Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-03-18


IT, was true the usual number Of copies had been order
ed but these yet printed but they wanted many
more, for the purpose of distribution; and this the onl,
document IN which this information In relation 70 contracts
to be found in any detail.
Mr.. McCLERNAND resumed. The usual number o
copies had been ordered and the document would thus b.
published to the country But the gentleman from Georg
lMr CoBB) wanted committee-he wanted thorough in
vesgao that the Of those who had entered into
fraudulent contract might be given to the world and thereby
other contractors freed from suspicion Those Mr. Nee
side of the House unwilling that number
this document should be pnted they made no issue upon
mat what they wanted was, that honest mems fair fame
should he indicated and all frauds exposed.
Mr. THOMPSON of Kentucky said that it seemed 70
him that this whole discussion from msconception
the design Of the committee in reporting this resolution fol
printing extra number of this document The gentleman
from Tennessee Mr.. CRozER) belonged TO committee
who had been charged with inqung whether frauds had
been committed In reference public contracts for supplies
transportation, &c. That committee had some time since
moved the printing OF number OF copies this abstract
fcontracts This before the had reached of the
conclusion Of atreaty Of peace.
Mr. understood that the gentleman had made the motion
because he wished that the information contained the docu
men should go before the country not that he charged that
frauds had been committed but any did exist that the peo-
PIE might be aware Of IT, Not only this party
ment In lis first inception but when the resolution was alter
wards referred TO the Committee Printing, far from any
ming IKE party action being taken upon il that committee
TO which Mr. Il. belonged) in favor of printing the
document simply for this the abstract showed that
many millions Of dollars had been expended for the hire Of
steamboats, the purchase of horses and mules and -four and
pork and beef and the munitions of war. The then
~ progress Mr.. H. wanted those in Ohio and Kentucky
who had provisions to sell, know what had been paid to
others Tor them he desired that his constituents and
others h'ud be appzed that large pecuaions making
IN the articles which they raised and would be glad sell
the Government any other responsible purchaser And not
only that but any exobitant prices had been paid for the
hire OF steamboats, for the purchase Of mules and their
poraton for flour and beef and other provisions for troops
he yhnQ ia Imam "a
cite competition and thereby possibly much Of public
money by preventing further extravagant contracts This
was the open straightforward purpose which had induced the
COMMITTEE on Printing to report the resolution He
had learned that fair competition between the for
the public contracts calculated inure the Government
lie must be allowed to say that the document the printing of
which seemed to have greatly excited gentlemen on the
other side OF the House, their document and all
that was proposed was TO print it, without noe comment
commentary, explanations anmadversion Of any kind
II public official return of facts could be suffered go
before the naon 1t was very strange thing. 1t
intended as party movement it was honestly intended
give valuable information to the public, and thereby pre-
vent the Government from being eeced by unprncped men,
who were ready to take advantage of the public
ties and to prey upon THAR countp Its tendency was to
denver the Government from gang of Shylocks who with
out patriotism common honesty ready enrich
at the expense Of their country So far from hav
ing reported il with any party view, Mr. T. had much
as dreamed Of making such use Of il.
Mr. L. should, before he concluded to lay the
Tor any fraudulent contractors Let gentlemen investigate
thoroughly they pleased He charged fraud if gem
emen wanted investigating committee let them have it
Let them search to the bottom and if there fraudulent
contracts W such thing could exis) let the fraud be fase
ID on The guilty parties and whoever they might be- let them
go TO The wall If there be investigations that was
but an additional for adopting this resolution because
he printing of such document would be material aid in
conducting such an investigation.
Mr. T. concluded by moving lay the motion of reconsid
grafton the table but the request of Mr. Mckay who
promised TO renew the notion Mr. t. withdrew it.
Mr. Mckay said he had doubt that the object Of the
Committee Printing in reporting this resolution had been
o disseminate information among the people he thought,
however, that this practice Of ordering the printing of large
Extra numbers of any publ document was say the Of
t. very questionable But to dwell that, Mr.. Mex
would ask OF gentlemen whether their object not give
he people full and fair information they surely did wish
o deceive the country Now, he would venture say that
his document would not give them fair view of the expen
iue of fifty millions Of the public money pretended
II amount had been enormously exaggerated These
acts those which had been made during the last fiscal
but the fiscal year ended The 30th June The whole
mount could reach twenty mllons and be the amount
What It might it would show but very small part Of the pub
ic expenditure.
Mr. CRoZIER here interposcl to remind Mr. McKAr that
his speech he had expressly said that he did know the
Exact that il might he fifty millions The document
night the whole expenditure it might not he had
smated il at thirty millions.
Mr. MCKAY said the abstract reached only the end of
he fiscal year being just such document bad been sent
last year and printed by order Of the House. But the
extraordinary he had heard given for printing this
arge number that stated by the gentleman who had
taken his seat and who lad reported the resolution from
he Printing Committee. The gentleman said he did not
hage aui and the publication Of the document intend
ID for party purpose for what then Why to produce
yreaer competition Why did the gentleman know that
his abstract Of past contracts those yet future
the object to create competition Ivy publishing the
tracts that already accomplished for these contracts
all let after publicly being advertised for prescribed
engh Of time Such advertisements were made in the pa
every day for forage for fuel for provisions
Sc. making continually, and the fullest and arest
petition was invited by advertisements in the widely
pread prints Of the day. But this the purpose for
which be had rsen
Mr. THOMPSON inquired whether the advertisements OF
which the gentleman spoke Gas if il known to every
,ody gave people through the country any knowledge
he prices actually paid by The Government for such articles
be furnished Would farmer in Kentucky learn
them what he might get for his flour beef beans at
New Orleans at the Brasos 81. Jago'
Mr. Mckay (resuming) observed that he had not the
slightest doubt that prices had been paid Tor
steamboats, for purchase Of mules &C. he had not the slightest
ioub that there had been great and extravaganza and
called upon the gentleman from Tennessee the chair
Of the Committee Public Expenditures OF the War
Department. (Mr CRozIER,) 10 perform his duty TO the
House and to the country by ns'ilung full and rigid cx
animation Of all these matters and il there had been any
fault the part Of these public officers, any OF them IN the
execution of their public trusts had committed fraud and cx
avagancc in procuring contracts for supplies let be known
and let their be held up the counuyto the public
Indignation and Reproduction
This the duty Of. the gentleman, and he came
Hall and