The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-01-31
THE UNION.



The location Of New Orleans, nearly contiguous TO
the republic OF Mexico It's relative central position TO
the whole commercial and productive industry OF the val
ley OF the Mississippi It's for the embaca
ton and debarcaton OF troops going returning from
the war; the advantageous facilities which presents Tor
the creation OF many OF the auxiliary means OF the army
have all combined 10 make city the great centre of
operations Tor the purchase and supply OF OF the
terrell OF the army, and the furnishing OF everything
cessary TO lis complete equipment Hence here loca-
ted several OF the Offices OF the principal bureaus OF the
War Department.
There six principal departments bureaus created
by law and under the control of the Secretary OF War,
which charged with the receipt application, dsburse
ment, and rigid accountability OF all the public moneys APP
proprated by Congress for the OF the army These
cassed under the heads of quartemaster subsistence
pay, ordnance, engineer and medical departments OH
GERS OF high rank IN the army possessing great skill and
science and business requirements, assigned To the
control of each and they are assisted in the perform
ance OF their several and varied duties by subordinate Off
GERS; and the whole called and known the staff OF
the army
These departments constitute system, beautifully
ranged in which all the duties distinctly cassed un-
der appropriate heads with forms and statement of
counts to correspond and the whole prescribed and regu
lated by law.
Few, unacquained with military affairs, are aware of
the immense responsibilities which devolved upon
the staff OF the army the discharge Of their respective
duties involving they do the receipt disbursement and
accountability OF many millions of dollars annually
As II is not within the compass of newspaper article
10 go INTO detailed exposition of the various duties per
formed by these different departments, shall conne
ourselves TO brief notice only of the Guartermasters de-
partment; for the simple reason that this the most i'm
Portant, whether considered with regard to the extent
and range of its duties the magnitude OF its eXpend
lures
OF the auxiliary by which the operations OF an
army IN the held are advanced and made effective this
department is the great subservent of all the Others and
around which, as common centre, all the rest may be
said 10 revolve.
Upon the quartermasters department the army depends
Tor transportation by and land, OF itself and all the
nilfertef OF war; embracing subsistence, ordnance,
medical stores the procuring purchase, and transPorta
ton of clothing, fuel, forage, tents, camp equpage,
working and cooking utensils, for the OF the army
the purchase and furnishing OF all artillery cavalry and
daugh horses, mules, working oXen wagons harness,
&c the enlistment and payment of quarermasters men,
artIces, mechanics. Transfers sevedoes and ordinary
abores the procuraton and erection OF quarters Tor the
officers and men, barracks hospitals, &c; the purcha
sing charerIng, manning and provisioning, and payment
OF all expenses OF steamboats, and sailing vessels the
erection and renting of warehouses for the sae-keepng
and storage OF all public property belonging to the army
the payment OF Communication of transportation OF fuel
forage and quarters for officers when not furnished in
kind-to all OF which may be added very many nciden
| tai expenses too numerous 10 mention or classify.
When all these expenditures aggregated, the OF
public money alone disbursed by the quartemasters
department in the prosecution OF the present war,
slules nearly half OF the whole expenses OF the
army, and is not far from ST. 900 900 annually.
1t must be source OF pride and qualification TO the
American people, whose interests and honor i'm
medately identified and involved in the large expend
lures occasIoned by the present war; to know that the
public moneys faithfully applied and udicously and
economically expended, subjected to rules OF accounta
billy rigdly enforced by all the departments OF war.
For the system which inuses such ORDER energy eff
cacy, and accountability in the quartermaser's depart
men we are mainly indebted to that able and distinguish
We shall close this article by briefly advertng to the
satisfactory in which the and immense
duties OF the qnartemasieIs Office OF this city are DIS,
Major Daniel d. Tompkins.
We preface by saying that it is most natural that the
business operations OF the different departments in
this city, intimately identified as they are with the
merClal and mechanical a large class
citizens, should attract considerable share of public
attention and scrutiny. Lynx eyed, our business men
tied to equal privileges, and stimulated by private inter
est as well as public justice believe to be mposs
Die that anything like unjust favor,sm fraud or collu
SION IN any OF the public departments here could long
Undecided, or fail to become the subject of
mark and general condemnation.
ltls fortunate for the government that this wachfu
JEALOUSY and seachns scrutiny into the conduct OF pub
Yc officers everywhere exists, its influence is most
heahu to prevent abuses and guard vigantly the pub
he interests and the faithful performance Of public duty
! In Major Tompkns's hands, the people may rest as
sured that the great trust and responsibilities committed
] by the government to his care are safe
Although he has had, charge of the quarteunasters
once IN tins city but few months, his administration
has been characterized by so much ability, and proluc
I'VE Of such useful results, as fully to warrant the
hdence and respect universally accorded to him. The
department has in Major Tompkins most just faithful
and devoted servant In the midst of devastating pest
lence, such as our city before Witnessed he,
though unacclimatcd, stood faithfully by his post and
prepared the transportation to Mexico for 10000
troops and complete were all his arrangements that
this body OF men, with all their camp equpage and APP
polntments passed by an afflicted CITY, with the
delay only consequent the tanshipment from river
steamboats, to sea vessels, ready prepared to depart
ms prompt and energetic action of the quarternas-
ters department in this city, at the time was the theme
OF universal praise, and earned for Major Tompkns
reputation IN the army, and at headquarters which will
long be appreciated.
Though hundreds of thousands of dollars monthly have
been dsbursed by this Office the discharge of its off
ca duties SO fair and frank so honest and just, have
been all Major Tompkins's transactions, unreservedy
that not complaint has been heard not suspicion has
been awakened, a favoritism known The doors of
the quarermasers office have been thrown wide open
TO the merchant and contractor to the shpmaser and
iatboatman to the farmer and mechanic-each and all
have had free access and competition of all kinds for
prices or employmens, have been invited, encouraged
and rewarded.
The consequence is, that the government, instead Of
building up monopoes, and paying the highest prices for
everything purchased employed is better served and
at the cheapest rates This as il should be- and is the
only course which give satisfaction TO our business
community insure for the department the respect Of
the people or the confidence of the government We
have written thus unreservedy about the manner ia
which the duties OF the quartermaser Office in this city
are being discharged, for the that believe that
the time and the occasion require that the public should
be informed that this great branch of the public service
in this city ably faithfully, and efficiently administered
By X. W. DYER, .9uctfOnser.
OFFENSIVE SALE OF GOOD HOUSEHOLD FUR
Il NTrLRE.On Thursday, the 3D. OF February next at
10 o'clock, a. M shall sell ut the Mansion House.
Pennsylvania avenue, I4th and 18th streets re-