The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-06-11


would, no doubt, soon take ne shine out Of
COL Duryee's "Red Devils" and Lincoln's
"Pet Lambs."
The Albany Military Swandls and the
Clothing Contract.
The letter Of Messrs. Wilson G. Hunt, Geo.
Opdyke and others, composing the committee sp-
pointed to inspect the clothing for the volunteers
furnished by Messrs Brooks Brothers, under
the contract with the Military Board, published
in Sundays HERALD, places the responsibility
f. of the miserable uniforms palmed off upon the
soldiers Of the Union at the door Of the in
competent military authorities at Albany.
When it was first ascertained that the uniforms
were made of poor material the swindling
Board at the State capital Immediately COM
mepced a cry against the inspecting committee,
and several of the party organs in their in
terest, taking the cue from their masters, be-
gan raid against Hunt, Opdyke and associ-
ates. This brought out rejoinder from these
gentlemen, in the shape OF the letter referred
to, in which the committee exonerate them
selves, as we'll as Brooks Brothers, from all
blame, and show that the Military Board are
alone responsible for the imposition upon the
soldiers.
The committee state that "the contract called
for $4,000 uniforms, to be made ngiven proper
tions, samples Of each kind being furnished the
inspectors, and that their duty was limited to
the examination and comparison of the sam.
pies with the uniforms furnished" The Mill
tary Board, having previously decided the
quality Of cloth to be used, If they (the inspec
tors) 'foupd the quality of the uniforms equal
to the sample, and made in workmanlike man
ner, were bound to pass them, because they
conformed to the stipulations of the contract"
On this point the statement of the inspecting
committee settles the controversy, and adds
another chapter to the proof of incompetency
of the Albany swindle. They assert "that the
average quality of goods furnished was better
than the samples agreed upon, and the work
manship remarkably good, considering the
shortness of time allowed them" The inspec-
tors add, by way of clincher to what they
have already said, that eff any wrong has
been committed on the volunteers it Is to be
found in the improper selection of the mate
rails contracted for"
1t will be remembered that Dorsheimer is the
person that made the contract with Brooks
Brothers, although he states that the Board
sgreed upon the quality Of the goods. Whether
the entire Board consented to accept this mise
rable stuff, or majority of Myers,
Dorsheimer and those factious members that
have voted with them in all their
pecnlatipg operaions-he did not inform us in
bis Buffalo letter. The real intentions of the
Board, however, are made apparent by their
sending Myers and Dorsheimer to this city to
investigate the matter, or, in other words, send
ing men to investigate their own work. This
is dodge practised by no other body but the
authorities at Albany, and is fitting climax to
their long list of swindling operations since
the adjournment of the Legislature-a full
statement of which, made out oy thorough
and competent investigating committee, would
furnish one of the most startling chapters of
modern times.
of the Legislature, to put a stop to the opera
tons Of the Board; but the Governor hesitates,
for fear that when the lawmakers are assem-
blad they will engage in promscuous legisla-
fion; but on this point he can obtain the written
pledge Of two-thirds of the members that they
will not touch any subject but the war. This
is not where the shoe pinches. His Excellency
is alarmed at the Developments which he
knows the Legislature will make if they are
allowed to assemble, and is in hopes that the
excitement will die out before the meeting of the
next Legislature. In this he will find himself
sadly mistaken. The rascality of the Board will
form one of the issues in the election of mem
bers, and by the time that they assemble on the
lss Of January next the present storm will be.
come hurricane. If the Governor wishes to
save himself let him see to it that effective
measures are taken to stay the storm right
speedily.
The WESTERN VIRGINIA UNION STATE Con-
yENTIoN,-This Convention. which reassembles
at Wheeling to-day, will, we understand, cover,
with its representatives, nearly onehalf the
State. Its programme, IS given to US, will
also be very important, if carried out as
Union movement. 1t comprehends the as
sumption by this Convention Of the government
Of the whole State, the deposition of the rebel
Coyarnor .otchn- an1 all h;u aat rho opro,rf