New-York daily tribune., 1862-05-09
Nrw WORK DAILY TRIBUNE, FRIDAY, MAY 9. 1852

the cost of buid,ngs machinery capital invested
the mere net cost Of the gun for labor apd material
when there is no competion In time OF peace, has
amounted to $l2 60. But had those guns purchased
order proved S be wSs vsw Of s. ses Ss
army was practically useless without them, would
nave done exactly as did with the beef contract to
which other gentlemen have seen fit 70 refer. Wher
we expected large arrivals of soldiers from Pennsyi
yania and other States, and there was nothing .I
feed them with, the Acting Commissary 1 ,Gensra
came to me and said, " can now buy 20oo Deeves
If nav or 3 cents pound more than they shouio
be worth" Ill,
Well" replied, pay 1t Applause, pay dol,
lar per pouud rather than soldier should suffer- ou'
he Guarded that your contract ceases when supply
can be bad at the customary price -wniIh ' ma'
done. lie made contract for two thousand oeeVes,
and the whole world rang with the IHmos
that the Secretary of War had cheated tne doverh,
ment in order to enrich some favorile, ana yeI Sne
contract was made with my personal enemies. %.
again. was censured at the time Of the battle OF
Bull Run for not having sufficient cavalry IN .ne m
field. Yet could not speak in my own defense, ior
the safety Of the Government compelled me 70
secresy, Plenty OF horsenen offered their services
but had no pistols swords, or carbines, 10 give
them, and did not want the world to know tnas
mch was our condition. My function was 10 raise
an army Of the largest kind in the shortest possible
time, and to supply them with Whatever neeoluI
material could first lay hands upon As soon as
could Obtain pistols carbines swords, and holsters,
had cavalry enough But then the cry was he
has got too many" OF course, then again wgs
cheaf,nQ The Gopernmeat, by giving ny friends al
the horse contracts. Laughter. Well, mr.
Mavor the horses have been IN the service, ana tue
country has been saved. Those who then cried " no
more horses," to-day can advertisements for the
purchass of an increased number; and to-day saw
also q published advertisement asklng Tor proposai'
10 furnish more muebots.
Had the material resources OF the Governmeh'
been in any manner, commensurate Win ,he eiier
pency tue war would have been terminated ere tnis
80 far a. concerns myself | would rather have had
a million Of Guns too many than thst single sol
der in any of our battles should have been saclcea
for the want of "a weapon. l suppose that haa
been the willing tool OF every man who wanted 10
rob the Government, and if IN place OF attending 10
nv duties had been content to receive men az my
house and treat them to the hospitaities OF my So
c;aI and political POSITION or allowed them to con-
troll me in tie discharge Of my duties, those men
who now attempt TO SANDER me would stil De most
uroluse in compliment aud profession. More tnu,
This. had remained in the war Department Until
th. vote cane of, should doubtless have received
the conn Lment paid TO my late and esteened col.
ieoyne, Nr. WelIes. daughter. He was charged
with having improperly employed man TO purchase
hio.. vet the House OF Representatives voted down
a resolution 10 censure him by about the same vote
that they censured Inc for having secured Tue SER
vices OF an emuloyee. Mr.. Welles obtained the &c,
distance referred 70 long after the excitement ana
co, T,sion attending The commencement OF the re-
belhon Lad ceased. did 20 at "a tine when Ihe
country was almost totally bereft Of Government,
and wi en- We did not know whom 70 trust
Now. gentlemen, could narrate TO you 10 tnis
way MANY incidents OF official connection with the
war Department. Were 1t necessary would give
ou some particulars cohLecteu Win .ne nis,1y ~
This man Dawes, who appears TO be most a.uVe 10
the rersecut;on against NE. l understand ne ls
little prosecuting attorney, living somewhere IN
| ain well aware OF the real cause
of his enhity, and ] will briefly state II. Some
people OF Massachusetts, especially aoout the g0od
cy OF Boston oy.n nearly all the stock in the VIII
mington aud Baltimore Railroad. Notwithstanding
that road has accumulated more money on account
OF tus war By the transportation OF troops ana ar
materie for the Government than 1t ever dld beiore
in double the length Of time when iacs was cnieny
owing TO the confidence I entertained In is Pre-i-
dsnuo vet the management Of the road We're dis
pleased because they could not have al entire mo-
nonoly of the Governments business. When the
LrSIoes ON the wilmington and Baltimore road were
burned il became absolutely necessary 10 construct
a new line Of travel TO Washington by my direction
the President of the Pennsylvania Railroad, Mr.
TSomrson in connection with the Whining
ton Road made arrangements TO run line ot
boats from Perryvie " Annapolis, ana succeeded
in getting the project into successful OPERATION Ihs
new route was used until the Baltimore ana ohio
road was taken possession ol Ny ue 10y 'ic p"'N'"
ment. and until the bridges Of the Wilmington road
were rebuilt In the mean time An arrangement was
made with tho Harrisburg, Reading and AewJ.rsey
roads 10 reduce the fare from g. TO II from New
York 10 Baltimore, per soldier. But my action III
this matter took money ont OF the purses oi gentle
men in Boston, and Mr. Dawes. who appeared 70
represeut the interests affected, became my enemy
This IL the only reason for his opposition OF which
am aware. do not know him further than that he
yvas frequently hanging about the War Department
in common with other applicants FOR special iaFors
Having my whole time occupied IN preparing an
army out OF raw and undiscpned soldiers, OF course
NAV have run counter to the desires OF such gentle
men, and consequently, they now return the dis
favor.
The theme is by no means pleasant one Tor me;
but after tie recent wrong which has been done me
fell, that when talking TO my old friends and neigh
bor, would do myself the simple Justice To speak
MAINLY IL would be needless for ne to attempt TO
convince YOU OF my honesty of purpose and inten-
ton in every official act Of my life. am known 10
Won nersoually and feel willing TO abide by and
vii ully appreciate your decision upon my charae
ter ss your fellow citizen. tGreat applause.
leave YOU with great reluctance. IL has been
the dream of my life to go abroad in some position
that would enable me to catch proper glimpse OF
the beauty and grandeur Of the Old World; but IA
the time draws near when l shall bid you parting
adieu approach it with the pain caused by the sep
aration from old and dear friends.
Perhaps have said enough--it may be too much.
desire to state to you, however, that my relations
with the President have been and stii are oi tue
most cordial character. l entertain az great a re-
spect for him IA for any one with whom i have
ever been associated lie is an honest, high-minded
gentleman AS well al faithful public officer. lAp-
plause.
This rebellion will be ended after awhile, and
with we will end the cause OF this and all future
internal strife "A hope. Great applause. have
never been an Abolitonist. ] am not one now. But
if had the power, would call into the field every
man able to shoulder muske, whether lie be white
or black, that this war may be brought toa speedy
and certain close. And believe we Will come 10
a.. La Nl,f a.