Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-10-08
From the st. Louis Repu bican, Sept ~.
Gov. FIONd md his Mule Contracts.

From the st. Louis Republican, Sept. %
Gov. Floyd and his Mule Contracts.
On my return to the city, my attention directed
to an editorial article in the Democrat, commenting in
its usual reckless and malicious manner the conduct
of the Secretary of war; for having given out certain
contracts for the purpose of enabling the army to take
up its line of march for Utah. To gentlemen who
well acquainted with that misnamed paper, the Demo
cra its feeble, malicious abuse OF men and measures is
always regarded a compliment But there some
honest republicans in this section of the country who
look to it as political textbook and to such brief
| explanation is deemed necessary.
TO ridcue the Mormon expedition and to at the
administration for Wasteful extravaganza ia sending
troops to maintain the supremacy of the law and project
the lives and property OF citizens passing through
that wess region is avorite occupation with the
Democrat and its black brethren throughout the
try when their columns will show that they were
the most camorous in demanding the scaps of Brigham
Young and his followers including bis wives -
But the war is happily ended, and now the admnisra
ton is sandered and denounced for carrying out the
policy which they urgently demanded But let US
examine the contracts which The Mormon expedition
necessarily produced.
| Every intelligent man knows that after the movement
of the troops was ordered, the quarermasters depart
ment upon which the heavy burden of the expenses
restcd for the time being entirely destitute of funds
even the transfers employed about the military posts
could not get dollar of their hardearned wages In
fact, the department had neither money credit The
deficiency bill fingered in Congress- and it very
questionable whether it would pass during the session.
| In this emergency, what to be done-abandon the
expedition, or devise ways and means to push it for
| ward
| What would the democrat and its kindred tauttind-
have said had the latter alternative been adopted
| leave the answer to any rejecting mind. 1t having
been determined to maintain the honor and dignity of
the government by pushing toward the troops with as
little delay possible in order to relieve Gen. Johnston
from his embarrassing position, the law made it the d
y of the Secretary of War to provide the The
would not furnish any In this embarrassing state of
affairs few gentlemen myself among others) for
ward and proposed to furnish the no. ses mules &c. and
await the action of Congress for the refunding of the
large amounts of money which we would necessarily
have to raise on our own individual accounts. The
Secretary Of War very gladly accepted the proposition
and Immediately instructed the quartermastcr at Fort
LeavcnwOrth to purchase and receive from the
Der of horses and mules deemed absolutely necessary for
| the Outfitting of the expedition.
No price for the mules agreed upon as there were
data at that time by which the value of such mules
required by the department could be asceraincd
1t simply understood that the contractors to
receive fair remuneratvc compensation for their great
outlay OF money, time risk, and incidental expenses.
Owing to the quantity of the mules required and the
Rigid and contend, unreasonable and unfair mode
Of inspection adopted by the quartermaster at Fort
LeavenWOrth, the contractors met with extraordinary
difficulties and incurred vast expenses in fulfilling their
contracts The price fixed by the quartermaster at
81 Fort LeavCnworth wholly inadequate and would
have subjected the contractors to ruinous losses. All
they could do to appeal to the Secretary of War
for common justice Governor Floyd very wisely de-
tcrnCd not to take the responsibility of deciding the
upon the statements of interested parties But be-
ing determined to do justice both to the government and
contractors he ordered board consisting of three Off
OF high rank and character to assemble at Fort
Leavcnworth to carefully investigate al the facts in
the case and report to Washington city, In pursuance
of this order the board met and after patient and la
borlous Investigations reported in favor of the contrac-
tors.
The above is brief plain statement of all the facts in
the case, and the Democrat, together with the sable
hosts OF its black army perfectly welcome to all the
political capital they make out of it, either against
the Secretary OF War or the mule contractors.
In commenting upon the proceedings Of the board and
the evidence brought forward during the investigation
the Democrat founders through many columns of its
dirty sheet In trying to make up something az anst the
administration and hopes the matter will be nvestiga
ted by committee in Congress. If the party in Con
gress to which the Democrat belongs cannot find better
material than this out of which they hope to make coun-
erfet capital presume they will find it both to their
interest and credit to attend to the business of their con-
stituents.
The Democrat thinks Captain Van Welt could have
made out strong against the Secretary of War
he could have commanded the attendance of witnesses
In this particular he was placed precisely in the same
category with the contractors. Witnesses on either
side attended, gave evidence just as it suited their
convenience The Democrat toClishy insinuates that
much might be proved by officers of the army who were
dcsgnedly sent off to Utah to be out of the wav
The editor will probably be surprised when be learns
that two out OF the three officers composing the board
present at Fort Leavcnworh during the whole pe-
riOd OF the mule delivery and that they were selected
mainly on account of their personal knowledge of the
whole subject Again, there were fifteen or twenty of
Ulcers present at the fort during the sitting of the board
who knew full much in relation to the matter as anv
OF those who had been ordered off. Why were they not
examined? They would cheerfuly have testified had
they have known anything that could have Injured to
the benefit OF the government a brother officer.
The truth is, the Democrat has made goose of itself
and, if possesses particle of magnanimity it will
at once-after learning the above acts-make an ample
apology TO the Secretary of War if it does not will
relate anecdote about the Hon. Frank Blars inter
erlng with mule contracts in Washington city last win
: ter. d. D. MITGHElL
: SINGULAR II IRUE-George W. Bell was arrested
for being negro in the State without the license He
is man lighter in color than mulatto with the fea
lures of white but maniesty has negro blood in his
veins. At the Police Office he insisted firmly vet res
pectuy that he not subject to arrest on the charge
preferred against him. lie acknowledged that his father
was negro but said that his mother was white wo
man. and the owner of his father in Virginia He sta
ted moreover, that his sepather or the one who mar
red his mother after his BIRTH and is an officer in
the United States army, and gave his name which we
withhold for obvious reasons The fellow declared with
air of great sincerity that he could establish these
statements at any time. The fine for being in the State
without license is &c. which amount, with the usual
COST he deposited with the Captain of the Police
bail for his appearance at the Recorders Court this
, morning If he makes good his assertions the money
will be refunded and if not if he does not appear ii
will go into the State Treasury.-& Louis Republican