, 1860-04-20


makes q difference Of FIVE cents in favor of
Salem in the article Of bacon, although
most Of that article comes from, or pusses
by Salem on its way here. He makes II
difference OF six cents in the price of coffee
and Al in the price of sugar; certainly, a
very liberal difference, when the cost Of
of transportation is only about one cent
per pound.
He finds considerable difficulty in fixing
the price of horses, as the statements of
his correspondents vary so much upon this
point Some are of the opinion that the
cash value Of American horses was from
$75 to $l20, while Lieut. Harvie says they
could not be bought for less than 5000 TO
$500. This places the Auditor in very
disagreeable position, because Mr.. Harvie
has been one Of his best witnesses in some
other matters. For instance: he SAYS
"hay, brought from the Willamette Valley
and delivered at the Cascades, at least IS
miles, cost $l5 per ton, all charges incud-
ed" ( 1t is only 10 miles from Portland to
Cascades, and the hay must have been
transported from several miles below Port.
land, because hone is grown aud shipped
from above. Every sensible man knows
how utterly incorrect this is, as native hay
sells readily from year to year at $40 per
ton, for cash, without addition for freight
charges. But Lieut.. HarVie helps him out
of this dilemma, by saying that Indian
horses were worth only from SIS to $35,
and that he did not see an American horse
IN Le r0luRteer Seyrioe. Those who are at
all acquainted with the facts must come 10
tue conclusion, that il Lieut.. Haryie is
truthful man lie is blind.
Although not directed by the resolution
submitting these claims to him to enquire
into causes or necessity Of the war, he could
not permit Ihe opportunity 10 pass without
alluding foft, which he gracefully does by
referring to the letters Of some OF his cor
respondents, many Of whom preferred pre-
senting their rie,os upon This point 10 facts
in regard to the cost Of supplies furnished.
Col. Casey, in reply to The circular ad-
dressed to MIN, refers him to his Quarter
master at the time, and says, "the accounts
are curiosities in their way" We think
many of the letters accompanying the re-
port are curiosiles in their a0dy The Col.
then goes on to say that Congress should,
before attempting 10 ascertain the amount
of the debt, have enquired into the necessi-
ty Of incurring it," Perhaps, it is nH!or.
tunate that the legislative department oil
the government R not embodied in Col.
Casey, as he seems to be well Informed in
regard to its duties. The Col. says: AS
early as March l4th, two moRths before
the termination of the war he informed
Governor Stevens that there Was 10 longer
any necessity for keeping al armed force
in the field" Probably not, in the vicinity
OF his quarters. Bat those who had wives
and children exposed 10 tho scalping knife
OF the merctess savage thought dilvrenlly !;
and Governor Stevens, whose duty it was
to protect the settler in that sparscly popu-
lated coun'ry, thought differently, ana act
cd upon his own judgment in the matter;
and it is TO be hnpcd his more humane
Judgment IN The matter mIy be sustained.
What are the facts in the case? Briefly
these: We surrounded by hostile In
dams; the settlements had been invaded;
men, women and children murdered; hoGses
burned, aud property destroyed. The Gov
ernors OF the respective Territories called
out volunteer force TO repel the foe. Ii
was necessary, of course, that they should
be supplied with horses, provisions, Trans
portion, &c Merchants came forward aud
sold their goods; farmers their produce,
stock, &c, for the use of the government,
Tor which the government was pledged.
There is not man who sold goods for
scrip, which, if paid to-day at par, he would
not have been better of If he had kept ii
uutll he found cash customer. The sup.
plies were Of a leading character in the
market, such as coffee, sugar, boots, blank,
cts, &c, which cash alone could buy
These goods, in most INSTANCES, would have
sold at as fair rates for cash within six
montS OF the time they were purchased for
scrip. 1t is well known fact to merchants
here that the market advanced SO rapidly
that lot Of sugar sold at Is cents, for
scrip, would have sold at IA cents, cash,
before it was taken from the store. Yet
Mr.. Atkinson, with the unreliable informa-
ton his in possession, in the face of the dom.
mission appointed by Congress for the pur,