New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-01-01

feeling Of ell persons having any connection with the
transportation for the army in the country lying be-
youd our Western settlements They had never failed
IL AIRY OF their engagements and had executed many
Of them under circumstances Of peculiar embarrass-
ment. They were men of very large wealth and most
extensive neans and possessed fully the confidence OF
allwbo knew them.
II has latterly become pretty evident that but small
profits if any, were likely to be realized from their OPP
craons, ard this put into great danger from the
recent in money affairs The revulsions which
recently swept over the country have arisen from no
cause Which business men could be fairly called npon
TO take the risk of. They have been from political
causes ard not from any violated law OF commercial or
monetary action Under this evident fact was not
unwilling to afford theee EMPLOYEES OF Government any
assistance likely 10 them from serious injury grow
ing out of political disturbances, If that could be done
without running any risk Of loss to Government.
think sucb course can derogae nothing from sonnd
Admir- istrstye discretion, although the sequel has
shown that such confidence has been misplaced.
Bot there il another and bgheg public consideration
with the subject OF contracts for trsnspora
tions and one which cannot be overlooked with any
just appreciation Of good administration Good ana
thoroughly responsible contractors for transportation
as rSss our immense plains extremely important PEI
@ns 10 our little army, and difficult to obtain There
ia no other service like il known In the world Nowhere
ele the globe would the idea be entertained OF SUD-
sisting an army by Transporting its supplies overland
distance Of thousand twelve hundred miles through
an uninhabited wilderness; and yet very Large part
Of army ia furnished and subsisted by this means
faithfully performed their work. should fail or become
20 embarrassed to be unable to do their work aud
supply the army, it would result In the loss 70
tie United States OF vast sum Of moneyIprooaoZ
a million dollars. But the Pecuniary loss would
be smsl in marson with the risk and damage which
such failure would subject our troops to, who are sta
tiored in the deserts Of New-Mexico and Arizona.
Should any accident befal these men, or any serious
Inconvenience result to them from the failure OF ar
uar and certain transmission Of supplies, It woud II
difficult 10 estimate the just indignation which WoNn
he heaped upon the head Of the ignorant or delinquent
officer whose inefcieney had allowed IT. irans neees
sary for the sIortaon to be performed by RUSSELL
majols & Wadde could not cost much short OF mil
lion dollars and would require months OF industry and
activity TO prepare II would be very clear to any one
that a wire forecast demands Of the Government to
sustain these contractors by all fair and legitimate
have now nearly brought my administration of the
War Department TO a close, and will be excused for
ad,eiing 20 briefly. There is not branch Of the
military vice which is not in perfect order az far as
any means afforded Of knowing, aud they are
very complete. Some have been particularly en-
couraged and think improved; discipline II excel
lent and the accountability TO superior authority in
every department could scarcely be exeelled. Strict
economy is enforced and perfect responsibility In all
money expenditures is and has been successfully car
RED into effect within four years. since have presided
in this Department, not dollar, believe, has been
let 10 Government by ENLIGHTENMENT or theft, and
within that time sixty millions OF dollars have been
disbure ed. No system Of administration, no line Of
". X.
Of accountability could be more perfect. These faets
confidently assert and the Department Is everywhere
full Of the proofs Of them. invite any investiga-
tions which the House may think proper TO institute
into any or all of my official acts.
Very respectfully, your 9bsdisnt ssIyssnt,
on be referred to the Select Committee investigate
into the abstraction Of the Indian Trust bonds
ID Dir. CURTIS Rep, Iowa. opposed,thi course. :.
Mr. BOCOCK said Mr. Curtis could appear az W.T.
REFS fore the Committee, and briefly contended that
the revolution ahoud take that dreeSi the Secn
my Of War says be has been complicated to some ex-
tent on party TO the question beiire the Committee.
Dr. CURTIS denied that be had offered himself az a
viiuees, and remarked that the Secretary had made
the contract with Russell, Majors & Co. without
authority Of law, and TO the prejudice of other
Mr. GROW Rep Pa raised the point that the
Secretary of War bad no authority by law to COM
muncae to the House at will.
MIR. BOCOCK said the question came too late.
When n public officer believes himself falsely imph-
Gated in improper transaction, he has right to
here and ask tor an investigation.
The SPEAKER said it did not appear to him that,
while it is made the duty of the President to transmit
communications, the heads of Departments could
do so.
Mr. CLEMENS Dem, Ala referred TO the Act of
1858 to show that is expressly provided that the Sec
Rotary Of War shall have che right to make cammcn-
cations in regard to contracts.
Mr.. GROW rep, PENN did not consider that the
law was applicable TO this
TIE communication was referred to the Select Com
mtee on tie Abstraction Of the Bonds.
Mr. HOOPER Dem, Delegate from Utah present.
cd memorial Of the people Of that Territory praying
10 DE admitted into the Union as State Referred to
the Committee on Territories.
Mr.. STEVENS rep, Pa introduced resolution
requesting the President 10 communicate TO the House.
if not incompatible with the public interests the
dion Of the forts, arsenels and other property az
Charleston whether any measures have been taken 70
garrison and put them in condition. since II has become
.,ta Lodi to, hat
troops were therethen and now; whether any orders
have ben given reinforce Fort Sumter since it has
been seized by the insurgents, and what orders have
been given to the officers; and whether any vessels OF
war have been ordered thher since the SEIZURE OF the
same by the rebels.
MIR. BRANCH Dem, n. c. objected to the recep-
ton of the resolution the rules require that such
calls on the President for information shall lie over
one day.
TIE SPEAKER said that Mr.. Braneh's point was
well taken.
Mr.. STEVENS moved a suspension of the rules.
Tie SPEAKER replied that the motion was not
now in order; one hour must first elapse. 81
Mr.. PRYOR Dem, Va offered the following:
Rored That any S,tep. preserve the union between the
States OF h. Coniedsracy ~ ieIee would DO ana
He demanded the previous question, which was or
dered.
Mr.. STANTON REP, Ohio moved to lay the sub.
Jet On the table. :
MIR. HILL rs. Am, Gall move to adjourn. I
want to put down this resolutionmakng business. II
d-tracts the country.
Mr.. CRAWFORD, Dem, Ga II ask my colleague
to withdraw Lis notion
Mr.. HILL cannot.
MIR. SHERMAN tRep., Ohio. 1.-THE previous qres-
ton has already been ordered
, MIR HILL want all resolutions touching the
condition Of the country TO have the same reference.
MIR. STANTON-f the gentleman will permit ne
10 offer substitute will withdraw my motion TO lay
tie resolution on the table. 49,
Mr.. HINDMAN Dem., Ark. )-Ihope the issue will
be met directly certain newspapers and orators have
been talking abont coercion.
MIR. Hill L insisted on his motion to adjourn.