The Washington union., 1857-09-15
SALE OF FORT SMELLING.


Office
SALE OF FORT SMELLING.
Thus far we have kept entirely silent on the sale
of this military reservation although exchanges
especially the opposition part of them seem to feel
an unusual amount of interest on the subject. But
very recently we have noticed some attacks upon
the Secretary of War, which, partly by their bitter
ness, and partly by their responsibility, have in
duced us to examine the case thoroughly.
The charge-frst made by the New York Times,
and afterwards reiterated and re-echoed by the black
republican journals general yis that the Secretary
of War, to serve his own private interest, OF that
of his special friends sold the reservation clandes-
timely at price not equal to onefourth (some say
one-enth) of its value. This is the head and front
of the accusation If it be true we admit not only
that the Secretarys reputation of integrity
is lost forever, but that the administration which
placed him in power and keeps him there has for
feited the claim which we supposed it to have had
on the public confidence.
Is it likely to be true? Is it not, the contrary,
a most improbable story on its own face? This Sec
rotary, who is thus made the hero of a most ggan-
tic fraud, has lived life of spotless honor, has
won the respect of all who know him, and conquer
ed the confidence even of his enemies. 1t is said,
and truly said that no man sinks to the lowest
degree of wickedness at once. But here is man
who if his revilers speak TRUTH has cleared all the
intermediate space between the oftcst virtue and
the basest turpitude at single bound.
Again: Gov. Floyd is not only honest but a
man of great intellectual ability. No denies that
he is clear-headed and far-sighted His long expe-
rience in public affairs and his quick perceptions of
all that it concerns him to know, have made him one
of the foremost in the country. Now, this thing
which he is accused of doing is one which no man
could be guilty of unless he "a fool as
gross as ever ignorance made drunk" The smallest
modicum of common sense would have taught
him that such fraud could not remain unde-
tected for day. 1t not done in corner.
Every fact connected with it open to public in
spection. The value of the land was very well
known and would have been much better known if
it had been worth what it is falsely said to have
been. Everything done by the Secretary and his
agents is on record and not word Of his instruc-
tons to them were or could be kept secret. A mur-
der on Pennsylvania avenue in broad daylight would
escape detection easily this fraud if any fraud
had been committed.
But while it is very preposterous to believe such
charge against wise, prudent and highprincipled
man like Gov Floyd it is not at all improbable that
blackrepublcan papers would make it. That is nat
ural enough. Their mendacity trained to such a
pitch in the presidential canvass that they carnot
quit their trade all at 1t is their vocation to
bear false witness against their neighbors, and nvet
crate habit has made it, TO them the most agreeable
of all employments.
But we do not base our defence of the Secretary
merely upon arguments priori; though these, we
think, would be sufficient. The case is so perfectly
clear and free from doubt, that if the charge had
been made by the most honorable man in the coun-
try against the silliest knave that ran it would
not be believed by any sane person.
The duty of ordering the sale in question, and ma
king the conveyance to the purchaser, was devoved
by law on the Secretary of War. How it should
be made, and by what agents, were left entirely
to his discretion. He appointed Mr. Heskel and
Major Eastman to perform this service. He could
not have selected two persons of more unexccp-
tonabe character more upright citizen than
the former, or officer more faithful to his duties
than the latter, is not to be found in this Union.
They took with them the instructions of the War
Department to get the best price they could for the
land but in event to accept less than seven dol
lars and fifty cents per acre. The quantity was
between seven and eight thousand acres. Mr.
Franklin Steele, who had some improvements upon
it, offered them seventy thousand dollars, but they
refused to sell for less than ninety thousand be-
ing about S12 per acre. Mr.. Steele finally came
up to the price demanded, and the contract was
closed. There were no other offers of anything
like an equal price, and the commissioners had not
the least reason to believe that more money could
possibly be got for the land by any means which
they or the department could adopt.
The inference of fraud and corruption in the sale
is drawn entirely from the inadequacy of the price
Not title of evidence impeaching the conduct of
any public officer connected with the affair has
been or can be produced. The whole slanderous
superstruoture rests upon this foundation alone !: