, 1859-05-06


the Government. the disposition Of this
property at the pricesfor which they we're
purchased, thus involving no expenditure 10
the Treasury, or the forcing the clothing
upon the market at public sale at a grea,
depreciation in valnel The Auditor 6nds
fault with the sales, and be finds fault
with issues TO discharged volunteers
These were the simple alternatives. pro-
tesi against sach trifing and carping, as
unworthy Of a public functionary, and as
esiCdiated TO cast dlscredit upon this Gov
erument rss Fr
-sl He. seems also 10 be surprised at the
large quantities Of clothing issued 10 vol
nuteers in the 6eid. The Commission was
acquainted with the field Of operations,
which explained the whole matter. The
sronts we're mostly 10 heavily timbered re-
gions without trails, in rainy weather, and
the wear and tear Of clothing was many
times greater than in ordinary service.
The Auditor complains that men were
cetaiued in service and obtained pay Of the
OOmmission after the volunteers were dis
banded. forgetting or not appreeiatiug the
fact, that these services were indispensable
tosstfling the accounts and preparing the
6Hal papers for the action Of the Comms-
Siou.i II has taken the Auditor the whole
recess Of Congress to make somewhat
'.eursory examination Of these accounts
and papers. Does he suppose, or does this
Committee suppose, that we could settle up
ihs business without keeping in service for
some considerable time the heads Of De
phrtmeuts with suitable subordinates aud
assistants! And were such services TO be
Eecoguized by the Commission or this Gov
efnmeut9 It was q service honestly, fairly,
and necessarily rendered, and Is entitled 10
consideration equally with service rendered
previous to the disbanding Of the volun-
teers. His hllusions to General Miller are
sntirely gratuitous and nnfoanded. II he
will take the trouble 10 inquire, and not
proceed Fashly to- decide, he will uRques-
tionably GHd amp;e Justification for the &C
tiOA Of the Commission in the allowances
70, him Of compensation, and so Of the
other gentlemen to whom he alludes.
Again the Auditor seems 10 be surprised
that animals were purchased or brought,
into service by appraisement, from the en-
listed men Of the service, and thet there
were men In the service who received pay
for more than one horse. He says:
,7~ospt. YAntif eSmpauy, Of only twenty-thSee
strong, including fopr commissioned officers were
also called out ~ protest the United States commits
uioneTa making tratica with the Indians, In which
oue prisste 4 reported for pay for three horses In
sryices which was two more than he was entitled to
keep,
--tny Of the Oansrs Of thi. property. II not tb,
greater part Of them, were membeS Of Capt Max0n'.
company, and an elimination would probably show
that all % them were members Of this or some other
eompauy2ii ~ .gl.r nov n
Now the iarts would satisfy even the
Auditor himself. Itis extraordinary that
itshould bemade Feproach against the
service that the uleh Of means ia the conn
ny. not only freely furnished Of their sub
stance to free the country from the horrors
ofah Indian war, but gave their own per.
sonal sarEiees into the bargain. For it is
fact, that the most extensive and wealthy
ofthe farmers and sstock-raiserS enlisted as
privafes. left their herds and feIds 10 waste
and decay. and marched into the. interior,
or operated In the forests Of Puget Sound
and southern Oregon, 10 bring back peace
70 thfirldisiraeied country. Men enlisted
lniO the service. furnishing not only horse
for their own use. but for IRir neighbors
Who had no horses These horses were in
the service Of the Territory. No man had
more than one horse for bis own use, and
itwas by getting horses from those who
Owned horses that every man was mounted
It seems to me that these facts show the
admirable and patriotic spirit Of our peo.
pie, and peculiarly recommend the service
to the .cou6dehce aud appreciation Of the
coantfy1s sa. vmso, tros SSH III.
The Audltor, moreover brings up tho
case Of company A. Washington Territory
volunteers. He states: sl s,rll :
-RThis esmpany vas afsy.shree strong an told and
ias r0 sh9Ns ssryse altogether, Of eight thousand
ssrSes es.Islse X, tSst Srnser ,.,o snS nho @ $
npnbsr Of sts @eneers are marked on the roll rs =,
q. ssfse Nv Te.olption and only sey
iicd By Cbi d Fiiahash tho iaspcctps MI and mus
tsSins shesE a entitled 2 an honorable discharge