Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1862-03-12

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directed to il. Had he changed The poll,
cy, no ccpsure could have been charged
upon himi but he persistently refused,
aud in December Mr, Morgan had increas.
ed his fortune to the enormous sum OF
about 500, ,00O-at the rate Of quarter ofa
million per anndm Mr.. Morgan's seIyi'
ces could have been secured az $1,000 am
nually, and this enormous sum saved TO
the Treasury but if this be not So and
men owning vessels have been compelled
or induced to sell them al small prices,
what right has the Secretary to allow his
brotherin law TO put his hands IN the
pocket of each seller and realize the inn
mense sam of 100000 in few months
That money really belonged to the Gov
ernmenL. As an agent, he takes 1t and
if it be an uncomfortable amount it be
longs to his employers.
The Secretary should know that the
rules Of the Chamber Of Commerce, in
New York, as to commissions, DO not ap,
ply where the value Of the vessel exceeds
$4,000; beyond that sum the percentage
is lett to bargain between seller and bro
ker. Can the Secretary find a solitary
case where merchants have allowed two
andSa,half per cent. on a vessel worth
100000? The rule in Boston is one per
cent. where the value is over $4,000.
DEFENCE OF SECRETARY wELLES.
The Secretary, in his last message,
claims that the vessels have been cheaply
purchased Assume it, if you please
Does he not know that our commerce is
paralyzed; that sail and steam vessels
have been crowded on the market, and
must be sold at any price or rot at the
docks. As well justify the purchase o.
the Potomska and Wamsutta which were
charged to the Government for s. 600
more than the owners received, on the
the ground that they were cheap. The
Secretary must have known this transac.
tion was liable to the criticism it has re-
celved,o or he would not, as he says he did,
III advance, feel he might receive some
censure because this great bounty was be
slowed on brother,in-law.
The Secretary, in his labored defence oil
Mr.. Morgan, has done great injustice to
Commodore Breese in the purchase Of the
Roman and Badger. There was an early
disposition Oh the part of the Secretary "a
take the purchase of vessels from the ma.
"he had direction from the Navy Depart,
ment, by letter April d. 1861, to consult
with persons capable ofgIying Information
and advice" A letter written April %,
by II. Bridge, chief Of the bureau of cloth
ing, says: "Mr. William II. Aspinwall has
offered his services to the Secretary Of the
Navy. who wishes you to call on him il
You need assistance in the matter Of the
steamers, as well as to acknowledge his
courtesy" On the same day the Secreta'
ry aiao wrote, advising him to consult
with Governor Morgan, G, D. Morgan,
with Messrs William Everte, Blatchiord,
Grinneli, also committee of citizens, who
are empowered to act for this Depart
ment."
In letter of April Goth, the Secretary
says:
"In my letter the 23i inst Ireferred to GER
tain gentleman rs an advising committee, with
whom you might consult. One Of the gentlcmon
alluded to, George D. MorgUn, Esq, has the spec
ial confidence of the Department; and you will
advise with him, in behalf of Department, and
as its friend in this emergency, in the purcha ses
YOU may make, and the extraordinary measures
YOU are compelled to take. 1t has been grltiiy-
ing to the Department to witness the prompttude
and alacrity that has been exhibited, and the ser
vices re endered, not only by tho gentleman refer
rcd to, bat BY Nr. Aspin,soH and othsrs.'
Gu the 3Olh of April 1861, the Secreta-
ry says:
I'm order to relieve yourself Of inconvenience
and sundry gentlemen who were specified as ad-
yigers in the late emergency, J have proposed
that Mr.. G. D. Morgan and Mr.. w. H. AspinVah
be submitted in their Place. These two gentle
man have been efficient in aiding and assisting
you, and are vigiant for the country a1d its in
tcrests. They WILL it is believed, cheerfuly act
for the Department when you have not oppurtu-
nifty or time TO consult with, Both Of the gent.e-
men have been written TO-, by this mail, on the
subject, and you will consult with eitheg both,
in your future negotiations and purchases
In letter OF May l3, speaking OF pur-
chasing several vessels, among them wha.
! ling>ships, he says:
"Please advise with Mr.. G. D. Morgan in re-
gard to this matter and make purchases with his
! approval"
Thus It clearly appears that Comuo-
dore Breese was induced TO place conf,
dence in Mr., Aspinwall; and when the
whale-ships were ordered, in the ab.
sence OF Mr.. Morgan, he called on Mr.
Aspinwall, and was governed by his ads
vice and action, and May 10Th, wrote tc
/ the Secretary:
| 81 have commissioned an agent, indicated by
| Mr.. Aspinw all, to proceed to New Bedford to ne
gotiate for the purchase of three whale ships
which the Department directed me to obtain for
coaling uses; none can be purchased 10 this
place"
After the Secretary had frequently ad-
vised him to consult a number Of persons, in
every letter reducing the number, until
he declares his warm attachment to MIR.
Morgan and Mr.. Aspnwall although the
letter ordering the whale ships requested
him 10 purchase them with the approval
of Morgan; still, in his absence, aud the
pressing necessities OF the purchase, and
considering the high eulogiums pronoun>
ced 10y the Secretary on Mr.Aspinwall, the
following statement in the letter of the
Secretary is remarkable, and unsHstained
10y the evidence:
"nad the naval officer followed the orders that
were give n him, these frauds would not have
been perpetrated, But Commodore Breese en-
ployed Mr.. AspinwalPs broker and not Mr.. Ner-
gs n, and the results we're a gross fraud and the
purchase Of inferior vessels which could not have
been the case had the policy which the Depart-