The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1840-07-21
FOR CHARTER OF STEAMBOATS,.

In short sir by this document it appears that
there were CHARTERED, during the year 1887, 35
steamboats, 43 schooners, soops % brigs Is ships,
making in all one hundred and eifUen UeSseIS char
tered during the year 1887, for the prosecution Of
this Florida war-this war, sir, which we n nation
of millions, have waged for years with some 500 ma
ked warriors Aud, besides, the one hundred and
eleven vessels chartered find upwards of ono hun
dred contracts, some of them very large amount,
for transportattOn of troops forage, arms horses,
&c. during that year, for this war. Sir, the part,
in power is justly chargeable with having involved
the country in this war unnecessarily and then of
having wasted the money appropriated for its pros
ecutou.
will give also another charge from the same
document: "For transporting 100 cords of fire.
wood from N. Orleans to Fort Brooke, East Flori-
da, and one assistant surgeon, 5000" Here, sir,
is charged foenly dollars per cord for y.ng fro
rood from New Orleans, besides the original cost
and other expenses; and that, too, to coun
try where, as | am assured by gentleman
well acquainted with the country, thousands OF
cords of weed could be cut sight of the fort to-
which this wood was sent l am also informed
that wood has often been taken from Florida to N.
Orleans for sale; and should not be surprised if
this wood was originally from Florida, and after
being shipped to N. Orleans aud properly seasoned
was shipped back again 10 afford little patronage
These, sir, are few specimens Of expenditure III
the Florida for 1887. could for houis read
charges equally obnoxious to censure and, sir b
have had a resolution on your table ever since the
first resolution day of this session asking the Sec
rotary Of War for detailed account of the expei d.
lures of the war, and the friends Of the Admins
tration, by some miserable subterfuge or quibDilnS
point of order, refused to call for the statement
And yet, sir, this is called representative Governa
ment, and we assume To be the Grand Inquest OIL
the Nation, and the People told that officers.
from the President down, are strictly accountable.
Yet we cannot ask how $50, 100000 Of their mon
ey has been spent without being told by gentlemen
that the Opposition voted supplies for the war, and
that these expenditures "extraordlnary. = Irn
ly, SIR they "ertraordinary;" and therefore it
is that demand full and explicit statement to
their nature.
am told, sir, that steamboat offered to
the Government for about $14 ,O00 and, refusing
put chase, they chartered her until they paid some
1879 900. am told, sir, that plank in several in
stances has cost 81 ,25 per foot, or $l25 per hum
dred feet. Also, that fire. wood has cost $50 per
ty to give the people light this subject, and to
relieve themselves, if they can, from the charges
of waste and pecuaton.
Document No. 1877, of Sd session of 25th Con.
gress, is letter of Mr.. Poinsett Secretary of Wat
In that document find a communication from the
Commssary General of Subsistence, addressed to
Mr.. Poinseit, and there perceive that the Gov
ernment after purchasing unnecessarily vast a
mount of provisions &C., sfor the army, sent to-
ordered it to be sold, and will quote an extract
from that communication:
"The supplies sold consisted Of so barrels pork,
2645 barrels -four, S2t barrels hard Bread w l,S
bushels beans, l6 IA bushels corn meal, 10y bush'
els corn, sos bushels salt, 75,027 pounds sugar,
Al 1897 pounds coffee, ,43S pounds rice, o3l,OSo
pounds bacon, %, 1SI pounds soap, AL Ponnas
andall the issuing apparatus such as scales ,weign
and measures, used while the volunteer troo Ip,,
were in service These articles produced the ne"
sum of $52, III co." .'i''s