The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-18

La& IWotN0cfb-J.O VI S46 Ut0tSs 00Ao8 NJ 0o0S ~
md Mr.. Msys, the latter betss tho pstauve author
The silesatoos. After the appropriatisn bad beea
made, some Of these ~geu.,e~ea applied % Mr.. oallom for
supply to the members and Of which they had stocks on
hand ready for delivery. But he refused 70 accsds 70
Auditor, Mr.. smith, with . bill rsoe,ptsd ~ = M.
Hugh Tyier-said 70 be his a~gent-for twenty -four sets,
each Of seventeen different books, amounting-not TO
$50, COO. his first ciaim-but 70 $2S $50 40. Nov, II hap
pened thai in this list we're books printed by Gales &
Seaton, j. C, isives, and Mr.. Mayo; and they Ill positively
denied that these BOOKS were purchased rom them either
many Of them could not have been purchased from any
one else, inasmuch AZ some OF them were out Of print.
In bis own defence Mr.. CullOm AYERS that he could and
did purchase the books from other parties; producing at
the same time . letter from shulinston, on Pennsylvania
avenue, Offering TO supply him with three Of the books in
Guided in the list as fast Is he required thom. Mr.. Cullom
alleges that the whole charge is nothing but . conspiracy
ooncocted by the publishers in revenge for his having
purchased the books from others than themselves. THIS
defence did not satisfy the Auditor; for he returned Mr..
Tyier's bill, refusing 10 act upon II until it was certified
by the House Committee OF Accounts. The question was
referred TO Mr.. Cobb, who gave a decision contrary TO the
opinion Of the First Auditor. Upon this, Mr.. Mayo on
tered a caredt eainst any precipitation in ~disposing OF the
s saS on s sSs 9Th Of August @S 'n last s the I ssooun. ~ ". s' cs Asd.'l
by Mr.: Cobb, less g. Ss for portions Of the sets Of books
not delivered.
the authority oC the documents on file in the Treasury De-
partmen. On motion Of Mr.. ~CiDgman, OF North Carolina,
on Dec. IS, . committee was appointed TO investigate Mr..
Cullom's accounts. with power TO send for persons aud pa
pers. II is to be hoped that the affair will get . thorough
overhauling. 1t may be proper for me to add that Mr.:
Cullom demands q rigid inquiry, and 90 expressed himself
through the medium Of Mr.. Maynard, Of Tennessee, in the
House, when the subject was under discussion. Tho fol-
lowing is the resolution adopted at the close Of the de-
BATE
of representatives be referred for Investigation to a select
send for persons an papers.
The next corruption case is the $s7 900 paid by the
Middlesex Manufacturing Company to certain members OF
the last Congress for putting through the amended tariff OF
March last with its free wool clause. Mr.. Lewis D. Camp
bell, of Ohio, was the principal engineer in the passage OF
this act. lawrence, Stone q Co. of Boston, proprietors of
The Middlesex mill, we're largely interested in the removal
Of the duties on wool; and on the recent failure OF that
concern there appeared on their books the sum Of Ss1 900
paid to assist in passing the amended tariff on the 30 or
March last. In addition TO this was the sum OF 5000
paid to certain journals in New York. The mystery IN the
latter case is cleared up-that sum having been PAID, as IT
is believed here, for q pamphlet made up OF articles from
the New York Times.
The So 900 question was the subject of a long debate
in the House yesterday, on motion of Mr.. Stanton, OF Ohio,
as follows. There seemed to be no disposition to shirk an
investig alton, though the debate was q spirited one, and,
as you are aware, resulted in the adoption Of the following
resolution, appointing a select committee OF i've to invest-
gate the mysterious affair
Where's 4 published report Of . committee app appointed sed, to
Inyf n H. state a a Of Mss 81 { %ia alleges isaa he said comPps:
ny paid ST 900 10 secure the passage of the tariff of ls57. and
New York house Tor printing, further alleges that NO s~a,!sfac;
, TOR shplsns, as Sss yet es ssS s sSSrres , or i ee aPp serionsIy %
prejudice the reputation and character Of the members Of
i Ri aeSi in T shs passage Ssss @e e. he 's ri ie Of las 49, Dc TssfsiSr snq st par
Resolved. That a committee Of i've be appointed BY the
Speaker to Investigate said charge, and to inquire whether
any member or officers Of this House received any part Of
Resolved. Tha, & said committee shall find tia. any part Of
said sum was paid TO, or for he use or benefit, either directly
or indirectly, of any member or officer Of this House, that
said committee shall present specific charges against the par
y. Ss:s Esii,1 Tbs. sn 4 my : sssa sssss 3; s sa.I ,s e gB: 81 :.ss;., p
BY the Speaker to investigate the charges 80 presented; and
p i ps' Of The meetings Of y said Committee. and the right 10 be
present a, the taking Of the evidence against, them, and to
10 compel the attendance Of Witnesses in their defence.
This resolution was accepted by the House sa substi-
tute for Nr. Stantons motion, and WAS introduced by Mr..
Letcher, of Virginia
Resolved, Tha, a select committee Of Ave members be sp
pointed, with power to send for psrsons and papers 70 in,
of the las, House. growing out OF the disbursement on any
and report the facts to the House, with such recommendation
as they deem proper.
The sale OF Fort Smelling came in for a share in the de.
bate yesterday, as did also the case OF O. B. Mstteson, of
New York, which, in consequence Of that gentleman's alb
sepce, was postponed until Monday week. The House
being on the track Of fraud and corruption generally, evil
Gently thought that IL might as we'll handle all the dirty
work al the same time.
The charge Of a fraudulent, sale Of Fort Smelling, an old
and now useless frontier brt in Minnesota, involves the
administration, and is likely to turn out a sensation scene
before the discussion OF II Is over. The story Of the sale
u this ~ the government thought tnatt the fortSnell.
ing reservation WIS no longer needed they decided TO sell
Il, and with that object Gov. Floyd sent a commission out
there. composed Of Major Seth Eastman, .. A. and VIM.
KING Heiskell with instructions TO decide whether in their
Judgment, the fort was worth retaining rs . military post,
and If IL was not TO sell, either by auction or private sale
In lots OF forty acres, all the reservation, except such por-
tons a. any actual settler might have = Just claim upon
for improvements made, and upon which they might claim
q pre- -emption right, and that part upon which q Catholic
congregation had built a church and occupied a. a grave.
yard. not exceeding rs acres. The Secretary at the same
time put down 81 SO an acre rs the minimum price at
which the Commissioners should be entitled 10 sell. Upon
examining the reservation the Commissioners found the
fort entirely useless, and also found that q Mr.. Franklin
Steele, the past sutler, had erected buildings for the &C
commodaton Of the government offices; had established q
ferry Gloss the MlsS.SSfppf Tor the uses OF the GARRISON,
which he maintained for many years al his own cost; that
be had purchased other valuable buildings erected by other
parties: in fact, that he had in all made improvements on the
property worth at least $50 900. Upon questioning Mr.. Steele
they found tina, he did not consider himself as having a
tberefrom. They were not, therefore, bound by that
part Of their instructions relative 10 actual settlers in the
disposition Of the property, Mr.. Steele being the only set
tier who could claim a pre- emption right
Upon investigating previous sales Of government pro.
perty in that section Of country, such IA Fort Atkinson,
the improvements at the winnebago agency and other
reseryatious. they found tina. when advertised for publ,
auction or sale, the Winnebago agency property brought
only 81 so an acre, though the improvements cost 800 900
since 1sas. and the land owners In the neighborhood were
selling Their lands for $50 an acre and upwards. More.
over. they found, upon close observation, that a combina.
ton was formed by the people in the locality Of Port Smell
ling no, 20 let the property go higher than 81 Is an acre,
or 81 30 at most, and consequently " they offered II for
public sale il would inevitably be sacrificed. Under these
person purchase the properly Mr.. steele would lose
every penny OF the large sum be had expended on
Il, the Commissioners concluded that the best dis
VA my RbhAA hae " ~ NINAh No y
offer IL TO Mr.. Steele for 800 coo. which vas
more thar si2 an acre. and was higher than the limit
market Tor them by Gov. Floyd. Had Mr.. Steele pressed
his claim as an actual settler Tor the right 10 purchase al
81 Is, the amount Of land be would have been enabled "a
buy would have been 1000 acres on, OF The 7 900 con.
tanned in the reservation. Mr.. Steele offered SIS 900, but
the Commissioners we're hrm, and the contract was finally
made. No sooner was the fact Of the sale made public
than the black republican journals raised a howl against
the administration. basely charging Gov. Floyd, Ool. Orr
Mr.. Rec, Nr. Douglas, and even the President himself
with robbing the Treasury Of q million o. doLsrs. Y
property would have brought q fabulous sum, contrary VI
all precedent, ~ I have shown from the facts stated by
the Commissioners The fact IN, the Fort Smelling reserva
ton sold for a better price than any similar property ever
sold for before. We VII see what tho enemies OF the adj
msnistrstion will make out Of the investigation. The sub
jsct was introduced IN the House, on the 9Th INST by
Mr.. Smith, Of Illinois, when the following debate took
place
Mr.. ssrrH. Of NIL Send up 70 the Clerks desk. and ash
the House 10 sdopt. the follow ing resolution
Resolved, That a committee ~ Gre members be appointed
BY the Speaker, 20 investigate all the fscts and circumstance
connected With the sale ~ the military reservation at For
smelling. the manner IN which said sale WAS msde, 70 whom
made, the consideration paid. the terms ~ payment, whether
the price paid or agreed 10 b. paid was adequate or not sut