The New York herald., 1862-02-08

~. l.,
ton Of the report OF the Committee Government Con-
tracts and addressed the House. referring the tragedy
at Baltimore ON the 10th Of April 1884, when tho pulse
of tho nation FOR Q moment stood still, advan-
tage was taken OF its trembling necessities by
spectators. He spoke OF the cattle contract made
In this city whereby fifty thousand dollars was
realized two thousand head Of the agency OF Alex
ander Cummings, in New York; Of the immense amount
OF money paid to him without any vouchers OF his pur
chase OF linen panta0ons London Porter Scotch ale.
and Dutch Herring, for the use Of the army He next
spoke OF the character Of the steamer Caane whereby
for month"; and $50 900 10 be paid in the event
OF her loss by risks; ntmatng also that she was
loaded for private Speculation to be at the expense
OF the government He showed that her purchase was
secured by four separate notes, signed respec-
lively by John e. Deyein, ThurIow Weed, g.
G. Davidson and o. b. hatteson. He next
alluded to horse contract at Huntingdon, Pa when.
on the purchase Of 600 horses, the Treasury was
the capital He then spoke OF Mr. Morgan's agency,
asked he had also paid than the vessels cost that
IN some cases vessels charged 10 the government at
rangement OF Mr. Secretary Wses, allowing Mr.. Morgan
to take two and half per cent from the seller plac
& Ing nm ia anu antsgSn'sm 70 tne government wnicn en-
the government and the 500 900 which Morgan had
ceived in five months really belonged to the Treasury;
that although the Secretary claimed that mono OF the sell
censured him Mr. Van Wyck referred the sale Of
the Merceda, where the owners claimed to have boon
wronged by this system Of purchase they had notified
the Secretary In this case Mr. Morgan claimed and took
81 500 COMMISSIONS when he did nothing towards nego
atng tho SALE Mr. Morgan claimed to have been asked
lowed the department to tx tho price, That the sale Of
5000 Halls carbnes, by Simon Stevens Gen. Fremont,
risk or investment of capital Mr. stevens was in one day
to release $4,000 That In the Department Of the West
through the agency Of Quartermaser McKnstry and his
inspectors, government was plundered OF many thou
sands That although generals and Cabinet ministers
buried beneath the weight Of increasing respon-
sbiity, this reckless horde undermining the worry
ground on which they trod. He commented the
subject OF army transportation, that by an
order Of the late Secretary Of War; railroads allowed
,,laf no
and SO great were the profits that the Western roads
paid bonus Of from 500 to 81 500 for tho privilege OF
pirates infested the dcspsed
than the punderors on land He referred to the traitors
who wore suffered to roman in the Capitol, and de-
nounced the policy whereby the slaves who fired on our
wounded soldiers over the Potomac at Balls Bluff were
returned to chains and stripes while the traitor masters
who wounded them are protected in their constitutional
rights. He closed by hoping that we should never sur
render to rebels In arms-that should stand the
defence Of the Union and the Tag,
Until the last red blade was broken
And the last arrow in the culver.
Mr.. Van wyck in the delivery of his speech. in
terrupted by
Mr.. DAVIS, (rop. Of Pa. who said:-w the gentleman
permit me to interrupt him hsres
Mr.. VAN WYCKI cannot now.
Mr.. DAvls-You have done mo great injustice the
committee, and desire here TO set myself right. must
have explanation. here or elsewhere.
Mr.. VAN wYcK-I will meet the gentleman, here or
ming fast. It is not that am unwilling to the
gentleman for will answer him. or any other here
or ct any other place.
Mr.. DAVIS, (rep) OF Pa, said that no
ncstly desiros than himself Of bringing justice every
charged with fraud He particularly interested
in bringing man to justice namely his own brother
He asked the committee and the House to unite with
him in his efforts to have Captain Davis, Assist
ant 9usrtormassor. Who is is charged with crime
penalty is death, have him shot. His brother knew
nothing Of the charge OF deraudng the government and
the soldiers until published TO tho world through
the report Of the investigating committee. He (Mr.
Davs) had in vain sought to have his brothers. trans
actions inquired into and had been before the committee
with that view but lie told It would $500 to
bring Captain Davis to vindcate his reputation. All
these Investigations will amount nothing unless
taken to punish the wrong deer His brothers. repu
| taton was worth moro To him than that of any
other living. All he asked that u his brother
guilty, punish him; and II innocent let the fact be
declared.
