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

efficient mechanics carpenters brcklayers and masons,
and pasterers blacksmith and painter all under con-
tract to work for the Government for one hundred days
after their arrival on favorable and il is honora
BILE TO the character Of these Eastern mechanics that
whstandng all temptations and inducements 10 violate
their contracts they remained faithful ana iuneu tner
agreement about onethrd the current wages OF the
country The price Of the materials varied according 70
kind and quality, from nine TO twentyone dollars per
thousand feet and the total cost Of materials TOOLS
freight and passage money was So4oI 20. by these
means as the Quartermaster General says, more than
500 600 was saved the Governments and this was the
sort of extravaganza sanctioned by Secretary Crawford
Major Allen the quartermaster who succeeded Major
Vinton gives us history of these expenditures IL
that he took charge the LIST OF Juy lo4v ana
many of the buildings were erected in the fiscal year end
ing 30th of June, 1850 In July, 1919, Mr. Crawford
changed his opinion, and determined that would oe
more advantageous the Government to have the mate
rails provided the Atlantic coast and shipped by sea-
Therefore one of the assistants Of the Quartermaster
Generals Bureau Colonel Thomas, was sent, as have
said the State of Maine where he made the contract
which have mentioned. These were the buildings au-
thorized by Mr. Secretary Crawford In addition to the
single store-house which General Smith specially au
thorized to erect at Bencia The other buildings were
erected without such authority and without plans IRON
the Quartermasters department which regulation OF
the army requires should be furnished before their cree
ton The great bulk Of the expense incurred In the
erection of these buildings General Smiths response
blity And so far from Mr. Secretary Crawford being
as the Senator from California wishes it distinctly under
Stood fully informed Of the expenditures ana approving OF
them am able to state full authority that no report
apprzed him of hem and that the accounts OF quar-
expenditures in California for the third and
quarters of and the first quarter OF were
received the office Of General Jesup till the 10th OF
May 1850 while those Of the second third and fourth
quarters of 1850 received till the 18th of Febru
ary 1851 The Senate will therefore perceive that If there
was any great extravaganza in the erection OF these build
ngs it is be attributed somebody else not TO the
ton Of General Taylors Secretary of War. know and
aver nobody charge the present Secretary OF War
with having sanctioned any extravaganza with regard to
them In order to make out the charge OF
the Senator has quoted from report made by Major Al
len on the Both of June, 1851 long after all the exava
gance complained Of had been committed The report Of
Major Vinton made in March, 1850. If there was
any extravaganza ut ALL it in erecting the store
houses authorized by Mr. Crawford and the other build
ings not authorized by Mr. Crawford prior to july 1850
do not to reproach General Smith for any abuse
of power in the erection of these buildings He is no
doubt able to justify by the oral instructions Of Secre
tary Marcy by the extraordinary condition Of the
try and by the exgency Of the public service believe
the Senator does that he acted with view the best
interests of the country and wonder why little charity
might not have been extended to Secretary Crawford also
Why could not the Senator suppose that far he
concerned he also acted with view the best interests
of the country? And why not ascertain by careful in
qury have DONE that he was in no way responsible
for expenditures made without his knowledge under
thorty which could only have been derived from his pre-
decessor and the exercise of which authority not
known to him till too late for his interference 1t svery
probable that General Smith, with all his gallantry and
all his intelligence, not quite strict economist
the Senator from California Isl and that is very much
to be regretted But must be remembered in justice
to him. that it is not necessary that Congress should
special provisions of law authorizing the building of bar
racks at particular places The army appropriation bills
often contain and that passed in lS48 for the support
OF the army for the year ending June 3d. 1S49 did
tain appropriation for all the incidental expenses of
the Quartermasers department. including barracks In
that the wa S350 600 for these
objects Ordinarily barracks storehouses quarters
&C. are built without the appreciation Of the Secretary of
War; but the distant theatre Of these operations the
pressing wants of the service the peculiar and exraord
nary condition of things in California and the oral in
structons Of Mr. Marcy doubtless justified General Smith
in all that he did.
will show, now what the action of the present
Secretary Of War upon that subject. have said that
the accounts came TO General Jesup the 18th Of Feb
ruary 1851 On the oath of February 1851 the Secre-
tary addressed the following letter General Smith
WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY "a, 1851
Major General PERsrFER f. SMITH
CODady Pacific DECISION Benicia, California.
sm: The Quartermaster General has, within few days
submitted to report made by Assistant
ter Robert Allen showing the number of persons employed
the construction of barracks DC Benic during the month
OF November last and the wages paid each By this
count it appears that there that time eighty
chancs and aborers employed in said works. aggregate
expense of about s2l 900 per month for their wages
he has also brought my notice letter Major Allen
dated August 25 1885, in wh sl~s estimates that
which VIII be required for expenditures In the
ton Of barracks storhoues &c, posts in Cafor-
MIA and Oregon designated in his letter. viii amount during
the commencing the 25th August $780, T. about
S2,U20, 500.
As order appears have been given by this
for the erection Of these works. required by regulations
lsee Army Regulations Of 1884, par. go, GILL was not
until then, of their magnitude and and supposed
they were cheap structures, intended for the temporary
commodaton Of the troops Unless the army should be much
increased o which there present prospect
the military force hereafter 10 be stationed the Pacific
culary in California viii be very nconsderable and the
points where they ought to be stationed hardly yet
determined with sufficient accuracy render il prudent
exend large sums in the construction Of Of
this character Even Ii otherwise the Department
hesitate to make these expenditures until money had
specially appropriated for the purpose In the absence of
plans and estimates and in the uncertainty that prevails
as 70 the extent Of the military force that will hereafter be
stationed on the Pacific recommendation Of such appro
prlauon can be made at the present session.
You will therefore Immediately the receipt of this letter.
suspend all further operations Benicia beyond
what absolutely necessary for the immediate
troops stationed there that remain there you
should report IN answer to the communication Of the General
Che OF the 10th day Of December last that the force
stationed there be reduced You will give similar orders
TO the commanders OF the several posts where such
now IN the course OF taking that proper
sures be adopted for the protection ue works
commenced and for the preservation Of the materials
on hand In the execution Of this order will Of
exercise discretion the which and
the mode IN which II s TO be carried out viii remark how
ever that the expenditures Of the army particularly Of the
Quartermaser 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 ending 30h June 1852 10 900 and
there is TO believe that this amount viii be
much reduced and that specific appropriation will be
made for the works referred 10 in this letter The appropra
tons for the current year already exhausted.
You will also give orders that the quarermasers at each
post SHALL practicable prepare transmit to this
Department detailed statement showing the precise nature
Of all works that have been herea