Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-05-15

One or Its most SUCCESSFUL generals was, from the
enthusiasm Of the moment elected President Of the Unit
ed States The success and brilliant achievements Of the
army during the war, seemed to impress upon the mind
of Of the officers Of that branch Of the public service
that they privileged TO vary from the rigid restric-
tons that had been imposed upon them before the war;
and that they could expend the public money on objects
which they conceived be for the public good without
ae previous sanction of law and they relied on the mill
Try chief who ruled the country to shield them from
Insure H4t "a III.
Mr. DAWSON. would inquire Of the Senator from Ca
rna at what particular time that depot ordered
inhe neghborhood Of Benicia? s M
dr GwIs. In the spring of l849. M
lr DAWSON. What time in the spring Of 1849?
Mr. GwIE. IL is mentioned in the reports of General
Smith, to which have not yet referred The report Of
the ocation forwarded to this city after the 4h of
Mafh, lS49 It was not known to the former Admins
tratin tfs .MF.
Mr. DAWSON What desire to know is, whether the
location made under the present OF the last Admins
tration? Assn M
Mr. GwIY. 1t was made since the 4th Of March, l849
Mr. DAWSON. Under what orders? M st
Mr.. GwIN. There orders issued to General
Smith BY the last Administration to make any such To-
cation nan
Mr. GwIN. BY the general in command Of the Pacific
division, and sanctioned by the Secretary Of War
Mr. DAWSON. want to know who the military COM
mander at the time the depot ordered?
= MIR. GwIN. General Smith. =. ------ %.
Mr.. DAWSON General Persifer F. Smith -
Mr.. Gws give General Smith full credit for acting
he thought for the good Of the country But contend
that it the duty Of the Secretary Of War; who should
have been familiar with the revenues Of the department
and the extraordinary expenditure that would result from
the establishment Of this depot have required that the
old quarters Of the army during the war should be used
until Congress should determine to establish local
ties in the sections Of the State where they needed
Now, Mr.. President, come to another matter.
In the Indian appropriation BILL passed on the third Of
September, 1850, we have this clause:
To enable the President to hold treaties with the various
md fri bag IN fha Cfafan NJ Cal
a Waa bssn sum Of nothing Ills bosS much
per to appropriate Acting under the authority thus
conferred upon him. the President Of the United States
proceeded to organize Board of Commissioner He APP
pointed three two Of whom resident on this side Of
the Rocky Mountains He sent them to California no
doubt at the public expense negotiate treaties These
commissioners took with them authority to call to their
aid the army Of the United States stationed in California
That to say they took with them authority to call upon
the commander of that military division for escorts
wish it to be borne in mind that all this was to be done
under an appropriation of $25 900,
One Of the Board and its disbursng officer on the 18th
of February addresses the Commissioner Of Indian Affairs
follows After casting sur the State authorities,
that they were beigerent; that with the Indians
profitable, because soldiers got from Eve to ten dol
lars per day, and Uncle Sam would foot the BILL very
doubtful he proceeds to say: ss w. a4ss
eve for the Marposa country, with an
of hundred and picked men, ten officers three
mule covered wagons and hundred and City
pack mules to carry provisions ammunition and Indian
goods all under the command Of Captain D. Reyes
experienced and excellent officer from whom we feel assured
only Of protection but of cordial cooperation
deavors pacy the Indians with the olive branch rather
than the sword We arrived here by Benicia
for transportation arrived to-day arranging for the
Journey and expect be the road in the direction of the
Tulare Lake, early tomorrow morning" $3.50
"We gathering all tho information cam and by
despair Of efecng in the of their Great Father
the President very general pacifcation but it win be
requiring address time and probably aarge outlay Of
ouav for pooh and
will now show how this escort was fitted out by read
ing from letter Of 7. Butler King collector ut San
Francisco, to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs The
Quartermasters Department out Of funds, and had
made application to the collector for assistance. He
says
may be permitted to add that having heretofore made
advances to the AMOUNT of $l5OOeO for the purpose Of
bling the troops to move in support of the commissioners
and without had taken the responsibility not step could
have been aken for the pac6caon of the Indians and the
prevention oprobaby long and disastrous Indian and
though four subsequently received m approval Of
that advance the Quarermaser General have been
reminded by the Commissioner Of Customs in letter received
by the last mail that my conduct in this matter Is contrary
20 lau."
Here is information that viii enghten the chairman
of the Finance Committee the origin Of these def
cencies The collector is surprised to find he has acted
contrary to law" in advancing public money to Off
in advance of appropriation made by Congress
have been anxious to ascertain what amount expend
ed these escorts but cannot get the information from
the Quarermasters Department owing TO the mixing
most definite information can command. M
wish it to be borne in mind that this commission
organised appropriation Of $25, 900 and be-
fore they their abors they involve the Quar-
termasters Department in expense of $4,000 which
is borrowed from the collector ut San Francisco.
The collector is charged with acting contrary to law in
loaning the money; but he is in no danger He will be
UNIDENTIFIED by transfer warrants, In deficiency bill
alude to this transaction to show that the War Depart
ment has become the predominant power Of the Govern
ment whose subordnates act without authority of law,
with impunty tolerated in any other Department
in the Government Thus find this escort provided with
money from the collectors Office contrary to law, paid 10
agents subordinate this Board Of Indian Commissioners
and obeyng their orders that while from this 900
all supplies for this escort paid for the supplies for
the Commissioners and Indians with whom they treat
ing bought credit, and have not been paid for
this day. And here in this deficiency bill there is
doubt estimate for the deficiency thus created in the
Quartermasters Department, which are called to
make appropriation to meet, while not dollar is a
propraed to deay the expenses Of the Commissioners
and pay for their supplies and those furnished the In
dians while the Commissioners treating with them
The Commissioners having the entire control Of the
expedition, limited in their expenditures to the
Of S25 900 appropriated and although they have drawn
are protested and parties furnishing the supplies
unpaid has the Department Of the Interior asked
for their payment although the Secretary is that
the expenditures have largely exceeded the appropriation
In proof Of this will read extracts from letters Of the
commissioners found in the annual report of the Commits
soner Of Indian Affairs:
1--WE arrived accordingly at this camp the 18th utmo,
found Indians the ground and others continued
arrive daily until the 10th when, having meanwhile treated
the red and their families TO many provisions they
could and finding them in excellent good humor met
them in council explained to them the object and purposes Of
mission and submitted 10 them propositions for gen.
ersl treaty Of pence, and settlement Of all existing dhi-
owe have therefore, been under the necessity Of making