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

ca" maxi IT appear that il was Tor the advan-
ge @, The 1orernment Il, on the contrary,
sra" appear that wiiIie he adpertased that ho
"'ght not "serm ~ deserve censure" he adj
yer ised in such form AZ To- vrcye.t other mar
sons rem hi'i.'lng fir rate he was guilty of
aaeceh. q Truck, dec ption, article by which
Me rights and interests Of the United States
teere injured ,See Noah Webs,er's term
fraud.")
A. to the form OF the advertisement. Con.
'i'hson heing examined {See Doc. y. 23)
whether the said proposals wero in tho
army?
Answer. As near as can 10, excep. this
ditierenc", that we advertise for supplies i'm
bulk. and thai the following words are not in
serted The right to be reserved to the Secrtta-
~ ~ Mar. to enlarge or alter tie quantity Of the
rafro1 TO be issued and the right Of continuing
sne contract TO any period Of time he may think
proper. and determine 1t at pleasure, tcten any
81 the conditions shall be broken But we have
the right TO reduce the quantity one third.
fhonas l.. Mckenney says, speaking Of the
Advertisement; (See Doc. y. ~
"Of this, however, ! will not be certain; hut
1T they "e'c not altered by his, (Mr. Enton's,)
hand. they were by his dictation. o. this sm
certain The original drafts are no doubt on
file in the ird'an Department. IT tho Commit
zee think 1t necessary. these will determine
whether the changes We're nude in his hand
writing or niue. The alterations, as believe,
embraced tine following words "Jhe right
to be reserred to The Secretary of War to enlarge
or dtfer the quantity Of rdtions H. be issued, and
NE right cj continuing HE contract to any period
~ time he may think proper, and TO determine it
broken. The points Of delivery not to erceed three
in me country eitter Of the tribes, TO be desig-
mated by the Secretary Of War."
Again in pagessiS and 10
question by the chairman to- Col. Mckinney.
Look at the paper marked b, tit being one of
hp ms H.. 4
handwriting IS the following words contained in
the said paper?
The right to be reserred TO the Secretary of
Warto enlarge or alter The quantity of the ra-
hons to be issued and the right of continuing the
contract to any period Of time he may think pro-
per, and to determine 1t at pleasure tohen any of
the conditions shall be broken.'
Answer. The hand writing of Mr.. Eaton,
the la:e Secretary of War. The remainder is
mime"
The effects Of this departure from the usual
form Of the advertisement appears IN Mr.. Shack
furd's testimony, pages 72 aud 20:
DIGESTION a. Why did you not offer to take
the canirart at a less SUM per ration than that
mentioned IN yOnr bId2
Answer There were sew raj reasons, which
will give. One was, that my funds were
mainly invested in the Portland and Louisville
canal. was also extensively engaged in tho
mercantile business at ST. Louis, and was un-
willing I" engage in any new enterprise with
out great certainty If a great reward. find
The uncertainty Of the contract; the terms of the
proposals such, that fter haping made great
preparations and expended thousands, the con-
tract might hare been withdrawn.
AHthe houses for thu preservation Of the provi-
sioms tcere 10 be built by the contractor, and If
the contract should haze been aoithdra,on or dis
continued. ii wouid haze subjected me TO a heavy
expense and loss"
SO much as TO the form of the advertisement;
next rs TO the time.
We have already cited MIR. Sewers evidence
proving that the ration could have been supplied
IN Arkansas. the beefat2 g cents per pound;
The corn at 33 to SO cents per bushel and The
SAT- al oo To l0O cents per bushel aud we
have also cited General Asbley's evidence pro-
wing thai the Average price of good beef in Mis-
sour, was l-2 cents per pound.
10 reply to the questions OF whether the time
UNITED IN the advertisement sufficient to
give notice to The people Of Illinois aud Mis-
somrI. General Ashley says. page G8-
think the time was not sufficient for pro-
posais to reach every part of those States"
And General Duncan Of Illinois, says, paRe
%, " IL would have given them notice, but no,
time to have returned an answer to this place."
Having thus established that the time " as not
shch as prudent regard for the interests of
The United States required, we will examine
at whose instance il " as thus restricted. Up-
on this point MIR. Mckinney says, pages 9, 10.
III and 10:
"General Houston came into the Office of IN
dian Ahairs--l dO not recollect tho day, bur
some SIX Or eight days, perhaps, previous to the
date of the proposals.
lie commenced conversation nv making
reference to the intention Of the Executive to
supply rations to the emgraDt Indians by con-
tract.
" He drew his chair near my desk and aaid
u IS my intention TO make an attempt to en-
gage ~ this business, wish you to aid m :; YOU
can ca do much in accomplishing my Intentions.
Every hody knows your acquaintance with this
business. and you can have the matter attended
to pretty much as.you please
"' II succeed, as am sure can bv your aid.
you shall lose nothing by it.
{" replied: General Hous on, / regret the
mode OF approaching this subject, and the terms
you have employed in presenting it. Way-
say, that have no power whatever over The
subject.
My place is subordinate ! can do no more
than execute such orders As the Secretary Of War
may direct me To- exerntc'
The next day. tllink, he called apain n,
my office, anJ asked me if bad seen the Sec
rotary OF War. answered I had lie ask
ed me 1t the Secretary had said any thing TO mo
on me SUI J"ct"i issuing proposals for supplying
raiions TO engrating Indians. I answered, he
had not. He expressed surprise, aud added 1:
: it is ID queer
{" lie called again the next day, perhaps the
same day, when about the Same conversation,
~ substance. took place the last, with tho fol-
lowing addition
lie SaId ne was satisfied the Secretary of
War had fOTgotte il, Tor that ho had promised
TO soc mo- and give orders for preparing pro-
Posals tor ratIoDs and had promised him thew
should be published in the Telegraph Of that
morning.