Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-05-27


Hon .J5ao B. Floyd.-We received, by yester-
days mails, from Hon. Shcrrard Clemens,
copy of the minority report drawn up by
Messrs. Faulkner and Burnett on the subject of
the alleged fraudulent sale Of Fort Smelling
Fort Smelling, as probably most of our readers
know, is a government fortress near st. Paul,
in the State of Minnesota and has been used as
n supply depot in our difficulties with the
North Western Indians. lnasmuch as but few
demands have OF late been made upon it on
count of its rcm0tcness from the scenes Of hos
tile demonstrations, it has been adjudged by our
Secretary of War, Hon. Jno. 3. Floyd, as with
in the subjects Of rightGnl bargain and sale by
him He, therefore, acted upon this real or snP-
posed belief of his, and some months ago sold
the fort stock, lock and barrel, for some
ninety odd thousand dollars, when lis zeal
value was but little, If any short of half mil
lion 1t is shown that the fort could have
brought at least four hundred thousand, had any
proper publicity been given that the sale was
about to he made. We have given both sides Of
this gucstion-that is, both the majority and
minority reports, some degree Of attention, and
we must say that the more read and conSid-
er on all the circumstances attending the ncep-
ton and conSummation Of that sale, the more
thoroughly are we impressed with the corrmp-
ton of Hon. Jno. b. Floyd, the Secretary Of
War. This is serious imputation TO make
upon 4 man who occupies high Il position,
and who is reported to exercise potent
an influence in the Executive Councils But
still we must say that, take all the circumstan.
ces Of tho case, together with Gov. FloydS
known character and the stgina of suspicion
that attaches 10 this transaction cannot be
easily explained. At least it has not been
IA as we have yet seen. His two minority
friends arc not thought 10 have done ii, far As
we can learn either in the mind Of Congress or
of the public at large. 1t is matter Of so
grave a character as to have seriously enlisted
the investigations of the House Of Representa-
tives--and we do nope that the matter viii not
be allowed to drop. Gov. Floyd stands now as
a dark spot upon the administration rcputa-
ton for common honesty-honcSty, not in POI
itical discipline for we believe that some allow
that man may be morally honest yet political
ly dishonest, but he stands forth to the gaze Of
the public as guilty of malfcasancc-as polluted
by bride. Certainly he cannot think to pat
off the public MS he sought to do the opinion Of
the Commander in Chief If he ignores what
Gen. Scott may think, as he processes to do,
he cannot so disregard the Impressions of the
public
Sometime last Summer, when public opinion
was no little excited about this same matter,
Gen. Thomas, who had been sent out by Gen.
Scott on official business, reported incident
to his mission, upon the sale Of Fort Smelling.
This report was made by Gen. Thomas to Gen.
Scott and by Gen. Scott transmitted to the War
Department. 1t strongly condemned the sale
and Gen. Scott endorsed the condemnation
passed upon it. Sec. Floyd, it appears, on filing
this report wrote or caused to be written on it,
as a set off to Gen. SCOTS endorsement the
following:
This report is sufficiently clear in its state
ment of facts connected with Indian tribes
The dissertation about Fort Smelling. its sale,
and the Importance of it for IL military depot is
Il gratnitOus intermeddling in matter already
disposed of by competent authority.
"Whatever may be the opinion Of a military
man as to keeping up military post in the
heart Of settled country to hold Indians in
subsection who roam through the forests many
days journey away from it, man of common
apprehension would conclude that the proper
place. f,r forts and troops WAS amongst the In
Iiiau> 10 be held in subsection. When the United
States army set to cutting and stacking it
is possible still more eligible point may be
selected for the purpose near to the Indian set
Elements, where the troops would need those
supplies"
'When this department is required TO report
to 'subordinates' under what circumstances the
post at Fort Smelling Sold or any other act
was done, the duty shall be performed but,
until then, a military man will probably nm
derStand that Il superior in authority is not to
be called on for an explanation of any order"
What is to be thought of the petulant tone of
these comments of the Secretary. He seems to
have been in a rage that the keen sagacty of
the gallant Scott should have detected some
thing rotten in Denmark in that sale But we
hope that Mr.. Secretary Floyd will be taught
that be cannot bluff ADMINISTRATION or comment
from the people. 1t wears the face of
high handed fraud, and such it demands IL
most searching scrutiny.
The majority of the Commute appointed by
Congress to report upon the subject, express
their opinion as follows:
Resolred, /. That the sale of the military post
of Fort Smelling, and much of the rcserva-
e