The New York herald., 1861-12-18

itouSe Ol COT
rupton
IN september last the committee requested Secretary
welcs to discontinue the services Of Mr. Morgan but he
refused Since that time the committee show that Mr..
Morgan has made over forty Thousand dollars. This is
considered fair profit FOR grocery dealer but he is
law Of the Secretary OF the Navy Of course
is all right
In regard TO the purchase Of the Cataue there are
significant facts the testimony that are not alluded
the report i appears that the original cost SIS 600
was paid in four notes Of 81 500 EACH given by four par
tes-Thnrow Weed, G. Davidson, 0. b. Matteson aud
John e. Develin Each one Of the notes signed by
one OF these four, and endorsed by the others.
IN the item Of purchasing army supplies, it is shown
that authority given to Governor Morgan and Alex
Cummings TO dsburse two millions Of dollars. No
vouchers were required or given. Gov Morgan trans
erred his authority TO Geo. d. Morgan Secretary Wses
special favore, who, with Cummings, made all the dis
bursemens. Weed Company appear to have controlled
the employees OF these agents. and TO certain extent
dictated their purchases.
Corning Company, hardware of Albany, were
selected to furnish groceries, and among the purchases
made by Cummings linen panaloons and straw hats
which are not recognized army clothing and we're pro
baby never used
II is shown in this testimony that effort made
by the Secretary u War confer upon Cumming the
troll Of the Subsistence Department New York but
failed on account Of Major Eatons declining his services
or assistance.
The mprovidence md reckless extravaganza of Gene
RAJ Fremont is shown in garing colors The simple item
Of buying condemned Austrian muskets viii suffice for
an example. Twenty-Five thausand Of them were pur-
chased in one lot: the committee say is probable that
the arm had been rejected from the Austrian
service, and purchased speculation and sent
10 this country in view Of the extraordinary
demand for arms. The arm, in tho cond
ton in which it purchased, viii certainly never
be used by army, and when altered proposed its
nferiorty to the arms which rapidly accumua,ing
together with the almost universal prejudice of our
soldiers 10 altered arms, will almost certainly exclude
from the army The amount claimed for the arms in.
GLIDING the special ammunition about Sl6G Oo0 The
committee are Of the opinion that the will never be
Of any service TO the government, and will never bo
used except in some Of unforeseen and extracrai
nary emergency.
The purchase Of the arm act Of manifest
mprovidence and the less excusable because the arm
had been disapproved Of even less price than that
paid by General Fremont by the experienced ordnance
officer at New York. The immediate necessity for arms
can scarcely be considered furnishing an excuse for
the arm was practically useless until altered and 10
effect that delay inevitable and the purchase was
10 T-aCtcatllity OF
Improvement by alteration
The committee found large number of these arms at
Cairo, and notwithstanding the urgent necessity Of arms
at that point, whole regiments the eve Of the
battle Of Belmont almost destitute Of arms These
from tie Arsenal at st. Louis.
lmprovidence ard disregard Of reasonable economy ON
the part Of the government the hand and spirit
OF ruthless speculation the other have made this con
tract and it is question Of public justice how far it shall
be carried into effect The committee deem it their duty
TO present the facts for the consideration Of the House
without any special recommendation,
Another transaction 10 the purchase OF arms 70 which
the attention Of the Committee has been directed is the
purchase Of FIVE thousand Of Halls bines by Gen FIRE.
mont throneh Simon Stevens, Of Pennsylvania This
transaction is N some respects of the same character
with the purchase Of the Austrian muskets but much
remarkable in illustrating the improydence OF gen.
temen prominently connected with the public service
the corrupt system Of brokerage by which the Treasury
has been pCnGered and the prostitution Of public conf
dence to purposes Of individual aggrandzement.
In the month Of June last, Arthur NJ Eastman Of MN
chester N H., purchased af the Ordnance Bureau five
thousand four hundred Halls crbnes at three dollars
fifty cents each, and after slight alteration Of the arms
cost Of from seventyfve cents to one dollar and
twenty five cents each arm sold five thousand of them
10 Simon Stevens for twelve dollars and fifty cents oach
who Immediately cold the entire lot General Fremont
for twenty-five dollars each, General Fremont probably
laborng under nsapprehenson to the nature Of
the purchase Of the arms.
The committee propose TO present the transaction
somewhat in detail The sale OF these arms by the war
Department TO Mr. Eastman at time when arms were
in such extraordinary demand is remarkable Our
government was purchasing at high prices rejected
from the service Of different European nations If
General commanding division Of the army was al all
excusabe for purchasing twenty five thousand muskets
rejected from the Austrian service at six dollars and Hy
cents each, the ground of pressing necessity y it is
impossible justify the sale of the Hall carbines il they
any value by alteration.
These arms seem have been sold privately and with
inviting any competition, and sod too for almost
nominal price. The sale made by order OF the Sec
rotary of War recommendation OF the Ordnance Blu
reau No that has ever existed can sustain
itself with such improvidence in the management Of its
anirs One agent Of the government sells these arms at
three dollars and fifty cents each in the midst Of press
ing demand for arms and few weeks afterwards. and
without any increase in that demand, the arms
slightly altered resold TO the government through
another agent for twenty-five dollars each, the
government losing in small transaction If permitted
to be consummated, over ninety thousand dollars,
inasnuch all the Hall carbnes owned by the govern
ment sold to Eastman and Of course embraced the
seven hundred and ninety bought by Mr.. Alex. Cam
mngs the agent Of the War Department, for fifteen
dollars each the these would stand thusey
are condemned and sold by the government at merely
nominal price afterwards in April last agent OF the
War Department purchases them for the government
fifteen dollars each and in June they sold East
man by the War Department for three dollars and fifty
cents each and in August they purchased by Gene
raj Fremont for tho government at twenty-five dollars
each
Whether buying selling the ibcrality OF the govern
mert is equally striking General Ripley is gentleman
OF large experience, and nexorabe in the performance
OF his public duties The had been rejected from the
public service as practically worthless years ago and
his judgment alteration could improve IT, If So tn,
rc-purchase OF the without any possible excuse
If otherwise the original sale of the arm is utterly inde
fensible.
N-fHE PRESIDENTS LEvEE--BRILLIANT APPEARANCE az
TIE GUEsTs-THF FOREIGN MINISTER'S PRESENT
AND Observation-Disclosures OF THE WHITE HOUSE
ETC.
The President gave his first levee OF the season To
| night. The White House was thronged with a brilliant
company OF citizens and civil and military officers or tho
government. The President although not wearing thai
ruddy glow that he had when he first came to Washing