Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-07-07
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From the New York Times, JuIya.l
The Press and the Secretary of War
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that the public universally REGARDS tne huminis
tration Of the War Department as surrounded
with corrupt influences. Contracts have noto,
riously been made in disregard OF all the usual
dictates Of prudence and economy. Iraneporto
have been hired at monthly rates double the en-
tire value of the vessels; arms and munitions
have been bought at prices which would cease
to seem excessive when we learn that one
fourth the cost passed into the pocket OF the
purchasing agent; the most worthless OF trash
has been received from favorites, and paid for
as if fully up to the contract requirements; and
In every transaction connected with the warlike
preparations of the Government there has been
the taint of peculation and dishonesty, For
these phenomena the Chief of the War Depart
ment is popularity regarded as responsible, and,
as all events, upon him will rest the responsible
ity Of disproving them. ga .-
Precedents may very easily be found to war
rant certain amount of proaigacy In the early
efforts at war of peaceful people. Rapacity
takes the field before patriotism, and Is slow TO
leave it. There are innumerable personal
friends Of those having wealth to distribute,
whose friendship upon profitable occasions be-
comes exceedingly. and even portinaGiously de-
n,onstratiye, and whose ardor can only be cool
ed by very liberal concessions. Contractors
make their way through back doors, with gold
eu keys; political supporters have private
claims to be paid for at the public cost; atten-
tion has to be given to securing the utmost pos,
sible returns to personal and political services.
Such temptations to forgetfulness OF the public
good are seldom resisted; and the opportunity
for dispensing patronage 80 vast is employed
with an average certainty at the commencement
OF every contest like the present.
1t was unfortunate for the Secretary of War
that he came to his office with reputation not
free from reproach. Old charges OF damag-
ing character, though perhaps without evidence
to sustain them, had followed him for years.;
and it was known beside that his pecuniary in
terests ran in many directions, and were gene
rally bold and speculative. IL required more
than ordinary crcumspectlon, therefore, to es
cape without suspicion the severe scrutiny such
antecedents would provoke, and it must be con-
feaaed the Secretary has exhibited far less of
the quality than was to be expected from man
of his practical shrewdDess. A popular i'm
preston, extremely unfavorable to the Chief of
the Department, has been created by the OBJ
vOus swindling and plundering to which we
have alluded. IT, as we desire 10 believe, and
demand to have proved, If true, Mr.. Cameron
is no party to these shameful transactions, and
is unaware of their existence, the Administra.
ton is suffering to degree which may be fatal
to it's success, from very unjust but general
prejudice. ...
Congress is about to be asked for indefinite
millions, to be disbursed mainly through the
War Department. Before granting a dollar,
Congress must institute such Investigations as
will leave no doubt upon the popular mind as to
its honest expenditure. The extraordinary pow
ers confded to the Executive must not be
abused, The suspicion that the national enthu-
siasm is employed by bad and reckless men Tor
III H. ka al
certainty is attained upon these points, it is safe
to say no loan will be received with any sort Of
favor il the money market; and no reliance
can be placed upon continuance of the great
and popular impulse, the cessation Of which
must be the dissolution Of the Government. 1t
is due to the people, TO the Administration, and
especially due to the Secretary of War, that
these intimations of corruption be thoroughly
examined and cleared up.
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENTS OF THE TIMES,
DATED FORTRESS MONROE. JUNE 3O.--Mr. Ray
mond, after specifying the manner in which
Suffers are appointed, gives short history Of
the appointment of Mr.. Moody, who has been
Sutler at the Fortress since last summer, and
shows how satisfactory his selection was to the
officers and soldiers, as also to the UDion men
in that section Moody being Union man,
was distrusted by his neighbors, and was about
to relinquish his warrant, which had been issued
by the War Department for three years, when
the officers of the Fort urged him to remain,
and that the Government would unquestionably
extend to the Union men in Virginia who might
suffer for their principles, every possible aid
and support. He decided to remain; his family,
was driven from their residence, his
seized, and he forbidden to return
He has since heard nothing from or of his
family, but has been devoting himself, with
great zeal and assiduity, to the duties of his
post.
Some eight or ten days since, Mr.. Wistar, of
Pennsylvania, made his appearance, either in
person or by an agent of the Fortress. with a
written Ttquest from the Secretary of War, that
he might be appointed Sutler in the place of
Mr.. Moody. A Council of Administration was
at once convened. Mr.. Moody was found to
have received his appointment for the fixed
term of three years. no pretense was made in
any quarter that he had not performed the du-
ties of his Office with perfect fidelity, and to
the entire satisfaction of all concerned; and no
warrant could be found, either in the army reg.
ulations or in the practice of the army, for re.
moving him in any other way than upon convic-
tion by court martial, on charges of misconduct
made. In letter to the Secretary
of War, setting forth all the considerations,
the Council, therefore, stated that they could
fnd no justification for the appointment of Mr..
Wistar. rltH .s1r-u +.
Thus the matter stood until this morning,
when MIR. Welsh, an intimate friend Of the
Secretary of War, and connected, believe,
with his Department., came to the Fort with an
official order from Mr.. Cameron, appointinq Mr..
Wistar Sutler, in place of Mr.. Moody, Tenoued.
There are two or three points involved in this
matter which make 1t one of much graver i'm
portance than it would first appear. In the first
place, the regular army officers regard 1t as
an attempt on the part Of the Secretary of War
utterly to override the regulations and uniform
practice of the army, for no other reason than
to make place for q political and personal
tayorite, and create opportunities for other per-
sonal and partisan adherents to make large
profits by furnishing such supplies as the Sutler
may require. The rumors of the garrison
name three or four such persons, who are known
to have been very active in bringing about this
change, and to have large Investments, and
still larger expectations, In the way of supplies.
The regular officers regard this as only one in
cident in systematic crusade against their
rights, by which the discipline, order and
efficiency Of the military force of the country is
to be sacrificed remorselessly to the greed Of
political partisans. lam inclined to fear that,
If this matter Is pushed and this appointment OF
Wistar is insisted on by Mr., Cameron, It will
lead to very calamitous results in regard to the
efficiency Of the garrison at this Fortress. -,
II is stated that the President has altered the
army regulations in this respect so as to give
the appointment of suffers to the Secretary of
War, instead of the Council of Administration.
The reason assigned is, that the post has now
become much more lucrative, and therefore
much more important. Unless. however, am
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