The Washington union., 1858-03-30
NEW WAY TO PAY OLD DEBTS.-THE SECRE
TARY OF WAR AND JAMES WATSON WEBB
rrrom the Richmond South. !

Irom Richmond South
We can imagine nothing more vexatous than the in
terrupton to which the chiefs OF the departments in
Washington perpetually exposed by every of
pertinent individual.
1t is but few months since the Secretary OF War was
momcntarily diverted from his official duties by the in
truson OF person whose venerable and bengnan aspect
propitated respectful consideration. The air OF an
aristocat, the hd of soldier, and the subtle smooth
of professional place hunter strangely blend
ed in his decidedly striking On the occasion
which refer the bland sweetness Of sycophancy was
the most pronounced characteristic of his address, The
Secretary is of business and with little ceremony
his unknown visitor solicited to reveal the object Of
the interview The strangers face instantly lost the
smile of sauation and instead assumed almost tragic
gravity of expression. 1t obvious that he came as a
suppant of the Secretary favor but with the cunning
of veteran diplomat he conrved to postpone avowal
of his purpose until all the arts of conrty Establishments
had been employed To batter down the barriers OF official
reserve Then, by sudden stroke of energetic mpor-
tunity he besought the Secretary to revoke order
whereby his had been detailed for service against
the Normons in Utah. The request unusual and
unreasonable, and the Secretary promptly responded
with decisive negative. But the old gentleman
would take refusal Against the Secretary's stern
resolve he pleaded the affection of fathers heart
and to give irresistible effect to the application
wife tender solcitude introduced in aid of the pa
rental appeal The Secretary of War is proverbally
cessibe to the claims of pity, and in moment of amabe
weakness he yielded to the old man pathetic importun
ty The escaped the pers of the Utah expedition
luxures of domestic felicity with the privileges and dis
tinction of the regular service.
We leave the reader to imagine with what protesations
of gratitude and fine phrases of superlavc compliment
the happy parent acknowledged his obligation to the Sec
cretary of War.
In less than six months after this interesting interview
New York journal of respectable pretensons startled
the public with circumstanal narrative of the most
frauds in the War Department at Washington.
The statement is thus condensed in the Wing of the 25th
"We are on the eve of war with band of religious
fanatics the duration Of which foretell and
yet it is said that the administration has made contracts
for supplies which TO continue during the 1t is
supposed that for the carrying OF this for single
year. not less than fifteen thousand horses will be re-
qured Certain parties it Is said have received
tract for the supply Of all the horses that mav be
qued during the war; to be delivered in Missouri at
hundred and fifty nine dollars each two million four
hundred thousand dollars for the horses required this
year These horses il is said will net to the contrac
tors clear profit of one hundred dollars each or
million FIVE hundred thousand dollars this year deliv
cry. How many millions are to be made out of this
contractf
Then again. the item Of Indian for the purpose
of feeding the number of animals required for
conducting this war viz oxen mules cavalry and
draught horses 1t said that contracts have boon made
with certain parties not to furnish certain quantity of
corn but to furnish all that the government may require
during the war; deliverable in Western Missouri at ninety
eight cents per bushc when is notorious that half that
sum per bushe would afford an enormous profit How
many millions are to be made out of this contract
Rmor also says that the first order for Indian under
this contract two hundred and fifty thousand bushels
and further that the contract for transportation to Salt
Lake Valley is equal to ten dolla,s per bushel
Now these are very grievous charges and they af
feet the Secretary Of War, cannot imagine for
mcnt that they the fabrication of any recipient of his
favor An enemy would hesitate to produce them
except on compuson of irresistible testimony
The individual who ventured to solicit extraordinary
kindness of the Secretary of War, and to whom the
Secretary of War yielded generous aoquesccnce was
Gen James Watson Webb editor Of the New York Cou-
ricr and Enquirer The individual who comes forward
with such arocous accusations of dishonesty against the
Secretary of War, is the Gen James Watson Webb
editor of the New York Courier and Enquirer
is essential not to the character of the Secretary of