Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-02-09
THE MORNONs, THE WAR, AND THE
ARMY CONTRACTORS.

ARMY CONTRACTORS.
The New York Herald, after commenting
upon the civil government Of Utah and the
dihculties incident TO the exercise of the
authority Of the United States, expresses the
opinion that much Of the strife which has here
tofore prevailed between the Mormons and the
Government has srisen from the intrigues of
army contractors. This is n ugh way Of over
Shaving the events of our history for a few
years past, end a coarse method we sbould
say, OF doing injustice both 10 the adminigtra-
ton, and to the very energetic and upright
gentlemen who have been and are engaged in
transporting military stores for the army. 1t
may not be amiss, under the circumstances. to
refer to some leading facts in this connection
1t is understOOd that the War Department
has sent to Congress a communication covering
proposition from MesSrs Russell, Majors Il
" addell, army contractors, to surrender and
aorogate their agreement to transport military
stores for the Government
1t IS due to the parties connected with this
matter that the circumstances attending the
case should be fully stated. The contractors
under various forms, have been engaged in the
army service for more th IN eleven wears They
are gentlemen OF high character and have
commanded the confidence of successive AL
mlnlStraticns, including that Of Mr. Fillmore
When the Government determined to adopt
measures to enforce the laws in Utah, antici-
the plains, advertised for proposals in the
usual way, and took special pains TO invite
various parties to put in bids to do the work
required. After every exertion of the De-
partment none were found willing To upder-
take the immense service, requiring, as il
did, an outlay Of more than two millions rf
dollars. Under these circumstances, the De-
psrtment closed an agreement with Messrs.
Russell, Majors 4 Wsddell, the old contrac
tors, at rates such as were deemed fair and
Just to all parties. These gentlemen. hv
universal consent, execu ted the duties assigned
them with all energy, promptness, despatch
and fairness. They have commanded the con-
fdence Of the Quartermaster's Department
and Of all persons connected with the service
Their outlays have been immense, and their
profits, it is believed, not larger than what
justice and fair dealing would have awarded
them. Under previous contract, in the first
expedition to Utah, running from peace into
war, they had suffered the total destination nv
the hostile action Of the Mormons of three
trains, entalllng a loss upon them of about
three hundred thousand dollars, for which
they have received no reimbursement. Very
much of the efficiency Of the army-at ono
time its safety even-depended upon the eper-
gy and fidelity OF the parties engaged in moy-
ing its military stores; and it is greatly 10 the
credit of the latter that they have been able to
command the approval Of the entire service.
duty assigned them, to meet every order of the
army, TO incur vast expenses with no possibiIi-
ty, IN many Instances, Of corresponding remu-
neratiOn. Now these gentlemen propose to
Congress, through the Secretary OF War. to
snnul the contract, to release the Governments
from their obligations under their contract to
transport military stores Nor has CONGRESS-
yet indennifed them in any way for the loss
Of their property by the hostile action of the
MormOns. Other trains, too, in consequence Of
hOstilities, were ordered into the main columns
Of troops moving to Utah, and thus deprived of
all subsistence for their animals, leading to
their almost total destruction. These consid-
erations may explain the anxiety Of the con-
tractors to withdraw from the service of the
Government They have been compelled. in
point of fact, to bear largely the burdens of
the Mormon war, and although they have the
cordial approval and endorsement of those
under whose supervision they performed their
part of the contract, and ara charged with
no failure at any point in the discharge of
their duties, still, in the absence CT inden- |
nlhc3tiOn for their losses incurred in the ser
VIE on account Of and produced by the enemy |
of the United States, for the time being, they |
may we'll appeal to Congress to be relieved |
from further service The profits Of a business
which are made to depend upon adj in stment by !
Congress ara not as reliable and useful as many
others We could name.
OuE OUJoct Is 10 present 70 the country as |
succinctly as possible a brief review Gf branch
of publ; service about which a portion Of the |
press have INDUCED in comments evidently
conceived in utter ignorance of all the mate
rial facts involved. Ii is as much due 70 the |
people that they should not be deceived into |
entertaining unjust opinions concerning the |
past IS that they should avoid being misied in !
the future. We doubt, indeed, if, in the whole |
history of the Government an important work
has been performed with more of energy, in |
tegnty, economy, and perfect good faith en- all |
sides, IN its origin and in its execution than
that which was initiated and executed by the |
W ar Department in the trans 2ortation of mil
itBry stores TO the army in Utah. The labor
was excessive, the duties to be performed deli |
cate and responsible, and the work was done
with all prOmptness, dispatch and fairness 1t
Is a record which will fad It's way into history
% one of those Transaction which, as the Lon |
don Times says, have distinguished our public
service for diTectness and disregard Of all the |
pdTalyses and stumbling Of antiduated forms |
IL is well, then, that the subject should be
bro1ght before Congress, and that it's events
should invite public scrutiny; for by that
means thOsc who have done their duty like up-
right business men will be rewarded not only
hy approval, but by the condemnation of pro-
fessIOnal grumbeTs and speculatars The prof.
fer OF the contractors, and its endorsement by
the War Department, Is challenge, on their
part, flung in the faces Of all cavilleTs.-UnioA
Of Tuesday.