Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-04-11
From the Springfield Republican, March 3ol
Playing at War and Paying for 1t.

The people d0tDn at our Sfdfe H0use-"the hub
of all creation''-do not seem 10 haus counted The
eost, sohen they INDUCED few weeks ago in a
hnie DaY spasm. Now that the bill for their
fancy tnossfment In this expensive luxury has
come in, what was at first ridiculous has become
altogether scandalous 1t will be remembered
that, one pleasant February Saturday afternoon,
along the spokes and around the tire-were
puzzled to hear Of secret session at the State
House, of alarming reports from Washington,
Of the passage, mem. con, of bill giving the
Governor power to use one hundred thousand
dollars for the erigeney-whatever it was, Of
convocations of the major generals Of the val
liant M V. M. in all their fuss and feathers, and
of the hurried despatch of one Of those orndmen
tai appendages to the Government-an aid to
bis Excellency-to Washington on mission to
Gen Scott and President Buchanan.
The hours and days that were supposed to be
big with the fate of capitals and common
wealths passed quietly away, and there was no
summons to arms; the distressed attorneys of
Massachusetts in the disputed boundary case
with Rhode Island were able to reach their
families from Washington, bodily unharmed;
the aid came home, finding no war, no fear of
any, and no need for Massachusetts, men or
arms, II there was one. The State House recov
cred It's calm; the rural districts ceased to won
der what II all meant; and nobody among theig
norant outside public dreamed that q ferocious
assault was going on upon the treasury. There
seemed to be NO occasion for any drafts upon the
emergency fund ;nor for the bill introduced about
the same time, and rassed by the Senate, ap-
ptopriating twenty or thirty thousand dollars to
prepare two thousand of our militia for imme.
date active service, and it was therefore put
into repose in the House. But the other day,
when Il was proposed to repeal the emergency
fund bill, this latter measure was brought for
ward. and its passage asked. Why? inquired
the House, and here is the answer, revealing
proceeding unknown, We presume, to most of
the Legislature, as 1t certainly was to. nine
tenths of the people OF the Commonwealth.
Boston, March 9l, 1861.
O0l. Frederic J. OS6in, House Of Representatives:
Sir In answer to the inquiry made blythe honorable House
Of Representatives, whether any contracts have been
made or liabilities incurred In regard - Of the matters
mentioned In the resolve reported to the House. relating
to the equipment OF troops for active service and II
what when, and by what authority" have the honor to
Under the direction of Ais ErceHency the GoUernor
and Committee Of the honorable Counc the following
contracts have been made by me as adutant and acting
i. with the Mddlesex company, Lowell, for 6 900
yards Of cloth, GA wide, to make 1900 military o0er
coats, at 81 81 per yard.
2, With William Deacon, to make 600 military
orercoats at 81 Is EACH he finding all the trimmings
except the buttons: . ann
WIN s,seD crd ~itS FSward ROv,1,n
10 make 1000 Inapsacks (army paternj seyeraiiy at
I'll ss each.
4. With Converse, Harding Co., for 600 pair of
0en@Ss WIN S Rnbser Clothing Co. for OCo hap.ysach,
nj * cents each.
9. The buttons for the coats have been contracted for
with the manufacturer az Ateo0roa will cost about
so; w.s.,,o authorized 10 contract for oCO oOO 5ou
cartridges to suit the new rife musket. The lowest
price for these cartridges ga thousand Atthe State
Arsenal Sn nn mas Ussn lof years
ho,e muskst have caused these to be recaSt and the
cartridges made at the arsenal that the entire cost to
the oOonwealsh for the 200 600 musket cartridges will
not exceed Sae co., 70 N. oo,,,,.,, :, c,,s,,
these contracts will be Ss3 7O to which should be add
ed 5o to pay proper person persons to inspect the
work when hnned % whether the parties con
trscted WIN nA'' 'A'nHS 'ueu 'i''' SeVerai agree
The resolve approprating s25 900 will cover the en-
tire expense, and will leave surplus sufficient to pur.
chase 800 goo percussion caps which It viii be necessary
sous Ius .s,v;cs Te ea''' ''o 0A'''u 'u'O
with great respect, have the honor to be- your obed
ent servant, WILLIAM scnouLER.
This expenditure, clearly unnecessary, seems
also to have been made withom any kqislatiue
authority tohatever. If the executive had any
power to authorize 1t, he must find it under the
extraordinary grant Of the emergency fund. But
that the legislature did not suppose or intend
that such an expenditure would be made from
aI.k es.w.1 - aha IN s1a.s.