Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1861-01-04
Letter from Gov. FlOyd.

Sir-So much has been said very recently about
the pohcy OF TINS Department in granting accept
ances to contractors for transportation across the
plains, that deem 1t due alike to Congress, t1e
public and myself, to make short, plain statement
of the fscts connected with the subject.
At one time in the year 1858, it became absolute.
y necessary to start large trains of ton
the plains to Utah, when there as no avail
sbe means to put those trains in motion. Accep-
tances were given to contractors then to enable
them to start, and they did so. The practice thus
begun as continued good while from necessity
and was afterwards followed to afford accommodate
ton to contractors in their very large and extern
sive work. Their purport is to give preference to
the holder when filed in the department. out of any
moneys due to contractors. These acceptsnces
have, until the past autumn, beer to large amounts
nor has any CT mpaint whatever, until then been
heard that means were not provided to meet and
redeem their. There has never been the least con.
ceament or mystery about this business 1t was
perfectly known to all who had any interest in
knowing anything about it. They have been Civ
en- only when there was subsisting contract out
of which means to meet them would Certainly ar;sa
and for the execution of which there was an exist
ing appropriation. They are prohibited by no law.
The Issue OF these scceptances within this month
rested upon the following considerations Those
given for the last seasons work, and which were
held as collateral security in different places. the
contractors were anxious to postpone until next
season. They represented that this could be dane
with acceptances, which their face represented
that they would be paid when the money they call
ed for was earned by the contractors for next sea-
sons work. The strongest assurances were given
that this paper was only to go, and certainly to go
by agreement already made, into the hands alone
OF those banks and firms who then held unpaid &C.
ceptances and for which they were to be substitu-
ted and held collateral to their own obga tons
The pay accrung under this contract for ne vt seq
son will DE more than enough to cover tne amount
of acceptanceS predcated it. To insure this
stipulation consented to issue paper only in large
amounts, and in the form which would be accepta-
be if at all, to those who knew the perfect soly-
n VIII IN had n
ey engagements With them to a large amount and
who had, as Was informed, and, as believed al
ready consented to and desired the arrangement
| Ii these promises and faithful engagements had
been performed, no difficulty could ever have re
suited from the transaction 1t could not and would
not have misied or deceived any one. No expec-
tation based on it could by any possibility have
been disappointed. But the promises made me
were not kept-were broken. This paper was it.
seems, placed in the hands of the clerk of the In
| terror, who had distracted large amount of Sc
curities belonging to the Indian trust fund Find
ing this to be the case have not hestated to give
| an order to cancel and annu all those acceutan ces
Their peryersion has rendered them void and Of
no effect.
l am grati6ed to assert confident belief that
no connected in any way, directly, rcmote!y
in any shape form, with the duties of the War
Department, had any the least connection with or
knowledge OF this embezzement, in it inception or
its progress.
The issaes of this paper resolves tselfinto ones
ton OF administrative consideration alone think
and rega ding it, will be pardoned for advert
ing very briefly to this aspect of the subject These
contractors have by long series ofyears of faith
full. honest and most efficient services won the con-
tidence and good feeling OF all persons having any
connection with the transportation for the army in
| the country ing beyond our Western settlements
They had never failed in any OF their engagements,
and mad executed many ct them under circum-
stances of peculiar embarrassment. They were
men OF very large wealth and most extensive means
and possessed tsily the confidence of all who knew
them. 1t has become latterly pretty evident that
but small profits, ii any, were likely to be realized
from their oper attons, and this was put nCo great
danger FROM the recent rcverses in money affairs
The revulsicns which recently swept over the coun-
try have arisen trom no cause which business men
could De fairly called upon to take the risk Of
They have been from political causes and not from
any violated law OF commercial or monetary &C
| ton. Under this evident fact, was not unwilling
| To afford these empo. ees OF government any as
sistance likely to save tHenf from serious injury
growing cut Of political disturbances if that could
! be done without running any risk of loss to gov
ernment. / think such Can dsrogate
| nothing FROM sound administrative discretion,
although the sequel has shown that such confidence
has been misplaced.
But there is another end higher public ccrs;d-
Grafton connected with the subject ct contracts for
| transportation. and enc which cannot be overlook
ed with any just appreciation ct good adluinistra-
ton. Good and thoroughly responsible consrac-
tors for transportation across immense plains
are extremely important persons to little army,
and difficult to obtain. There is other service
like it known in the world. Nowhere eise on the
globe would the idea be entertained OF subsistirg
| an army by transporting its supplies overland
distance OF thousand twelve hundred miles,
through unlnhabted wilderness and yet very
large part of army is tlnnisned enG subSsteG
| by this means. Ii the present contractors. WHO
have long and so faithfully performed their work,
should fail become Sc embarrassed to DE
Bile do their work ard supply the army. it would
result in the loss to TIE United States OF vast
! sum of money-probabv million OF dollars. But
the pecdnlary loss would be smaH in comparison
with the risk and damage which such fail IRE
would subject troops to, who are stationed in
the deserts of New Mexico and Arizona.
Should any accident befall these m IN, or any se-
rious Inconvenience result to them from the fail
ure OF regular and certain transmission Of sup
plies, it would be difficult to estimate the just in
disnation which would be heaped upon the head
of the ignorant delinquent otlc r. whose ineiti-
| cheney had allowed it. Trains necessary for the
| transportation, to De performed By Russell, Ma
iors and w addeli, could not cost much short OF
million of fatars and world require menths OF iu-
dustry and activity to prepare. 1t world be very
clear to any that wise forecast demands OF
the governments TO sus ain these contractors by all
! lair and legitimate means.
! | have now nearly brought my administration OF
] the department to close, and VIII be ex
cused for advertng 20 it briefly. There rs not cne
branch OF the military service which IS not in per
feet order as far as any means are Afforded OF
| knowing, and thny very complete. Some have
been particularly encouraged, and think inpfoy-
ed discipline is excellent, and the account ability
| to superior authority ill every department could
scarcely be excelled.
| strict economy is enforced, and perfect respon-
sbiity in all money expenditure is and has been
successfully carried into effect Within cur years.
since have presided in this depa tment, MT
dollar, believe has been lost to the governiienc
bv enlightenment or theft, and within that tllae
sixty millions of dollars have been disburscd No
system OF administration, no line of policy, think,
could reach better results no system OF aecounta
bility could be moe perfect These facts con
fdently assert and the department is everywhere
full OF proofs of them. invite any investigation
which the House may think proper to institute into
any all of my official acts. Very respe fully,
our obedient servant. JOHN 3. FLOYD,
Secretary Of War.
Rtehsneaa Markets.
These uuotations are wholesale. For smaller or
ders higher prices sili be charged.
Conn MEAL.--City bolted rs; Country IS to 20
| cents.
ConN.-We quote prime old white at eoc., new
ees55.
! OArs-sO to s5 cents per bashel.
FLoUR.-Supertine 6.25a650; Extra 100; FAM
lily 7.F5aS 50
'WuEAr-Receipts very light. We quote prime
white at Zeal Is, do red .lOal. l5-io;4r months
and interest per cent off tor cash.
CATTLE MARKEr.-Beet-Suppi ron.inu es large;
sales at $50 to 400 gross. Sheer-Suppiy not
verv good sales of good to prime at a. 80 TO- $50
gross; fair to good sell at $50 to 500 per head
Hogs-Sales OF corn fed at 800 to o2o per cwt.;
distilleIy 100 to Z 70.
HARRISBURG, Jan. 1.-The Legislature
CT, az, ~ 70 J,y tn tho Mana q 81