Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-07-24

sollw,h me to give or tako any amoun, nigh,
mention, which | declined. AID refused to enter
into compromise or bargain with him, or 10
have any thing to- do with him, in any shape
whatever in the business"
Mr.. Prentiss proceeds on page 43:
e. As this WIS the usage Of tho Department.
felt that there was no impr opriety in INV ma
king tho request in the case which WINS in er-
es,ed. ], therefore, called at the office of the
Secretary of War. and inquired Of him il he
had yet acted on the proposals. He stated that
he had not, add observed that il was a very i'm
portant contract. aud of great cOuse quence mud
much responsibility that the Department did
, not wish "ny one to lose by contract with the
Government; that the supplies for the Indians
that had emigrated, cost the Government, from
Major Lewis report, eight cents per ration that
in case there would lie immense number,
which would make il more difficult to be COM
piled with that, when the whole body arrived
upon their lands, there would no, be stalk OF
corn in that country, and that beef would be ex-
tremely difficult to procure; that he could not
net finally on the business, without consulting
the Pres dent.
u then requested permission to SEQ tho bids
that Ind been offered, and observed, that had
| reason to believe, this permission had boon OK
tended TO others, from the overtures that had
heen made To me.
"t!e replied that he could not permit mo to
| see them but that he would inform me that my
bid was the lowest bid but ono. asked him If
that was not the bid Of a sub. agent, aud an iie-
gal bid He answered that it was. and that
after he had consulted with tho President he
would ct me know the course he should adopt %
Inc following IS an extract of letter writ
ten by Hou'ton to General Van Fossen, pnge
baltimore, 4h April. 1880.
"Mr DEAR SIR: have just seen Mr.. Rose
on TIE subject Of the contract for Iudan rations
and fnd that he is anxious to engage in the hu
s'ness. When advised you to put i'm your bid,
did expect TO be equally concerned with YOU
in the business. What number OF bids we're ac-
tualiy put in do not know: Blake told me ,ha,
| he would withdraw his bid. If these things
have heen done, ascertain if these are not less
IMAM twelve or thirteen cents. If all others are
Withdrawn under twelve cents, and YOU can get
tho contract at twelve, il will be safe busine ss-
| IL may he that you cannot get il at thirteen J.
Ii 50 take 1t at twelve. I do not know wha,
tho conversation was between YOU ant Mr.
Blake, or that you had any on the subject. To
| MIR. Prentiss, presume there was nothing said
as Blake told me that he had got p. to put in
for him; so, If he withdrew one, suppose both
were withdrawn"
MIR. Van Fossen also says: (See Doc: :, page
32.)
"As preliminary to the conversation with the
PRESIDENT will state, that in conversation with
Major Eaton, he informed me that it was desi-
rable to let the contract at a rate that would in
sure it's fuhment without loss to the contrac.
tor. For the purpose of obtaining correct in
FORMATION as to what it was worth per ration he
directed me to call on General George Gibson
OF the Comnissary Department. lie further
g. atcd that If in il should be let at SO low
rate that it could not be fulfilled without loss &c
the contractor. it would subject the Government
to Inconvenience, and result in an injury to the
business of the emgr arion."
1 Here is a mass of testimony showing the mos,
ia.s.
nsemcnt was issued for the purpose of giving
the contract to htm-that che time of receiving
roposals was limited to thirty DAYS for las be.
ncft--that tho eject Of tho departure from usu-
1al form of advertising was to prevent other
bidders from bidding at a fair rate-that when
Il Q bids were received Mr.. Eaton denied to
MIR. Mckenney that they had been received
that he refused to let the other bidders know
what bids had been received, but Houston knew
and applied TO Mr.. Blake TO Withdraw his bid
md purchase out the o,hers-that while Hous
n was mpting TO buy out the lower bids
Eaton attempted TO dissuade PreDtiss from ia
king the contract, by magnifying the expense
and the risk Of the centractor-and yet the ma
jority o. The committee can trick, ar,;fice
or deception. in all this although ne, the same
time. gave assurance to Vau Fossen, tho partne,
of Houston, that he desired to ",et the contrac
at rate that would insure it's fu6ment, with GU
loss to the CONTRACTOR
We feel restrained from further comments OF
some other parts of this proceeding. We hav,
already said enough 20 satisfy every cnndi,
mind that the majority of the committee hav,
arrived at a conclusion which argues how strons
the Executive influence is; and how dapgerou.
'ts'exercise! The day Of retribution is at bsnt
Tor public virtue has aed!