Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-05-22

that place 1t would SEEM then as if the Quartermaster
General stating what the would be if full forage
were used rather than mentioning that particular sum
would be necessary for forage at that post he did
mention any particular sum being necessary, then
should say there inconsistency but be that
ter it may my object is to show from the statement Of
the Quartermaster General which given to me- that full
forage not used at Monterey that there may be
in sending the estimate member of the House. but
such abuse the Senator from Virginia seems to sup
pose there is that it is for which the Secretary
of War cannot be held responsible He is to be held
sponsibe his acts and for those Of the Quar-
termaster General
Here the honorable Senator gave way and the Senate
adourned.]
FRIDAY, APRIL &c. 1852.
Mr.. PEARCE Mr.. President, before proceed with
the remarks which about to submit in reply to the
Senator from Virginia. desire to ask the indulgence Of
the Senate for few moments, while notice charge
which made by the Senator from California and which
yesterday escaped my attention. 1t win be recolected
that the Senator stated in connection with the abuses
which arose. he said in the of Gen. John Wilson,
while he was his way to California and after he had
arrived in the Sacramento Valley, that he had CACHED
his property, that is understand it, not being able
to carry it with him. he had concealed it by burying
it. The Senator then said
by order that emanated from the War Department
detachment of the army ordered in the following
spring. to bring the private property belonging to the agent
transported for him Government expense by the Salt Lake.
California told by the assistant quarermaster who
fitted out the expedition the principal object of which
perform this service, that the cost was little less than
500, 00O," DC.
If the Senator were not mistaken in this narrative of
the affair, should say that it very gross abuse.
IT. in fact, the Secretary of War had caused military
expedition at cost of little less than 800 000 to be
sent to the head of the Sacramento to
amount of property large small belonging to any civil
officer Of the Government should have thought gross
abuse. But find different history of the transaction
in the report of the assistant quartermaster, Major
Allenthe report from which the Senator from Ca
lifornia and myself have read shall not detan the
Senate any longer than simply to read his narrative Of
this transaction After stating that Captain Warner had
been out exploring expedition to the Of
the Sierra Nevada and had been eacherousy assaled
and routed by the Misunderstanding, indeed, lost his life
in the fray-Major Allen proceeds:
second expedition, destined punish the hostile In
dams in the vicinity Of Clear Lake. fitted this De-
parment in the month Of May 1850 This command having
successfully accomplished its first object ordered pro-
coed Pitt river chastise possible the Indians who
had attacked and routed the party the Captain Warner
Brevet Captain Lyon, the commander of the expedition
met his return march Lassens Ranch by order
directing him guest of the baggage of John Wilson
Esq., which baggage had been coached the emigant
beyond the Feather River Mountains
The Senate win perceive that the Senator from Cafor-
MIA fell into mistakes and that far from military
expedition being sent out for the only purpose for the
principal purpose of recovering the private property Of
the agent which he had cached on his outward route
was sent for two distinct military purposes which
the region where this property had been cached " and
that fact the order to get his property not known
the time the expedition sent out 1t is thus shown
that this expedition had gone for two military purposes
which il had accomplished when the order seek for this
property was received 1t is very manifest therefore
that if the expedition had cost the large sum of money
which it said to have cost il is chargeabe to the proper
military purposes Of the country and not to the private
purposes Of this civil employee. SO far the Govern
mcnt may have been put any expense by the expedition
turning back the route TO get that property that is
charge against 1t but the statement which have read
exhibits very different state Of the from that which
the honorable Senator has supposed to exist.
Mr. GwIy stated that Major Allen told me that the
cost of the expedition 100000 Igavemy authority
Mr.. PEARcE. But the Senator stated, also, that the
principal object of the expedition to get at this pro-
perry. He, doubt thought So but he in error;
and when had the of showing him to be in error
felt bound to do so.
think was stating yesterday, when discontinued
my remarks in reply to the Senator from Virginia. that
the Secretary Of War had attempted various reforms in
the Department which is under his control mentioned
some Of them. shall proceed TO mention others,
some of which the Senator may recoect but Of Others
perhaps, he is uniformed.
1t win be recolected that both General Taylor and the
present Secretary Of War recommended retired list for
the armya project which, it is supposed win increase
the efficiency of the army without at all enlargng the
expense understand that the request of the chair
of the Committee Military Affairs in the House Of
Representatives project for this purpose prepared
by the Secretary and sent to the committee accompanied
by draft of bill. That is reform which he has
attempted
Then would call the attention Of the Senate to a fact
which, believe, alluded by the Senator from vr
gina in his speech The Secretary Of War has very
Gently discovered that officers Of the army have pur
chased various articles and sold them the Quartermas
ters department The officers attached to the army
particular depots, awaiting themselves Of their positions
have specuated in those articles with which il the
duty of the quartermasters department supply the
army This the Secretary of War very properly consider
ed abuse The law did not allow him to punish il as
he thought II deserved to be punshed and in the spirit
of true reform he took the only step in his powerhe
the fact to Congress- with the
precision Of his wish that Congress would egsate
furnish him with ample authority hereafter II is true
that the President of the United States the exercise
of the very large discretion which the Constitution and
laws have given him. might strike such an officer from
the list But that is thing which is unusual and almost
in the army and navy establishments The
Senator Il believe, mentioned this at all events he adj
mitted the statement which have made and that sug
gested by the Senator from Georgia. Mr DAWSON who
has told me that courmartal was held in regard to the
conduct Of Of these officers and that they were
acquitted After that 1t would have been the height of
cruelty and injustice for the President to dismiss them
Mr. HUSrER. II useless for me TO suggest more
than did. sought to have the facts drawn out. The
lid not know at the time that introduced the resolution
sailing for information that he had made any suggestions
70 the Military Committee After the resolution Of
erred, and answer came, was informed that he had
made suggestions to the Military Committee.
Mr.. PEancE The only difference between the Senator
md myself in regard to that is that supposed he
mistaken in thinking that the action Of the Secretary
induced by his call.