Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-02-24

on Mr AspinWall tne following statement II tni
letter of the Secretary is remarkable and unsus
tanned by the evidence:
Had the naval officer followed the order.
that were given him. these frauds would not have
been perpetrated. But Commodore Breese EN-.
ployed Mr.. Aspnwalls broker, and not Mr.. Nor
gan, and the results were gross fraud and the
purchase OF inferior vessels, which could not have
been the case had the policy which the Depart
ment was then insttuting prevailed and its orders
been obeyed"
The attempt to sacrifice Mr. Aspinwall and
Com. Breese in Mr. Morgan's defense requires nc
comments. Still more remarkable is the charge
of the Secretary. when ii is remembered that the
person referred to as w. Y. AspinicaPs broker
was Starbuck, the very man employed by Mr.
Morgan as broker, even subsequent to the pur-
chase Of the Roman and Badger, as appears by
the following letter:
"DEAR CoMNoDoRE-I have not directed the
Mediator to go to the navy ard, and until hear
from you shall do nothing ia the matter have
requested Mr.. Starbuck, who purchased her, to
call and see you
VERY truly, your obedient servant,
GEORGE d. MoRGAN.
as. L. Breese, ESQ.,. Flag Officer.
Washington, June 1, 1861"
1t is due to Commodore Breese to saw that
when the ships were brought to the navy-yard
he discovered the fraud, informed the Secretary
and desired to have them consider Mr.. Aspin.
wallis purchases, which he understood was done
order was issued for loading them The
Secretary also refers to the Penguin and Alba
tross, bought by Commodore Breese for SIS ,000
each alleging they of no greater tonnage than
the Stars and Stripes. The Seer etary, however
omits to state that the Penguin and Albatross
were built for sea going vessels, with double en-
gines, aud cost, probably, in construction, one
third than tha Storo md Lo L.
retary further says:
"ln single transaction originally made with
large ship-owner by Commodore Breese, for
five valuable steamers, / felt that the Govern
ment was unfortunately involved and Mr. Nor.
gan was employed to relieve the Department
Under many and great difficulties he succeeded
in saving to the Government, by his action in
that transaction, 1924 ,000."
The explanation, as | understand it, is this
The Commodore, in chartering the FIVE vessels
required the owners to insert price at which
they would sell to Government. 1t was a mere
proposition on their part 1t was rot accepted
neither was the Government bound to pay il
The Secretary also adds:
"Yet hear from the owners and sellers nc
complaint that they, by the operation of this
system of purchase, have been oppressed or ag-
grieved."
Let US examine the correctness of this state
ment by one transaction. In the month Of May
last j. Rudolph Sieg and James G.. Jewett Co
OF New York City, were owners of the steamer
Mercedita. During that month man by the
name of Burrill, claiming to be an agent and ad
wiser OF the Navy Department, proposed a pur-
chase. Jewett 4 Co., to prevent the extortion:
of Government agents, on the 18th day OF
June wrote a letter to the Secretary OF the
Navy offering to charter or sell that vessel al
valuation to be fixed by the Department. A
similar letter was sent by them to the President
of the United States. The Secretary returned
an answer refusing to charter or purchase as
she unsuited for an armed ship. Burrill
shortly after appears, saying that he can sell the
rejected steamer; that he had returned from
Washington, and asked authority from them to
sell to Government, which was given him on the
Sd day of July. On the 3lst of July Burrill
came again and made an offer from the Secretary
of the Navy for the rejected steamer, on the con-
dition that the owners should pay $4,000 to
him, besides a fair brokerage, which SIS ,0OC
Burrill said was to be given to Government Off
cials for their assistance i'll selling this vessel
Jewett & Co. refused, proclaiming that they
would first their vessel rot at the wharf
and themselves wanting for bread, before one
penny should 60 to bribe Government officials
requesting Burrill to say to those who sent him
if the Government wanted S5 900 they would
give that sum towards raising another regiment
to fill the place of the New York 69th. Burrill
left, and, after the lapse of a few hours, return
ed, saying that he had heard from Washington
and that he would withdraw the condition, and
they need only pay him what they saw fit to al
lou him for his services. They accepted. and on
the same day gave Burrill bill of sale for the
Department; and he presented list of altera-
tions required in the hand writing of s. NJ. Pook
the naval constructor, and one of the board to
examine vessels. On the 9th of September they
delivered up the vessel to Government through
Burrill. Much to the surprise of the owners, the
Secretary sent requisition TO pay Burrill 500,
600 for the Mercedita, although the names to the
bill of sale were that of Sieg. owner of seven.
tenths, and Jewett & Co. three tenths. They
succeeded in arranging so that the money should
be drawn by third party. Some twenty days
after the date of the requisition order was had
on the sub treasury for the money. Mr.. George
d. Morgan did not appear in the negotiation un-
til after the requisition for the money. He then
came and demanded So 500 for his share, admit
ting that he did not sell or purchase yet the own
ers could not get their money until he was paid
and if they would consent to pay, he would
write to Washington and urge the immediate re
mittance of the money. The above facts must
have been known 10 the Secretary. They were
written to Com. Hudson, October 81. with re-
quest that they be filed in the Navy Department
which doubtless was done. Since the letter OF
the Secretary, the Committee have not had time
to examine the owners OF the Mercedita; but the
foregoing and subsequent facts, in connection
with the purchase, are sustained by afhdavits OF
j. Rudolph Sieg and James G. Jewett. They
testify that they did not see or know anything oi
George d. Morgan until after the purchase and
delivery of the bill of sale to the Department
through Burrill; that on the 18th day of Novem
ber they called on Mr.. Morgan, demanding re-
payment of 81 500. and he said he had credited
it to the Navy Department; that he had only
taken this sum so the Department might have SO
much back in case the Department elected to
keep the same, on the ground that he understood
the Mercedita cost only $4,000; yet Mr.. Nor.
gan. when he took the s., 500. gave receipt for
the same "for commissions on sale of the Merce-
dita." The owners deny that they ever asked
$4,000 for the steamer, although Mr.. Morgan
claims in his statement that such amount de
manded of him The Department fixed the value
and negotiated through the medium above stated
On the 18th of January, Jewett & Co wrote an
other letter to the Secretary, in which they re
cite the fact of their former complaints showing
that they have been oppressed or aggrieved, in
which they say:
go you think it right to endeavor to carry tc
the public, after such an offer on our part, the
idea that we sought to obtain $50. 900 more thar
this vessels value, and TO foster this falsehood OF
the public to give an idea of your brother-in
laws fitness to purchase vessels for the Govern
mentf"
PURCHASE OF HALLS cARBIyEs.
Another remarkable transaction was the sale
by the Ordnance Bureau, to Mr.. Eastman, o
FIVE thousand Halle carbnes. an arm which need
ed some alteration to be useful for 50 so each
This private sale was made at time when the
Department was buying arms which had beer
condemned. and sent FRI m the arsenals OF Europe
After an expenditure of from IS cents to 81 25
they were sold TO Simon 5 evens fof Sl2 so
then to General Fremont for 500. No wondel
our expenses are 5000 900 per day-Govern
ment sells at 50 SO, and in a short time buyi