Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1832-04-12

That eestfsst OF such s9ssHnt sbo6id
DC f11ste ssithsai gissas netlce 60 The IVES
tern states Nhefs the rrcsis,offs fs,ssst he
purchased, VIII be cause Of attacks but
Nusn read the advertisement, ahd see that
| u 80 Wofded - nor TO convey ans idea al
the specJ.sll0n it sffofds, snd conneci II
with the fact which Is within my own know
iedge, that il MAS prepared afijer the special
Amusement or General Houston. who has
| gone on TO New York, aod has brought
from there wealthy partner to Join him ia
the contract, I skpuid be unfaithful 10 The
| administration. 20 General Jackson, and to
myself, II did not bring the subject before
you m such shape as 70 guard against the
consequences whicIsI fofe-ec viii follow any
such contract IS the one contemplated
"Sucf a Contract may enrich few who
are concerned in 1t, but wilt destroy the con-
i;ssnes Of the public, fear, in the admins
trstion, aud impair the fair fame of the Pres
sident, which u Is your duty and mine TO
guard -~Will II not be well 10 extend fhs
time. 50 as TO enable the people Of Missouri
and Arksnsaw 60 bidy Yours. sc
o. GREEN.
To Major EAros
The contract was not concluded Mr.
chackiord informed me that after seeing me
he reduced his bid; and that he called seve-
efai times at the department, and Gever
could get an explanation Of the reason W.
Il was not acted on ] have since understood
that Mr. Cfossell, {htether OF Col Croweli
agent for the Creek Ih,iians,) MIR Prant,ss.
OF this city, and others. were also bidders
Mr. PFehtiss Informs ire that Major Eaton
himself ehdeavouret to dissuade him f.om
pressing his bid; by saying tba. bic proposal.
whish was at 9 cents, was too low, end
that II was not the object Of the Govern
Hieht tn make a contract which the conirac-
or could not perform without loss And
yet. Mr. Preniiss assures me he was offered
thirty thousand dollars FOR ora interest in il
provided his proposal WIS accepted Mr.
Prentiss also says. that be received a propo
sition from an individual vino assumed to
rs acting for General Houston, TO Withdraw
his bid and take an interest in a.cont'act at a
higher ratel which proposition was accom-
panied by an assurance that by accediag 10
il. MIR p. would make more money upon
part than upon the whole OF the contract
will now call tina attention Of the read
er to few facts connected with this trans
action have stated that sudden intima
cy between major eaton and general Hous
ton, excited remark; that they were frequent
| lytogether, aud in consultation 10
moi hesitate to aver my belief that. could
the contract have been made without notice,
no advertisement would have been publish
ed. and that finding that the law required an
advertisement, it was prepared so as 10 con
ceal the extent Of the contract. and prevent
competition. =
The advertisement was issued for the
first tine on the 18th Of February The
contract was 10 be closed in Washington
city, on the Goth of March, before the pas
cage of the appropriation, circumstance OF
itseli calculated TO prevent any suspicion OF
its extent or character II contemplated an
expenditure Of six millions OF dollars II WAS
prepared under the special superntefdence
Of Geperal Houston himself, and VAS care
fully worded. so AS III conceal all idea Of the
specnlssior. which il afforded Blu, this was
not all The practice OF the dcpafiannt Tor
many wears; had heen TO supply rations OF
that and similar description. through the
Commlssary General oil Subsistence and his
deputies; who b, giving notice to those
who lived in the immediate neighbourhood
invited competition among those who could
furnish supplies at the cheapest rate. In this
case, however.s time was not given tor the
advertisement 10 reach Illinois and Missouri,
much less Arkansas, the States from which
the supplies must come, in time FOR The pro
nosals 10 I've returned to w ashinafon before
closing the contract If it had been the OBJ
iect of the department to make the contract
on tie best terms for the Government pro
posals would have been invited from those
States, and more time would have been giv
en-. Aud this s not all. IL has been nsua
in all such contracts, to make them from
wear 10 year, or for specific anount--lr
this case, the Secretary not only reserves
the right to enlarge or alter the quantity o
the rations to be issued. out he also ceserve'
the right of continuing the contract to an.
period Of time he thought proper; and {
determine it at pleasase Inc effect OF suc
|. reservation was TO prevent competition. an
, 10 deter all others from bidding for the con
/, tract at any thing like fail. price, excer
those who might have prissfh understand
ing with him who exercises such a eontr'
over il.
I. .spsea.at.ons Of Nod Carrier. took NJ
,;ce Of an Irishman, with loaded bod {
/, his shoulder. He repeatedly and devouted
j crossed himself, then looked to the top OF u
! building. which he was about to ascen
o with fearful and dubious air He had g
d one foot on the FIRST round Of the ladder, Al
n made sundry motions to iaise the otberj b