The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1845-01-31

Mr. EDIToR: have seen, in the report Of Tues
day'. proceedings of the House of Representatives
a statement made by Mr.. Eugene Mcdonald m rela-
ton TO contract SAID To have been made by the act
ing chief of the Bureau of Construction with J. &.
Zabriskie which, without explanation, is calculated
unusty ipjure certain persons there in named; and
heel il TO be my duty, without any solicitation from
any one, Dasmuch reference l. made To me by tho
writer for some Of the facts to correct msapprehsn-
sion on his part of what ssid by the ect.
Shortly after the commencement of the present ses-
sion Of Congress- the writer called at my office and
inquired if | knew any thing of certain contract
made with Mr. Zsbrskie for timber. informed
him that did not; that no such contract had been
made by the Secretary of the Navy or should have
known it. He said that Mr.. Voorhees, IN his lifetime,
had communicated to him, confdentlay, that he had,
by the direction Of the President, made contract
with Mr. Zabriskie for timber, and that the contract
had been sold and the proceeds divided between them.
He inquired whether Dlr. Henshaw had signed this
contract ! told bin there was no such contract IN
the office of the s, cretary of the Navy He asked
if thought Mr. Henshaw had been implicated in
the matter | answered that he certainly had not
been implicated IN any transaction IN that Depart
ment which was not legal and right lie stated that
he bad been long seeking for an opportunity to re-
venge himself on the President for the course ne
had pursued in keeping him out OF office, and that
he meant TO have call made in the House ~ relation
to this matter which would expose and RUN the Ere
sident and every connected with IT. and every one
would be summoned who knew any thing about Tt
He said further, that Mr. VOORHEES, had told him
that 81 900 of the money he had received was to be
paid to friend of his and he strongly suspected that
friend to be the Navy Agent, Major Scott replied
that il was impossible; that ! had always regarded
Major Scott very correct man, and above All sus-
picion; and advised him to be very careful how ne
made such statement respecting him, as the least
jmputatiop even without a shadow of foundation IN
truth might be the means of causing his REJECTION by
the Senate before which body his denomination was
then pending.
Shortly after he left the Office Major Scott came IN,
when stated to him what had TRANSFERRED lie denied
most positively having had any thing to do IN the
matter of the alleged contract; and stated that he
had never spoken to Mr.. Zabriskie IN relation to u
or any other contract, and was very much eraspera-
ted at hearing that his conduct had been al all
questioned / think | saw Mr.. Mcdonald on
that or the next evening, and told him that Ma
or Scott had dsclsimed all participation IN
The matter and that | perfectly satisfied that
he had not been guilty OF any improper act
He said he had suspected him, and that, from other
collateral circumstances, he believed that he must DE
the friend referred to by Mr.. VOORHEES,. He did not
s,v what those circumstances were, and | did not
think It neces airy ask hin for was convinced thst
he had been mistaken in his supposIon. lie SUI pr
sisted in the belief that Major Scott must have oeen
the person alluded to- and that he received the wv
and | remarked, Chen YOU think, because MAJOR
So, ,v,s the fne nd of Mr.. VOORHEES,, therefore he
,rh, IN have received the money" or words to tins
effect. ,.s a.. .,hs,once Of MIA,
iD b.tweep MIR Mcdonald and myself in re-
80 70 this matter. do not for moment pretend
TO saw that he would willingly make mlsssatement
80 Conversation, but it ~ very certain that he has
,is,aten what passed between us on the subject;
Ia feel bound at the earliest possible moment, TO
nike this correction, in order to couuteract the inju
rs which might otherwise be done to innocent per-
sons | am, very respectfully, 60,
A. THO. SMITH,
wAsurSeToN, January %, fs4S