The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-06-11

been purchased 90 NJ w;ssmans 2osa Tor By he
government would have saved $40 600
the proposition Of Mr.. Wissmsn not In time sub
nit, Cd to the Secretary Of War.
Gated 70 he secrssSy Or WS Mr. w.ss@sn prOposion
(see bis evidence, p. eo)
uruuescuaby be ought have DONE. He did mot oom-
unicsie Gov Floyd the ccn.euts OF Major BArnards
letter and the substance Of Mr.; Wssmans proPosnoo;
On the coptry. no responds 10 Major Brnards letter Of
the Path Of kiroh BY letter dated the 2esh Of March
(see p. 247), ss follows go
idea hat the ssrrssay Of War WV ,asps1s en-
perry :. wilkins Point and therefore have not submitted
Had been forthwith submitted to tie Secretary, short
the time, the proposition OF Mr. Wssmsn migos
submitted on The 2sth Of March FOR on that day must
have been received and between the 2bth and stst
March the matter might have been considered ~ the
perty paced from wssmAn to Irving, which took place
on the lat Of April following; q the SEQUEL WIN show
siso fhers nothing to Indicate tia. he knew
same reason hat Induced General roten not 70 submit
Msjor Barnards letter, and Mr. wissman's proposition
On me sS snS @ n% w he
posed Major Barnard TO be acting under his instructions
Of the 2eh March, directing him 70 proceed 70 Albany 70
fOtens testimony Gee pages &c. AMI hs letter the.
bis decided in this particular purchase though
not In others, for condemnation and assessment by
aury which indicates the absence OF oil proneness on
bis part to urge tho acceptance Of purchase in any other
The significant question then arises when did tie Sec
Rotary CT War fret have notice Of Major Barnards and
Mr.. Wlsman' g proposition
Floyd (Which is fortified By all the circumstances
Of the easel not until his attention was arrested BY
ssg.spaic sommg9icsSu from Mssr Barnard ..,a, .
the latter that unless the bargain instantly closed
with wissman, the property would pass into the hands
Of Spectators the be then forced to pay
It sss ms hat on the night Of the 2ssh OF March, 1867
ascn Of the txtence of conditional but written contract
between wssman and Mr. Irving to the effect that II
Hno M 0 o ose sSs ma wn
at liberty take the property at $40 600 Accordingly
fearing he Gays that the snt would lose large
y BY condemnation Of the land and that unless Wiss
mans proposition should be accepted before the LIST OF
April, the land would pass into the hands Of
to pay an e1orbten. price: he sgsin: by letters
dated tho 2Sth and 3Qth Of March, urgently ap pealed
with 's on the
elegraphic despatch sent BY Major Barnard to General
Totsn to the same effect letters OF Major Barnard,
OF above date also Msor B. testimony, p 49, "a,
49, also teefaphc despatch Of slst March, filed with the
papers in the case)
the Secretary Of War late 10 the evening OF the 3is Of
March just ss he WAS leaving his Cfce as he says that
conveyed HIM the frat intelligence any negotiations
and Of the urgent necessity for IN immediate deci-
zion on Mr.. whman's proposition; 90 that only two
written to on the subject unit, the sails from wss
man 70 Irving was actually made and closed, and
Floyd was frat apprised Of wssmAns proposition,
and the actual c,usummason Of the sale from wssman
the proposition on the ssS when General lotion received
II, be might have sid 4 the same cay before the Cabinet
ana might have seen tas urgency O. the Deed for mne
Gersa Totten TO communicate the conddenta lottef OF
Major Barnard to him precluded from him not only all
acton but all tnowledse OF the subject
Well, the lat Of April came, aud that day the
kac. between Wssman aud Irving executed aud
made absolute, and Irving became the proprietor Of vii
thus before the Secretary had had time TO act with
small fraction Of d.y before him. the Wilieas Point
whose hands course, the whole subject assumed
phase and presented new basis Of negotiation
starces should the Secretary OF War have done? With
"suYprhe popped upoa him. in most important matter
should be have issued without examination the order
for the closing OF the transaction vita Mr. WssmAn or
On ps an. On b
when his chief engineer, regarding wismAns price ~
exorbtant and preferrrg condemnation Of the land to
private contract OF sale, would have dssened from his
action and when that cicsr did not attach sufficient sgni
canee TO wssmans prcpoes to induce him to bring to
The undersigned OF the opinion that the Secretary
acted in the premises with wise caution, which Is de-
al desired % DO H." rays Gov Floyd in hi. own words
"for II . thing had never consulted the Cabinet
sss not nihes 70 fss ~ss just such nSenss
and wsdom should ehAractezs the action Of all public
hsa Dc $ S sn% ne we
would have been act Of oai haste and reckiessness
dangerous as precedent and censuratle 70 the last Do
gree. were far more honorable 10 the Secretary TO
have allowed far safer for the public interests 70 have
suffered under the circumstances The loss OF the whole
ex,mpe Of precipitation without record in the history Of
cur civil nstTatcn and which would have involved
eeer Then. indeed might his asssiisu have with I su.
impeached the iossry OF hs act for his precpA,s
acceptance, within the fraction Of day. Of proner
which the head OF the bureau bad rejected bat day
two before as txortenae would have really subjected
him to severe animadvcrAioo.
TIE comm ee conclude that therc Is any blanc rest
ing any ore for not obtaining the wle,ts Point pro
petty nj ief price, lies net upon the Secretary Of War
shorls be held sps for Mi tss Acts bo,h q
emission and commission, OF his chief engineer and Of all
bis subcrdinstss would be sufficient for any head Of
deparn EFT TO attend 10 all the details OF business In the
various divisions aud Subdivisions Of bis department. that
there nust be trust every bureau end 70 that Of the Ea-
movements for the acquiring CT properly In the military
department Of the United states n there has been 10
or sf ssy
TIE head Of tina, bureau csnsursbs, not ne Secretary
Of WAR.
may be alleged in behalf Of General Totem that he
regarded Wssmans pride 90 totally insdmissibe, aud
thai WAS safer Tor the government pursue the process
gsresd Governor Foy entertaining hess points the
ssme opinion with himself, and, therefore, he may
ror oiScsr Of he rrcpososs contained in the ieier
Of Major Barnard, Of the 2tsh OF March, 1851; but
was an oficia error in the engineer 10 chef nos 20
have communicated 10 the Secretary, a the earliest
lsoie mcmebt that letter Of the 2.h Of March and all
that the undersigned casnot comprehend, seem to
have been marked private or conndenih The result
might have heen the acquisition Of the wiliets Point pro
whole.
proposition having been lost aud we,t's foiot having
passed into the proprttorshp OF Irving, TIE inquiry Of