The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-04-22

any law could not be resisted and thus was lala me
liquidation OF the expenditures upon obecs oil
doubtful necessity OF which we have heard 70 mueh
But will state here in reference 10 tbs responsibility o.
expanding this money charged upon tue assistant guar
unless II is proved that they acted without authoriy
they acted under orders from superior officer, which
sanctioned, or not dsavowed by the Secretary OF
War. the head OF the department. aud not The subord
nate, is responsible. The Quartermaser General Is
subordinaies the head Of bureau and II he or any
of his subordinaes, violated the law in expendng the
public money IT was the duty oil the head OF The war
Department report him them TO the President OF The
United States for dismissal, or to be tried by court
martial am prepared 10 say tha, the Quartermaster
General and his subordinaies in California so lar as
know, have always acted under orders from superior
authority; and that every abuse and there are many IN
the expenditure of the public money that country has
been sanctioned either taciiy openly. by the head Of
the War Department do not attach The least blame 10
the present Secretary because the abuses and assump
tons of power which have referred originated before
he into Office and believe be is diligently engaged
trying to put stop the extravagant expenditures OF his
department But am looking 10 the system which was
established in lS4D The Quartermasters department Is
responsible, and should not be made the goat,
and bear the blame that properly attaches to The admins
/ traton.
Mr. DAWSON. Will my friend from California yield
the floor for moment for the purpose Of examining into
this matler He says that, The Quarermasters de.
parment particularly enormous abuses have been plac
iced AS he has drawn our attention TO them will he
state where they ascertaned to exist. that we may
know where 10 guard against them for the future
Mr.. GWlN am coming TO that, and shall read from
the documents presently But the gentleman mlsunder
1
department particularly and charge II with enormous
abuses | say that there has been a wasteul expendi-
ie masters department which | will show has only
obeyed orders, but think may add in nearly every de-
parment OF the government under executive control.
will now read from report oil Major Vnton, Of the
most intelligent officers OF the Quarermaters Department.
and the senior officer OF the department in California, da
ted March 30 1850;
"GGsEnAb have tho honor to report that. in compl
with your orders Of The 9th Of April lsi9 proceed
to California; and there take charge the direction OF the
Vision Of The army embarked At New YORK Oh die ith Of
April 1873 (with $l6o0oO in specie under my caro and
detained twenty four days by untoward stances. and
e-embarked the Pacific The 23d of May for San Fran
/ cisco"
4 After going state the situation Of affairs which
he found his arrival in California he describes the
point which had been selected the great depot for the
army and navy of the United States the Pacific will
read what he says on that subject:
by the united Judgment Of Major General Smith and
Commodore Jones' place situated on the north bank Of
as The favorable locality for military and naval
depos IL is with great reluctance, therefore, that
OF It's important features objec onabeor rather, that
il is lacking inmany attributes which requisite in
cay il has bu, few detects, being in direct line Of com
muncaton with the ocean. having good anchorage deep
the largest class ships Here its advantages ceases and
they relate more 70 the interests Of eonn,ece Than TO the
peculiar fitness Of the place for military station and de-
pot OF supplies geographically 1t is unnvi,ng In the
His Of pee. any oRer but
the wild OATS rise abruptly from The water, and swelling
wood but beyond that region The scrubby oak makes
appearance in single trees, in small clusters aordns
only found in one small spring about mile westward
from the depot This has be shared with the cuzens OF
"Havng in view them that these great elements,
which invariably form the first principles in making
choice the residence Of cominunty wanting at
this place, think the defects Of The Position are made
iii has been supposed that of the straits.
certain Of the be reiied on for The use Of
tain stage the tldes combined with very high
and San joaquin rivers, that the water OF
unwholesome well MY feet ia depth dug by Lieu
tenant Colonel Ciseys company, but the water proved
" The rocks forming the base OF the hills have
been, by convuon in Nature, thrown upwards from
horizontal position giving dip towards tie straits, by
which The water cannot be retained below tho surface
es w aaa may o y opx reliance e now
expense should be spared scientific as well
such and earnestly urge the subject your
notice as an enterprise sPon which the welfare OF the depot
Previous 10 my departure for Oregon, caused be
purchased instrument for boring and placed under the
in the appendix Although he has not met with full
cess. eol confident that, with perfect apparatus,
to the depot But, guard against failure through such
means the commanding general Is derious oil providing
In another manner for supply oil water Tor the use OF the
post
larger buildings, clstern contain from two hundred
thousand three hundred thousand gallons of water be
constructed the bricks and cement oil which II 10 be
formed be brought from the United States But
pensve artesan wells they would cost lar less than
such undertaking Water remains 10 be provided, and
the choice OF is left for decision Small wooden
ccms have been constructed the store house already
erected but supply from them Is only adequate IN the
rainy season.
river but procured by contract, under the pres
of wages for labor IL would form item OF ex
pendture surprising the belief OF the most crednous and
If by the labor OF troops, deseon would in.
eviiaby follow, the annhlaon Of the military force
employed"
This selection laid the foundation Of large expenditures
in California The officers who made the selection
subordinate TO The Secretaries OF War and the Navy.
Their action not final or effective until sanctioned by
the heads Of these departments The Secretary OF the
Navy did approve OF the selection, or, II be did, there
has been no expenditure OF public money towards the
establishment of Davy-yard there. lie waited for Con-
gess TO act and we have the subject under consid
Grafton. Not so with the Secretary OF War. Notwith
standing the report of Major Vinton, made near two
most palpabe defects the location, he has dsap
proved OF the act of the commander OF the Pacific d-
vision and therefore | hold him responsible for the
entire expenditure OF the public money there will call
the attention OF the Senate to few more extracts from
this document, and will thus show why introduced the
civil fund into this discussion
sin Of my reports made while stationed in Caliior
mia, had occasion TO call your attention 10 the fiscal con-
of the Querrermaste department under charge
The large carried that country by Msjor Fitzgerald
and self speedily expended Indeed, found that
my arrival there the debts contracted by predeces
large leave other for means TO
carry duties of the department hs the civil
fund OF California, called, which had been raised, in
by military contributions during the Mexican war, and