The New York herald., 1862-02-09
TIE CORRUPTION IN CONTRACTS.
Speech of MIR. Van Wick I'm the
House,
&c. DC, &c.

on government contracts
Mr.. VAN wycK (rep.) ofN. Y, chairman OF the com
mttee Mr. Speaker the 10Th day OF April 1861
the world startled with the recurrence Of one or
those great which mark eras IN the history or
man brands crime with deeper infamy and exat the
virtues OF generous manhood to nobility almost di-
vine Of whs heroes have boosted and poets sung The
parallel of April 10, IT'S, was complete. The days,
months years and cycles of peaceful happy nation
aty borne the Massachusetts, soldier from tho field
of Lexington TO the OF Baltimore For time the
great American heart ceased beat naonal paralysis
moment then the people realized he horrors and
cruetes OF this unnatural The merchant loft his
counter the the quiet OF home the
shuttle paused in its half finished round, the
anvil rang not out tho hammers beat, the lawyers
unfinished brier lost its interest," the clergyman
folded up his sacsrdota robes, mothers, with
the devotion of Spsrtaus, bade their sons g
FORTH the wife pressed more closely her newborn babe
as she gave parting and with blessings and prayers the
husband went FORTH probably to return. The ma
tion offered up life and empt,ed It's treasure into the
lap of this great calamity the rich bestowed Of his abun.
dance the widow gave her mite, only son, or tear
sanctled with prayers Not of can forget It,
History in after times will record this the noblest moral
exhibition Of courage the world has ever Witnessed
Scarce whisper Of treason or murmur OF discomfort IN
all the North yet many of those who made the welkn
ring for truth and liberty who proessed to worship the
true God ready cry out Great is Diana or the
Ephesiansp' hoping cruelty the spirit of freedom
There were others meane still only watching the
opportunity make merchandise OF their countrys mis-
fortunes coin grief nation into currency and
peril her ins ations II could minister to their base
cupdity One class commenced secretly sending ntel
gsnce the rebels the other rendered to them no less
valuable assistance by consprng deraud the people
nd he nO tha instant harpies
besieged the Treasury here. and the vutures
in the North snuIei the spoils afar of. While
the bridges destroyed by the rebels were yet
smoking ruins, before the regiments mpsded by their
destruction could reach tho capital the sappers and
miners who know the trembling necessities Of the ma
tion commenced the assault 1t has been said that in
the panic of watchfuness the part Of pub
c officers should not be required and the larcenies OF
pundering hordes should be overlooked.
CATTLE CONTRACT.
About tho time the New York seventh-the pride
Of the Empire State OF the best OF her citizen
soldiery; of wealth high family position, educa
ton enjoy ing the confidence OF the community in all the
relations Of fe-with the Massachusetts Sxth-A rsg
ment representing tho Intelligence and business occupa
tons Of that wonderful sate-side by side fordns
streams building bridges laying railroad tracks, sleeping
the untented neid, and, whom hunger pressing
upon them the Seventh dividing their last store Of bacon
and hard biscuit with the gallant Of the SIXTH
tract made in this city by the Department with
Dwysr Laughman Sbley Tyler for CATTLE from two 10
ten thousand at eight dollars hundred live weight de-
hvered here and nve and three in Pennsyva
mia. What facilities had Dwyer 4 Co. for transporta-
Governmen. could lay its strong arms upon
railroads and them; could plant its gather
ing armies to guard tho bridge and track, AZ
into Maryan who, without difficulty purchased cattle
TO bo delivered in Washington at six and half per hun
A,wn.t u. N~-
York obstructed BY tho Potomac. Still more, II
the danger Of transportation through Maryland an
that portion should BE- delivered in Pennsylvania il the
Department desired and why nearly 500 received
in Harrisburg, while scarcsly 800 were delivered in
Washington Notwithstanding tho lions In the way.
Dwyer Co. Immediately subet the contract to New
York men, that without any hazard pers they
allied So, 900 on about 1000 head. They had no
dicuIty during the panic Of those times in making this
contract. Why should the government have found anys
There no pretence that either OF these men had any
special courage in overcoming dangers, remarkable
skill in purchasing cattle Two were railroad contract
ors particularly near to the Secretary lawyer
and the winter before had been in consultation and
negotiation with rebels for the sale Of Thus
son and corruption continued at the capital.
AGENCY OF AIxxAsDEs CUMMINGS, EsQ-PrEHAsE OF ARMY
Nearly simultaneous with this occurred another trans
action. On the 21st day OF April the Secretary OF War
although be well knew the great ability and experience
OF Colonel Tompkns Quartsrmaster, and Major Eaton,
Commsary in Now York city, wrote two letters 10 Alex
ander Cummings ESQ. In one he "wants him aid the
Commssary purchasing supplies, TO assist the Quar-
terrnaster in pushing them forward" The other letter
states that
The Department this intelligent, ex.
reriencrd and energetic whom rely assist
pushing forward troops. munitions aud supplies.
No man knew better than the Secretary that these
qualifications already possessed by the army officers
In New York, whom 1t was safe TO rely The Secreta
cy then gracefully compliments hr. Cummings
| I s h ana
the present they Will have to pass
Can there be much intricacy about the railroad
amin Tfpt (av
master in New York PHILADELPHIA not conversan,
with themg The Secretary then adds the touching ap
peal 10 his patriotism
time. am your patriotism viii induce you aid
even at some loss to yourself
On the 23i OF April tho Secretary again wrote
In consideration Of the extraordinary emergencies which
demand immediate and decisive measures hereby author
" l.nM ~ ~ ~, ss s,1 - "a ~ max ~
aid and Of the officers OF the of the United
Either authorized to In absence of the other
On the 4ih day Of May Governor Morgan delegated his
portion OF the power 70 George D. Morgan On the 24tt
the Secretary wrote
sen, you yesterday official paper act in connection
with Governor Morgan by land through Maryland Penn
:Vps: you should act p''s%VSxI VSxassoS sissoosSn'
DR. CUMMINGS.
This the rst time hs recognised his friend as Doctor
Thus armed the Doctor seemed supreme in his orbit
stead Of rendering aid and assis ance he ecuay su-
psrseded the army ofncors. Major Eaton distinctly in.
formed him that his services were not needed in the
purchase OF supplies. Still the Doctor commenced buy
ing 81 900 worth Of straw hats and linen
which were worthless 70 the army and not required by
the regulations. He employed clerk OF whom he knew
nothnghI I'd never seen before. In his evidence first
he did not know who recommended him. then thought
ho recommended by Mr.. Thurow Weed-dnslly sad
81 remember now that Mr.. Weed told me he knew all
about him, and upon his recommendation took him.
This clerk the Doctor suffered to do oil the business and
make all the purchases, except what made by
d. Morgan. II l. but justice TO an influential and widely
circulated paper the city OF New York say that
the World was united with the Courier and Enquirer Mr
Cummings has had no connection with IL editor or
publisher.
CHARTER cArAfISE.
The Doctor next appoints Captain Comstock charter
or purchase vessels The Captain, with friend, goes
10 Brooklyn nspects the Cataine learns that her
price IS IRON SIS 900 70 SO 600 Instead Of
or chartering, or recommending the Doctor TO do So
from the owner his friend suggests - Mr. Devsn that
there ID nice opportunity 10 something by rood
management This was the 23d day Of April the ysry
day the propeller Daylight left New York with supplies
for tho Seventh regiment and two hundred recruits Of
the brave and generous young men OF that city The
DAYLIGHT left without convoy passed up tho Pntomac