Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-07-30

The staff department Of the Army, particu-
larly the Quartermasier's branch, is most IN
efficient and exiTavagant The only persons
qualified for the staten of quartenmasier are
real business mcn--men Of system and order,
well acquainted with accounts. These Off
GERS require no military skill! or education, but
thorough mercantile habits and capacity The
consequence of the quartermasiers not being
such men, viii be developed when the ae-
counts are exhibited and the expenses come 10
be added up. Their acquaintance with husi-
ness, the state of the markets, SC subjects them
10 the grossest imposinons 10 making contracts
and purchases and there are those who say
favoritism goes long way; but OF that know
nothing.
When the expenses of this war are paid and
the accounts exhibited, the Florida expendi
lures will appear small. The most enormous
rates are paid for many things, particularly
the use Of ships and other vessels engaged IN
transporting troops and stores !; from twenty
five 10 fifty per cent. more than a commercial
man would pay for similar vessels for his own
use. Let me give you few instances. The
steamship Alabama is chartered at the rate Of
$4,000 per month. She was here about the
end of May with volunteers, and returned to
New Orleans ON the lst inst. She reached
the bar at this port several days ago, aud was
soon after blown off without landing the men
ON her, and has not vet got back. The stea
mers Augusta and Cincinnati have long been
in service under high charters. The former
has been fast aground since the 10Th May, UNI
I'll two days ago. The latter is cooped up in
the Rio Grande, and is Of but little service
An old French bark called the Blayaise was
condemned at Galveston the last Of April, or
early IN May, as being unseaworthy, and sold
the latter month at auction. The hull, lower
masis, and some Of the groundtackle. Sc.
were purehashed for about 81, 100 or lao.
An expense Of $500 perhaps was incurred IN
partially rigging her; when Lieut.. kiNGsHpRY
chartered her TO bring two companies OF Texan
Volunteers TO this place. being $3.50 for the
"trip. Soon after her arrival she was diSmau-
tied, the rigging sold or otherwise disposed OF,
the hull alone hired by the Quartennaster at
$50 per day, 0,950 per annun: good inter-
est on 81 800! Other cases as remarkable
could be mentioned. A new Quarteunasier
General is on his way here, il is said, and
things may be better managed perhaps. AT
some proper time il might be well 10 have an
exhibit of the amount paid TO each steamer and
sailing vessel engaged in transporting troops
and supplies for this place for the army, their
tonnage, value, sc. anc the obtaining from
practical business men what such yesselsconld
have been employed for by individuals for their
own use. The most enormous rates wese also
paid last year for transporting 10 Corpus Chris
Ii and St Joseph's Island. Sometimes as
much was paid for vessel from New Orleans
as she could have made on voyage to Liver
pool, and the rates have not abated. AT an
early period il will be well to look into these
EXPENDITURES, and know who has made them
or sanctioned them.
No one can tell when the army will make
forward movement My belief is it will be
a considerable time, and solely for the want Of
transportation. Ia the mean time the yoiun-
teers are much exposed. For two weeks or
more il has ralned almost every day, and the
appearances are strongly in favor of a contn-
uance OF it. When ii does not rain the sun is
hot enough. The tents furnished are of an
indifferent kind, and there are number Of com
panies, particularly among the Texans, that
have none at ALL Yet the men so far continue
,oleraby healthy. How long it will last no one
can tell
Whether the Mexcans will risk another
battle ola general kind i, question that can
not be decided now. If they could have been
pursued soon after the battles in May, their
force must have been dispersed, killed, or cap
tured. AS it is, they have ample time % raise
reniorcements and recruit tLsir spirits, and
may make another stand in the hilly country.
II they do, have no doubt they will be- defeat
ed, and the war may be terminated soon; but
if they do not conclude TO make another gene
raj fight, the war will be Of a partisan charac-
ter, and no one can tell when it viii terminate.
We may oyerrun the country, but will not
subdue it. As long as private property is res,
pected, and the lives and rights Of those not
e., .~nI H. do. ...,
care about our travelling through their country
and paying the highest price for what they
have TO sell Ii is a species Of warfare better
for many of them than the state OK peace they
have heretofore enjoyed. The men are fire.
quently employed here by the Quarefmaster,
and are much better paid than they ever were
before. Yet these people, as a mass, have the
bitterest feelings against us. Their priests and
demagogues have, for their own purposes,
fostered their preiudices and annnositles, and
the idea Of Extending the area Of freedom"
so as TO include them seems 10 me ridiculous
and absurd.
The rnmor is (and think tworthy Of cred
~ that the Mexicans are fortliying the town
of Monterey. II is a place ofconsiderable inn
portance in civil and military point of view,
and it is possible the enemy may fight for it,
If they do not, they will make no general
fight, that is certain, and the war will then
be Of the guerilla kind, and be waged in a
most sangunary spirit. Our people, particu-
larry the Texans, feel very hostile and much
exasperated against the Mexicans, and if ever
the army is broken up into de,achments and
small parties they viii not be spared BY them
As long as we are embodied, under the con-
troll Of high officers, proper restraint VIII be
exercised; but as soon as the small chiefs have
sway then win bloodshed and rapne spread
over the country.
JOHN RANDOLPI's SLAVES.
Nam street, on Wednesday Morning, pre-
sented a singular scene--one which never be-
fore occurred here. and which may not occur
again. In front Of our office, and occupying
the centre Of the street for half square, was
a crowd ofnegtoes, men, women and children,
like adrove OF sheep coming to market. They
Were dressed in coarse cottons, apparently
comfortable in bodily circumstances, and walk
ed along from the river TO the canal. They
were in his lifetime, slaves Of the celebrated
JoHN RANDOLPH of Roanoke.
This extraordinary man remains extraordi-
nary even in the transactions which follow his
death The word s.REAloRsE ~ written on n