The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-01-30

|
Mr., RDros have seen, in the report Of Tues
days proceedings Of tho House Of Representatives,
statement made BY Mr. Eugene Mcdonald 10 reia-
uon 10 contract said To have been made by tho act
Tag chief Of the Bureau of CONSTRUCTION with j C.
Iaonskie, which, without explanation, is calculated
mJusy 10 inlura certain persons there IN nan med and
i1ei IL TO lie my duty, without any solicitation nom
any one, inasuluoh refels IL made TO by the
writer ior some OF tho facts, 10 correct msapprohen-
sion on his part OF what ssid BY the
ohoruy after the commencement OF the present ses-
sion OF Congress, the writer called at my Office aud
inquired II | knew any thing OF certain contract
made with Mr.. Zabriskie for timber informed
MIN mat did not that 90 such contract had been
made by the Secretary Of the Navy or should have
known IL. He said that Mr. Voorhees, 10 his lifetime,
had communicated TO him oonhdentslly that he had,
| oy the direction Of the President, made contract
WIN Mr. Zabriskie for timber, aud that the contract
mad been sold and the proceeds divided between them
lie Inquired whether Mr.. Henshsw had signed this
eontrsctf told him there no such contract IN
| ths ofhce Of the Secretary Of the Navy. He asked
y thought Mr. Henshaw had been imp lioaled IN
the matterf answered that he certainly bad not
oeon implicated IN any transaction In that Depart
ment which was not legal and right. He stated that
he had been long seeking for an opportunity TO re-
sengo himself on the President Tor the course he
mad pursued in keeping him out Of Office and that
he meant TO have call made in the House IN relation
To TINS matter, which would expose and ruin the Pre-
siden and every connected with il and every one
would be summoned who knew any thing about IT,
He said, further, that MIR VOORHEES, had told him
thal 200 Of the money be had received was 10 be
paid 10 friend Of his, and he strongly suspected That
friend to be the Navy Agent, Major Scott replied
mat II was impossible that ] had always regarded
MAJOR Scott very correct man, and above all sus
picion and advised him To be very careful how be
made such a statement respecting him as the least
imputston, even without shadow OF foundation In
truth, might be the Of causing his rejection by
halo, lagbb ..y IN. ~ A.
then pending.
Shortly after be left the Office sor Scott 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 nc
had never spoken To Mr.. Zabrskio In relation TO II
or any other contract and was very much exaspera-
ted at hearing that his conduct had been at all
Questioned. think | Mr.. Mcdonald on
that or the next evening, and told him that Ma
| Jor Scott had disclaimed all participation IN
| the matter, and that | perfectly satisfied that
he had not been guilty OF any improper act
lie said he had suspected him, and that, from other
collateral circumstances, he believed that he must be
the friend referred to by Mr.. Voorhees, He did not
| say what those circumstances were, and | dad not
think IT AIRY ask him. for convinced that
be had been mistaken IN his suppositio he still per-
sisted IN the belief that Ma jor Scott have been
the person alluded and that he received the 900
| aud 1 remarked, "thon you think, because Major
Scott was the friend OF Mr. voorhees,, therefore he
ought 10 have received the money" or words To THE
| effect.
| This believe is in brief, the substance Of what
| transpIred between Mr. Mcdonald and myself in re-
laton TO this matter do not for a moment pretend
TO say that he would willingly make a misstatemeut
of this conversation, but 1t IS very certain that he has
mistaken what passed between the subject !;
and feel bound, at the earliest possible moment, to
make this correction, In order to counteract the inu
| ry which might otherwise be done TO innocent per-
sons. am, very respectfully, &c.
| A. THO. SMITH.
| WASHINGTON, January %, l645.