The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-04-04
From he Philadelphia U. S. Gazeiie.
EXPOSITION.

EXPOSITION.
Twelve columns of the w ashington Tel
egraph of Monday, the 26,h ult., are occu-
ped with the promised statement Of MI.
Green, the editor thereof, touching some
fraudulent transactions Ivy the rulers at
Washington. As we have mol room for tN
Statement we must res! rontented with Civ
ing an abstract.
A contract was attempted to I've made by
Mr.. Secretary Eaton with General Houston,
the friend of General Jackson, to furnish the
emigrant Indians with rations, at Is cents
each, by which about $l2 COO per day would
he expended, and TO chance for bidding was
allowed although Major Eaton, and subsc-
| quently Gen. jackson, were distinctly told
that the profits on such contract would be
not less than S., 1000 per day. One person,
who was asking for the contract, was dis
suaded by Major Eaton from pressing his
claims-when If that person, Mr. Prentiss,
had obtained the whole contract, he could
have sold an interest in it for $50 COO. The
| Telegraph concludes its account Of this part
of the matter with the subioined remark:
| "The correctness of the view which en-
ter'alned OF this subject, and the immensely
OF the fraud involved in the proceeding, will
appear from tho fact, that we are informed
through the Arkansas paper, that the beef,
The principal part of the ration. IS now fur
nished at less than cents per pound. And
90 not hesitate 10 aver my upeuuvocal be-
lief that the Secretary of War, Major Ea
ton, the agent ofthe Government in making
this contract, and Major Wn. B. Lewis. the
Second Auditor ofthe Government who WAS
to pass upon the accounts were to partici-
pate in the profits TO be derived from the
contemplated fraud"
We may remark that General Houston il
the same gentleman who SO unceremonious-
ly abdicated the Gubernatoria chair of Ten-
! nessee, and went to live among the Indians.
Why, this contract may "show cause."
The interference Of Mr.. Duff Green broke
up this contract when it was nearly con-
cluded.
Another considerable portion of the err
pose is devoted to the establishment of the
f assertion that Mr.. Calhoun has ever acted
with good faith towards General Jackson
: and his friends.
The next exposition has relation to a trea-
: ty made with the Choctaws by Major Eaton
and Gen. Coffee, by which 53l $40 acres of
land were reserved to the chiefs and their
families, to be held by them with the con-
sent OF the President. The Telegraph then
goes on to adduce proof that Major Eaton
and Mr.. Lewis knew how to take advantage
OF their situation and purchase these vnlua-
: ble reserved lands, some of which were
D worth $40 to $50 per acre. Major Eaton. it
Is stated, shortly after his resignation as
Secretary Of War, accepted the appointment
of Choctaw agent. But while he was Sec
!, rotary he would not allow the Choctaw chiefs
: to sell those reservations.
The Telegraph proceeds with proofs from
letters of Mr.. Lewis, and extracts from the
4, treaties. The next day after the treaty was
q signed, Lewis took lease of one of the
most valuable tracts for 1919 years. The
!. whole OF these documents are followed in
d the Telegraph with the following assertion:
Il :" cite this as proof, record proof, that
c John II. Eaton and VIM B. Lewis, have de-
n frauded the United States of large tract
c OF land, under color of an Indian reserya-
ton"
I, 8 The Exposition closes with the following
= remarks:
s 81 have only 10 repeat, that having be-
l. oomeiuily satisfied that it is impossible to
@ separate Ten. jackson from the influence
II which surrounds and controls him,and which
n belleVe to be OF most pernicious and dam
IS gerous character can no longer advocate
l. his continuance in Office and offer this Adj
!; dress in justification of my conduct
u One word to the reader, and have done.
ten. jackson never was the pure, disinter-
ested, independent, and enlightened patriot
a whom ice believed him to be, or else he is so
y, much under the influence of bad men, that
n he is incapable of maintaining his own char
If acter. No one among his most ardent adj
9. mlrers no,c, holds him in higher estimation
r, than once did. | chung on to my attach
N ment TO him as long as | could do so, with
r. out sacrifice of my own good opinion. l
II am now denounced for deserving him. When
- | look back, am amazed that | did not
!, y leave him sooner. For this have no other
!. apology than the reluctance with which ar
a dent and honest minds relinqush long
!. cherished hope"