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


be nominal item in the expenditure; that
the ration could be furnished At six cents
and thus. instead OF saving four thousand
dollars per day, the contractor would receive
eight thousand dollars per day more than a
fair price. I saw from his couate0aHce and
manner that he was disappointed add pro
yoked, and Immediately determined 20 do
all in my power 70 prevent the making Of the
contract; believing that il Was intended to
cover 8 deep and pfssneditated fraud. ] ae-
csrdingly sent for MIR. John ShsekfoFd, now
door keeper TO the Senate--tben fespecta
bic merchant of 81 Louis who happened 20
be 10 this city I told him my suspicious;
that was apprehensive that major Eaton
and major Lewis were interested IN the con
tract; that was apprehensive Of their infiu-
ence over General Jacssca, aud that be.
ieved that the only way TO defeat them was
to induce some respectable person TO under
bid General Houston; that | was spprehen.
sive the Government would ne compelled 10
give much more than the ration was worth,
and that had selected him to make the
bid. because, in case he obtained II at more
than fair price, to party suspicion would
attach tn the transaction, as ne Was known to
be the friend of the late administration; and
because that as | hoped and believed that
General jackson was not party 10 1t, was
DESTROYS to save him and his administration
from the consequences Of The contemplated
fraud. Mr.. Shackford took until the next
morning to think Of il He then called, and
told me that be was wiling to take the con
tract at fourteen cents Iaboufed to satisfy
him that he could make hundreds Of thou
sa;.- 9. uoiars by taking 1t al much lower
rate He then proposed that | should be
come interested with him in the contract To
this replied that had reflected on the sub
ject. and that although was satisfied that
could realize an Independent fortune out OF
the contract, had resolved to have nothing
TO do with it, That, however correct my
motives might be, could not escape suspi
con, and consequent loss Of character.
urged him 10 reduce his bid which he then
declined to de, but he informed me after
wards that he did so Aware that major
Ea.on and major Lewis had at that tlne an
almost unlimited control over General Jack
son, which had several times ansuccessiu
Is attempted to counteract, ieit unwilling
to come in direct collision with them before
him; bu believing that the character OF the
administration was at stake, anG binding that
Mr. Shackford weuid not consent TO reduce
his bid to what conceived to ne TAR price
for the ration, | resolved 10 bring The subject
directly to the netice of General jackson
himself On my way TO the Executive naat-
sion, met Mr. Bell, of Fcnnessse, chairman
ofthe committee on Indian Affairs, aud con
yerse1 with h;ia on the subject. urged
him to see the President, and TO demonstrate
against the contract lie INSISTED that
should do so, and said that il the contract
WA. made with General Houston, as propos
h Aar tb1aa a. M
dian bill which was then pending IN the
House
IJpop entering bis room / found General
jackson and Governor Branch together.
apologizea by saving that | bad called Tor
the purpose Of bringing to the notice oil the
President subject Of great Importance
sai.i, that il was supposed that the contract
about to be made for supplying rafiehs 10
the emigrating Indians, would embrace all
that would be required for that purpose; and
begged leave to suggest the propriety OF rs
suing a new advertisement, giving due no :
tice of the amount Of the supplies wanted;
and of dividing the contract SO as 70 enapie
tha citizens of the western states 10 become
cempetiters for it. | told the Pres.oent that
7 should not have troubled him with the sab
;ect. had not ascei tanned that MIR. Eaton
exnected 10 close a contract with General
Houston, at 10 cents per ration. Oenerai
Jackson immediately became much exciteoi
and. 10 the presence Of Governor branch,
repeated. nearly verbatim, what had been
told bv Major Eaton He said that the ra-
ton cost twenty two cents; that 1enera
Houston had goae on to New York and on
tanned wealthy security, and that II was "a
intention of the department TO give nun th'
contract at eighteen cents per ration, assert
ing that there would be saving to the tso
yernment Of nearly four thousand dollar
per dsv: shaving conclusively that he has
been advised by major Eaton ard was iuiil
possessed Of his views To this replied u
nearly the same terms tina, had before den'
To major Eaton. and expressed my deciae'
belief that the ration could be furnished 10
six cents, if the contract was properly oivid
ed. and due notice given to the people oi 10
,yes,ern states so as to invite fair competi
t;on for if. To this General jackson said
sWill YOU take it at ten, slr' NO, SIR SAT
In I'm not bidder for It, lie then saio
t will you take il at twelve centss IL 20
] will. pledge myself to you that you sna
, have il at that price To this replied ~
! sir: / have thought upon the SUBJECT an
e should not have called upon you 10 fsiauo
. 10 Il. had not considered IT my au'y
= warn YOU Of the consequences when .
e lGeye TO be involved in H. am sa''s''S
y that at the price which you propose coa
e rIear Eve hundred thousand dOilsfs. Du
o INV object in bringing this subject neio
YOU, was to serve you ana the Oosein ~. i,
u and in doing II am governed oy i,'en
a. Ii mn