, 1861-12-02

The Case OF the 5Qnd KIIInofs Reof-
me- nhe1.trA i ia Letter from Col. Stuart, OF
GANr DOUGLAS Noy. 81, 1851.
Editors Chicago Tribune:
The reported evidence. given on The part of
the defence before United States Commits
sioncr Hoyne, in the case Of the alleged fraud
ulcnt contract fer subsistence for Col. Wilson'S
Regiment, ut Geneva, (32nd) virtually implies
that Col. Webb, of the 4and Regiment, {tI,yn
acting Quartcrnastcr Of the United States, at
this eity,) being informed that Lieut.. Wells
Rcgimental Qtlarterulastcr,) hat! made with
Lants 4 Tinslcy q contract for subsistence at
Is S-lo cents per ration, rejected the service
or contract, and made another one with Mr..
Corwin, at The price Of 10 cents per ration
The imputation is wilful1y and audacio,1sly
false, and is foul defamation of an officer
whose Integrity and honorare beyond impcacll-
mcnt.
facts which will exculpatc Col. Webb from the
base insinuatiols Of the cownrdly officers, who
seek to shield themselves by such gross itluen-
does on his honor. Some Of the incidents
connected with my statement will be cstab-
1ishcd by the declaration Of Col. Tucker, the
con1mandant Of this post, who met US on the
occasion referred to, and well remembers the
interview.
5d e fo5s col i 'esa5 We6S ind d my Se
self on Lake street, near the corner Of
Clark, and in front Of Wizards bank
my presence, Substantially that he had
been sent in by Col. Wilson, TO have some ar
rangcments made for the subsistence Of lis
his men; he asked Col Webb if the Quarter
muster Of the regiment could not make con
| tract for their subsistence; he replied, "No
~ aHe 11@%1 md f1ff 1,d
| Government can make such q contract, p
| leaving Corwin rather abruptly. Heremarkei
! to me, stthcse volunteer Quartermasters would
ruin forty governments if they had ropc;;" !
| suggested tllat lie might authorize Judge VII.
son himself, Uhe Col Of the regiment) to
I him to the price paid here go cents) turning
| to Corwin, he said, II viii give you q note ia
| Col Wilson, he stepped in at Nillard's and
| seated at desk BY the window on Lake street
wrote note to Col. Wilson, which read
the substance Of it was, You car
! your men at price not to exceed twenty cents
| per ration-and send it to me for approval ,
| This note he handed immediately to Mr
| Corwin, who was in waiting. Col Webb anG
| myself left hinl-llo other word being spoken.
C"rwin appeared as mere s'.esseager bearing
| 4 request from, and 4 reply TO, Col. Wilson.
Ue never intitnatcd that any agreement o.
| contract had been made OF proposed viii
Lantz 4 Tinslcy orany other person at Is S-1t
cents per ration, or ut any other price; rol
had Col. Webb all; suspicion Of the existence
of any such fact. Twenty cents was tht
price paid for furnishing the troops here, ant
| was regarded as the fair and lowest price a
which they could be subsistcd. Lantz &
Tineley were never heard Of by Col. Webb il
connection with this contract. The contrac
with Corwin apas IN fact made ly Coa. Wilso1
2fsIer authority Of TIC letter to ao}.tch haze re
}fr7ed, tand acds sent in to Co.. Httb for approval
do not presume to say that Col Wilson,
{cntrustcd rs he was By Col. Webb, and en-
trusted mciuly, I will state, on my represents
tions to him, TINT he was gentleman Of chi
nent character and integrity made the con
tract with Mr.. Corwin at 19cents witha know1
edge that Lantz & Iinsley were furnishing, Q
: had contracted to furnish, lis men at Is 81
cents, OF with any understanding that the II
, tions colkd or would be furnished by any bod
ut that price, but do assert, cn my own PEI
sonal knowledge Of the facts, that Col. Web
; was not informed Of the existence ofsnch fact
and had M suspicion thereof The Quarter
!. | master Of the regiment, at Least, was priv
to the facts; he was q sworn officer of til
! Government, he knew that the Tations could h
J | furnished at the lower price, for he had hin
self made contract for it. I assert that b
= carefully concealed, purposely withheld TIL
knowledge and information from Col Web
ard, to say the least, suffered his Colonel t
, make the contract with Mr.. Corwin at 10 cent!
and so exposed him to the suspicion ofhayin
abused and imposed on Col Wcbb's cont
I Ounce in him, rs an officer and gentleman.
, DAVID STUART, Col CONG 55th Reg't.,
and 1at3 1t Col 42d Ill Volunteer