Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-03-27
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP

WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
The YERf LATEST BATCH OF ISLANDERS Ex-
PLODED.-We have waited until the present
time ere exploding the last bat,h Of Republi-
can-party anti-Administration foerbaeks from
mere curiosity to ascertain whether there ex-
listed manliness Of character on the part of
their authors, sufficient to induce them to save
themselves from being branded as falsifers of
the truth for political ends, when they know
we'll that the means of refuting their ISLANDERS
is within the reach Of all here who choose to
make due inquiry concerning them. The per-
tinacity with which they repeat them through
the press, and the impudence with which
Republican-party mountebank in the House
hall recently assumed their championship there,
counsel that though to urge them thus is to
proclaim the purpose Of l-g through thick
and thin for what may be made politically by
so doing they may not be expected to correct
their Misrepresentation Of their own motion.
So, We have concluded to use the case by way
of illustrating the mendacity OF the system Of
the opposition Of the hour. The SANDERS in
question originated with the prolific manufac-
turer of roorbacks who attends, in this city, to
that now most important department of the
~NO" lOlh A@tcHtHS OSt, anu WcTc
caught up by the editor of the New York
Courier and Enquirer, to be blown through
hiss, OOO-quill, into notoriety.
They are as follows:
THE cattle [beef-we quote the original SIAN
der in the Evening Post-requred for consump-
ton by the army in Utah and New Mexico-ED !
are to be taken at their gross weight, are to be
delivered at these different points TAT Fort Leav-
enworth at cents; at New Mexico at sH cents,
and al salt Lake city at IL 4 cents-ED ] at the
risk Of the Government and the latter engage to
furnish the contractors with escort of troops ;
So exorbitdntly exttavagant Is this contract con-
sidered, that parties now in Washington assert
thai they would be willing to give fifty thousand
dollars bonus and take the contract off the hands
of Messrs- Reed and Armstrong"
Now, we have to say that this contract at the
prices quoted, was for neat weight not gross
weight, as the slanderer alleges-the difference,
all who know aught Of such matters will in an
instant comprehend.
The following is an extract from letter from
one Of the contractors, recently received by a
friend in this city, who has exerted himself to
induce the making of the contract with Reed
Armstrong:
"Tou are very kind in aiding us to get the con-
tract which shall not forget but to get IL taken
from us will be greater and crowning favor,
which will entitle you to my everlasting graft
tude
IL supposed steers could be got at $40 or SIS.
but ind they are worth from $50 to SiO''
To this explanation we have to add that Reed
and Armstrong are now beseeching the War
Department to let them off from the ful6ment
of this contract, which they will with Joy as
sign over to the editor of the New York Eren-
ang Post, if he will substitute for their bonds
men, security for its fulflment satisfactory to
the Department. The difference between hav-
ing to pay from $50 to SIS per head, as they
hoped on making the contract, and from $50 to
$40 per head, for beef steers-the price they
fud they necessarily must pay for them, will
account for their petition to be let off now be-
fore the Secretary of War, we hear
We will next take in had the Celebrations Of
the So, O00-editor of the Conrrer and Enqn,r-
ST, whom the Star has more than once, by-t the
by, taken occasion to defend against Washing
ton correspondential ISLANDERS, got up by some of
the foolish of its political friends for polit-
ical effect. We regret more than we can ex
press to find General Webb's journal engaged
In such dirty work but that it is a very dirty
and dsreputable work, indeed, we shall prove
In few brief paragraphs. Its additional Utah
army supplies roorbacks are as follows, 1--WE
quote that journal of the 22d inst and are
amply refuted in the foot notes we apply 70
them ssTi0ttm:
The first is its insinuation- which we thus
state briefly to economize space that the Adj
ministratiOn caused the contracts for the sup
ply Of the army in Utah to be given out so as
to affect the decision Of the Lecompton Consti-
ton question, in Congress.
To this story we have simply to reply that no
such contract has been made with any man
other than an old army contractor, following
the business not only long before the present
Administration existed, but long before Kansas
became an organized Territory of the United
states. The simple statement of this fact
shows how utterly false the Courier and En-
7n'TeTs inslnuatiOn in this connection really
Is LIS SANDERS point, under such circum
stances Is directed agains: the integrity of its
Own friends in Congress; against the Re bl;c,n
opponents Of the Kansas State bill. omen % no
bribed with army contracts, ACCORDING ~ a..
intimation Of th-ir I'D good.
friend"
His SANDER No. 2 is as follows:
sit is supposed that for the carrying on of tbi.
was for single year not less than fifteen thons
and horses will be required. Certain parties n
Is said have received contract for the supply Of
all the horses that NAV be required during the
wa 10 be delivered In Missouri at one hnnSyed
hundred thousand dollar, for the horses REQUIRED
inns 'ear! These horses, IL 10 said, will nett To
the contractors clear profit Of one hundred dol
IaIs eaeh b, or one million I'VE huDd red thousand
aoiiars on this years. delivery, How many mil
mons are to be made out Of this contract ,,'
In refutation of this roorback, or collection
OF roorbacks, we have to say that the only con.
tract for horses for the service of the Army in
Utah made under the auspices of the present
Administration, is one for 1900 head nj sI5o
Per head, deliverable, not in Missouri az Al.
legged, but st Fort Leavsn~ortb, by the 25th of
April proximo-not for $4,000 head, deliver.
able in the course of the present year, and. in