Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-12-26
Gbe Ohio 6tatesmam
+ Z r N q
From the Cincinnati Times !
The Van Wyck Report..CorruptIOnIn In
tho Army and NAVY DennrIlnenf

Tho Van Wyck RepOrt.-COrrup in
tho army and Favv Department.
We have never entertained an exalted opin-
ion Of the Secretaries of War and the Navy,
and we have not entirely refrained from ex-
pressing our convictions, concerning the gentle
men who preside over the two, at present, mcst
important departments Of the executive branch
OF the Government. Nor did the hue and cry,
started about the alleged extravaganza in The
Department Of the West, in any manner elevate
Mr.. Cameron in our estimation; it had too
much the appearance of the thief raising the
alarm in the crowd to avoid detection.
That the estimate originally formed U0s cor
rect, We have now an abundance of testimony
to prove; indeed, sufficient Is disclosed to over
whelm any other than men entirely devoid OF
shame. We refer, of course, to the Report oi
the Congressional Investigating Committee, an
abstract Of which we are publishing, in order
to let the people know the character of their
public servants, and understand how the money
they have 80 freely given for The support of the
army has been equandered.
In reference to the purchase of arms, the re-
port says that "the extraordinary demand for
them, resulting from the conspiracy to over
throw the Union, has resulted jn extraordinary
expenditures, and, exciting the cupidity Of large
numbers Of persons both in Europe and Amer
ica, has opened up system of unprecedented
speculation. The Government has been the
victim OF more than one conspiracy, and re
markable combinations have been formed to
rob the Treasury. ...,
"The profits from the sale OF arms to the Gov
eminent have been enormous, and realized, too,
Ia many instances, by our own citizens, through
system OF brokerage US unprncipled and dis
honest, ard as unfriendly to the success and vel
fare Of the nation, as the pl1ttings of actual
treason"
The purchase of army supplies are alleged
to have been Very irregular, and in New York,
the supplies OF wagons and horJes were OBJ
tained without any regard to the methods pre-
scribed by law.
Corruption is proven to exist almost every.
where. The Secretary of War has been even
much more direlict than Gen Fremont in relation
to the latter, there is no evidence that he receiv
ed dollar Of the profits made by any party in
hs own department. He frequently paid more
for an article than it was worth, but this appears
to have resulted from q desire to provide his
army with arms and supplies in tho shortest
space Of time; while bis accusers, the President
and Secretary Of War, are proven absolutely
corrupt. HRlG
The committee say that ga man by the name
OF Wood, enjoying the confidence OF the Presi-
dent, was appointed Commissioner of Public
Buildings, place not only requiring great
business capacity, but unfinching intregrity;
and that Wood from his own declarations, made
himself an instrument for plundering the Gov
ernment.
Secretary Cameron selected Mr., Cumming
for fourteen years connected with the Philadel-
phia Bulletin, and for eighteen months one Of
the publishers of the New York World, to make
arrangements for the purchase and forwarding
Of supplies to Washington, q business that need
ed not only capacity, but extensive experience,
and in the latter, certainly, Mr.. c., was entirely
deficient But he was bosom friend Of the
Secretary of War, and must be rewarded for
his services; and what booted it if the army in
Washington did suffer for want Of good clothing
and wholesome food, If Mr. Cameron could re.
pay debt of gratitude to political friend and
admirer
In addition to this, Governor Morgan, of New
York, appointed one Geo. d. Morgan, rela-
tive and law partner, to act in connection with
Mr. Cummings, and So, 100000 we're placed at
their disposal.
Within few days after Cummings was u-
vested with this authority he drew from the
bankers, through the Sub Treasurer, Mr.. Cisco,
at New York, $3.50, 900, 1000 of which, rs
Cummings insists, was applied to pay for the
purchases made by the bankers themselves, or
by Mr.. Blatchford, member of the firm, and
the residue, $l60,00O, he placed to his own
credit at the Park Bank, of New; York city,
and he states in his evidence that he made pur-
ohases for the Government to the amount of
100000. au1s f5.s..
= Mr.. Cummings employed clerk, Mr. James
Humphrey, and exhibited in that as in most
other transactions, confidiDg disposition hard
ly consis ent with thorough business man, en-
gagged in public duty.
Mr.. Cummings appeared to have known moths
ing whatever about this Humphrey, except that
Thurlow Weed said he was "relable' and up
on this Endorsement, he was authorized to make
purchases to an almost unlimited extent, and
how he proceeded, he tells himself:
Question, OF whom did you purchase cloth
ing7
Answer. | cannot recall the names now.
They were nearly all strangers to me. | will
produce the vouchers.
Question. Did you purchase the clothing in
the market?
Answer. Yes, sir, called to my assistance
clerk, through whom / purchased what
could. 5.s
Question. What were the clothes - full
suits2
Answer. No, sir. There were two itemf
which covered the larger part Of the purchase
l--pantaloons and hats
Question. What did you do with theml
Answer. | forwarded them to Annapolis.
Question. On what requisition did you pur
chase hats and pantaloons2
Answer. No requisition
Question. How came you to purchase hats
and pantaloons rather than anything elsel
Answer. Because thought they would bi
needed, as hot weather was coming on. l haC
seen the soldiers pass through here with warn
winter clothing, which / believed they coul(
not endure when the warm weather shoulC
come on, lt su
Question. Then you were guided by you
own information and judgement as to Rha
would be needed at Washington
Answer. Yes, cir. ssa
Question. Had you any other guide2
Answer. No, sir.
Question. Had you any limits imposed up
on your actions except such as were impoaet
by your own discretion?
Answer, No, sir.
Question. You purchased such kind, quail
lity, and amount as was dictated by your ow
Judgment solely2
II Answer. Yes, cir.
The clothing tOas linen pGntdlOons and strd'
hats 10 the amount Of ocer $2l 900.
The same individual, under the direction
the Secretary OF War, contracted with Ben,
dict & Hall for II, 900 pairs Of shoes, at 50 &
luer pair, which we're worth about 81 25, thereb
lfobbing the people of about 1000 7F'
u Among the army supplies purchased by NJ
Cummipgs are the following;
$50 dozen pints of ale and porter,
1S.,,s.,...,...,..S -s.,., So2o
35 qulntals Goldfish, 800 boxes her
ing E.........s..........,ss... Elf
4 nm .I,.n .aotra l,tkta