for the contract No sooner did Mr. Blake return to Arkansas, than lie kind enough insnuate fatly [as he does every thing) that .Bajor Eaton aad myself aeere dcng cos- lyaptiy and in partnership m the CoHtraets, Mr. Blakes bad was eight cents, that of Mir. Prentiss nine, and Nr. Thomas Crowell's was higher bid.- Col. Crowell put Tn bid! Some time during last spring or summer Col Cro1oeH acsote 10 ,ag Blake from Weshingtoa Cty 10 C withdraw his bid ' dfiea, tohtch tne .er. Blahe feqaeatlg declared, at .li. iho'nas CroaceH and himsef seould get te eoaffacf oad e7saged corn to meet 4. So this inference is natural and true. That Mir Blake, Mir Prentiss. and Mir. Thomas Crowell all put in their bids with the understanding, if at any time the highest bid Mir. Crowes, could be brought in, by aoitdgaqoiRg the two lowest, 1t was to be done. For even Mr. frentlss does not aledgc that his was the low 1 est-so that lie has no to complain; but if Major Eaton had said that he would make con- tract, Col. CroWell was to settle all matters, and Mfr frentiss, for bonus or fee, vas to aoithdfaqo hls bid, and Mir. Crowell's was to slip in for the contract, at higher rule say Gfeen cents. The sgo-be90eeas, or counters ire convenient sort of art- cies: Thus the parties being all disappointed not Iwlthstaadpg the master spirit of Col CroweiI in management, this Mir. Prentiss is again introduced as s hand pant,' or eats paw, to attack Major lsaton, and to bring in my a moke-a0eight | to the charge.
 fhis ]" Mr. Prentiss', has been so kind as to say that aial Eaton and myself were bosom friends :" ! as presume with no other design than to compl- ment me. decline his eomplaisance, and take leave to assure him, that Major Eaton and myself are not, nor eper t bosom friends!"--gut sense of justice to him, as a public officer, de- mands ofme this statement of facts, as know them to exist. The laws of Congress did not prohibit the Secretary of War from making private con tracts, to furnish " Indian rations witch he could have done, and even sared Thousands to the Treasu- ". which had been, and were then unnecessarily IexPending every year, under arrang gements of the former administration.
 have no hesifancy in asserting that the course suggested ny the Secretary otf War if pursued , wili the most saving to the Government and in- caiculaby the most beneficial and just toward the Indians.
 its certainly subject of some regret to nc, that my name has been lugged into this controver- sy Of great meR-but since 1t is the case now, be- fore my Sod pledge myself to show, ito whomsn- eyefnay choose to read the facts1 scene of cold. olooded and heartess corruption, practised upon the Indians in this quarter; and Twill demonstrate ttat all the obstacesto emigration, have been pro- dHeed by the treatment, which emigrants have re- ceived from the Goverament and it's Agents in this country, as ell as those employed the old nation. h doing this have no object but one, which is to prevent the recurrence of similar evils. Ny expo- sltion will contain the most important points con- nected with emigration, to wit collecting the ln- dans Tn the old nation preparatory to setting ont. Their journey to this country--their prouision, traRspoaafioa, 6se. Their reeeptioa and tocation here Their sapPlies since that time--and their annuities, and monies promised by Treaty. j. With respect, am your most
 Obedient servant, SAATF5. HOUSTON.