The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-05-19

great extravaganza the erection Of these buildings
Tayors Secretary Of War know and that nobody
chage the present Secretary Of War with having
toned any extravagancc with regard to them In order 70
from report made by Major Allen the 30th of June
1851 long after oil the extravaganza complained Of had
been committed. The report OF Major Vinon made
ia March. 1850. II there any extravaganza at ALL
erecting the slorehouses authorized by Mr. Craw
ford and the other buildings authorized by Mr. Craw
ford, prior to July, 1850,
do not mean 10 reproach General Smith for any abuse
Of power in the erection Of these buildings He u.s. no
doubt able to justify by the oral instructions Of Secretary
by the exigency Of the public service believe, the
senator Does that he acted with view the best
of the country and wonder why little charity might
have extended to Secretary Crawford also Why
could not the senator suppose that far he
cerned he also acted with the best of the
country And why not ascertain by careful inquiry as
made without his knowledge under authority which could
only have been derived from his predecessor and the
else Of which authority not known to him ill too late
Smith, with all his gallaniry and ali his intelligence, was
not quite strict economist the senator from Calor
MIA Is and that very much to be regretted But must
be remembered, justice him. that is not necessary
that Congress should pass special of law author
izng the building Of barracks at particular places. The
army appropriation bills often contain and that passed in
66 for the support Of the army for the year ending June
3d. l649 did contain appropriation for all the incidental
expenses of the Quartermasers department. including
barracks In that year the appropriation $780, 900 for
all these objects Ordinarily, no barracks, sore-houses
quarters, &C., built without the appreciation of the
Secretary of War but the distant theatre of these opera
tons the pressing Of the service the peculiar and
extraordinary condition of things in California and the
oral instructions Of Mr. Marcy, doubtless justified General
Smith in all that he did.
will show, now what was the action of the present
Secretary of War upon that subject have said that the
accounts came to General Jesup the 18th Of February
1851 On the Gath of February, 1851 the Secretary adj
dressed the following letter to General Smith
"WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington Feb. "a, 1851.
SR: The Qnartermaster General has within few day
past submitted report made by Assistant Quarter
ployed in the OF barracks &c. at Benca du
ring the month Of November last and the wages paid to
each BY this account appears that there were at that
time eightynne mechanics and lab0rers employed in said
works aggregate expense of about 600 month
for their wages.
.He has also brought to my notice letter from Major
Allen dated August 25 1885, which that officer estimates
that the which will be required for expenditures in
the construction Of barracks store-houses &c. certain
posts in California and Oregon designated IN his letter.
amount during the year commencing on the 25th August
1885, to about 81 Oh, 500.
"As order appears have been given by this depart
the erection Of these works. required by regua
TONS [Scc Army Regulations of l84l, par. 970-97l
until then Of their magnitude and cost and
supposed they cheap structures intended for the
porary accommodation of the troops Unless the army
should be much increased (of which there present
prospect whaever the military force hereafter to be
toned the Pacific, particularly in California viii be very
and the precise points where they ought TO
be stationed hardly yet determined with sufficient
racy render prudent to expend large in the
sructon of permanent works of this character. Even
were otherwise the department would hesitate make
these expenditures until money had been specially appro
priated for the purpose In the absence Of plans and es
mates and in the sainy that prevails the
of the military force that will hereafter be stationed
the Pacific Recommendation of such appropriation
can be made at the present session.
"You WILL therefore, Immediately the receipt of this
letter. suspend all further operations the works BENZ
beyond what absolutely necessary for the immediate
of the troops stationed there, may remain there
in ahoud N 10 he
Of the geneanhief Of the 26h day Of December last
that the force stationed there be reduced. You
will give similar orders the commanders Of the
posts where such works in the course Of consuc
ton, taking that proper be adopted for the
protection of such works have been commenced and for
the sale Of the materials hand In the
execution of this ORDER you will Of exercise your
discretion the precise extent to which, and the mode
in which il is TO be carried will remark, however
that the expendure the army particularly of the Quar-
erasers department for the last year. have excited great
deal Of remark that the entire estimates for barracks and
quarters Including those in California and Oregon for
the year ending 30h June 1882 only $500 000
and there every believe that this amount
will be very much reduced, and that specific sppropra
ton will be made for the works referred this letter
The appropriations for the current year already ex
hausted.
You will also give orders that the quartermasters at
each post SHALL practicable prepare and transmit
this department detailed statement, showing the precise
nature Of all works have erect
ed thereat the materials of which they constructed
their present state the that has been already
pended them, the materials hand and estimate OF
the amount that will be required TO complete them.
Very respectfully, your obedent servant,
&C M CONRAD,
Secretary Of War.
"Msj. Gen. PERsHER F. SnirH,
Comdg Pacific Division Bcnca, California
presume the report of Major Allen dated at BENIGN
June 80 1851 and referred by the SENATOR
qucnce Of this order The Senate will perceive that the
present Secretary Of War he informed Of the
magnitude and of the buildings which had been
and proposed be erected Benca took immediate
steps put stop to the expenditure 1t is to be sup
posed Secretary OF War; who been in office only
few months is to be acquainted with everything going
in his department IL is his duty investigate every
that every despatch that received by
the Quarermaster Generals bureau or any other. II
the duty Of his subordinates bring his every
thing Of special consequence which may require his
ton. This letter shows that he informed Of the
proposed expenditure Benicia until few days before the
letter dated and promptly after receiving the Informal
ton he put end TO this pendurc On referring the
| documents accompanying Major Aliens report in 1851
find list Of the houses which begun and completed
the depot Benoia for the year commencing July 1850
sustans the have made to The Senate as 10
the number OF houses and buildings which erected
In connexon with this subject, the senator has made
great complaints to the application Of the civil fund in
California
| Mr.. GWIN As the senator ia entering upon a me-
topic, will read the from the letter of Commodore
Jones, which referred. did expect that the
tor would speak to-day should have been prepared
with the documents upon which based my remarks to
which the senator replying. read from official letter
addressed by Commodore Jones to Lieutenant r. w.
Meade, dated San Francisco, August II, lS49 Amer
giving the why he did Put Lieutenant Meade in
command Of the Edith, he makes this statements
Il