Mr. DAWES, (rop) OF Mass.-Tho committee was ready
at any time to give Captain Davis hoarirg. Davis
Asstant Quartermaser at St. Louis purchased from
his SON. in Philadelphia blankets TO tho amount Of four
teon thousand two hundred and eighty hroe dollars
These hlankets condamned q ST. Louis by Survey
| Board Davis induced General Fremont TO order re.
survey which had, and at which the bills Of the
blankets presented, and which showed that the
blankets only cost 81 1S and 81 4 and that therefore,
| by the pioce they would be cheaper than ordinary
blankets. The Board recommended their purchase by
the pair instead Of sngy In the former way they
charged against the government at somehing $3
instead Of 81 1S 81 as which their market valuc
aud which the bill kept out or view. Tho bill for tho
price Of these blankets amounting TO fourteen thousand
Captain Davis son. not Of the blankets charged at tho
price certified for This his own story and he says
was mistake to furnish that bill But 1t was his own
mistake not that OF tho committee. If Captain Davis
wants appear before tho committee to clear himself
why not come hee, without putting tho government to
the expense Of bringing hims
Mr. DAVIS replied that he had simply intimated that his
brother know nothing OF the charge OF fraud against hum
till Il Published. The committee had uterrogated
him as General Frcmonts body guard whether they
rode on bay horses, with drawn swords how they were
dressed, &c. His brother stood before the country
elon lie repeated that he only asked that no be pun
shed If guilty, aud righted II innocent
Mr.. CAsYBxrL (rep OF Pa, said that Captain Davis
was examined TO tho affairs Of the Quarternasters De-
partment but he not informed at any time that his
own character implicated From that timo he had
labored through his brother TO have fair inquiry into
4 his conduct.
Mr. DAWES read from the testimony to show that Capt
Davis purchased from his son, in phadephis, certsin
blankets and he repeated that Captain Davis could appear
| before the committee 10 set himself right.
| Mr.. VAN WYoK-1he manner OF the gentleman (Mr.
Davs) when he asked me to yield the floor to him might
convey h impression that there was something personal
between u.s. There nothing Of the kind. must say,
in Justice To myself and the committee, that there has
been no desire 70 asten any charge upon the gentleman
brother The committee gave the gentleman Mr.. Dsvisl
opportunity to appear before to mako any expana
ton of his brothers. conduc; he could lie did and
then similar opportunity accorded to his brother.
Tho question then was whether the committee should
put the government 10 tho expense Of i've hundred dol
lars to bring Captain Davis from ST. Louis 70 make an ex
paDston in his own defence. The committee could not
think OF paying Captain Davis mileage for coming hero
for did think it right to pay nor did they ZOOS to
men employed in the public service when summoned or
subponaed to appear before them If they did not ap-
pear when summoned tho course would be TO ask the
House 10 adopt resolution to compel them. This Is tho
| only explanation doem necessary In tho matter.
Mr. HOLMAN defended the OF the committee, aud
| In conclusion moved the following
Resolved That Hon Simon Cameron. late Secretary Of
War; by investing Alexander Cummings, without requiring
from him for tho faithful performance OF his
duties with oatro of large Of the public money
authority purchase without restriction large amounts
Of military supplies, and the Secretary Of the Navy the
employ msnt Georgc d. Morgan without requiring any
such In the purchase Of large number of
for tue public use. with compensation dependent the
prices paid and receivable rom The seller instead Of the
vernment have adoped policy highly IN furious 10 the pub
lie service destructive Of public and public con
| dencc. aud deserve the ccnsure Of this House.
Mr.. FEyToS, (rep) OF N Y, moved 20 postpone the
further consideration Of the matter till Tuesday next
Agreed TO.
DNENcEs OF WASHINGTON AND noMB 6rARna.
Mr. BLAIR, (rcp) OF Mo-, from the Committee Of Con
ference the Disagreement Of the two houses 10 the
amendment to the bill making appropriations for the de
fences OF Washington, made report which was agreed
10.
II provides that volunteers militia, In any Slate
Territory shall be mustered any toIms or conditions
" continue the service therein beyond ton Thousand
in Missouri and four thousand Ave hundred in Mary
according TO former authorizations.
Mr. BLAIR explained that tho committee did nohns