, 1862-02-13
TIE ERA o. CORRUPTION.
FRAUDS In ;yaR CONTRACTS.
sIeech Of Hen. Chas. 4 Van Wyek, in
the House Of Representatives
Friday, February Z.

Stretch Of Hen. Chas. 4 Van Wyek, in
the Housa Of Representatives,
Friday, February Z.
Mr.. Van Wyck Of New York moved the
consideration Of the report of tue Committee
on Government Contracts, and addressed the
House. He referred to the historic parallel
between the 10Th Of April, 1861, and the 18th
Of April, l775-thc battle Of Lexington, and
men in the streets Of Baltimore He pointed
out the material and other sacrifices the coun-
try had made, and then proceeded to analyze
tie special cases which had come before the
Committee.
CATTLE CONTRACT.
a contract was made in this city by the Dc
Rartme1t with Dwyer, Laughman, sibley &
Taylor for cattle, from O00 to 10, 900 at So per
hundred, live weight, delivered here, and 1915
u Pennsylvania- What facilities had Dwycr
q Co for transportation which the Govern
me ment A. aid not possess? Government could
them; could plant its gathering armies to
guard the bridges and track. At the very time
3n agent Was sent by the Department into
MaIyIand. who, without difficulty, purchased
cattle, to be delivered in Washington, at $3.50
per hundred, live weight. Besides, direct nav
iyation with New York was not obstructed By
the Potion a.. Still more, if the danger Of
transportation through Maryland was an ex-
cusc for thls,contract big with profits, why a
provision that a portion should be delivered
IN pennsylvania If the Department desired,
and why we're nearly 1,5O0 received in Harris
burg, willie scarcely 500 we're delivered in
Washington? Notwithstanding the lions in
the way, Dwyer Il Co. Immediately sub-let the
contract to New York men, so that without
any hazard OF pcrils they realized over $4,000
CUMMINGS AGENCY.
On the 2lst day Of april, the Secretary Of
War, although he well knew the great ability
and experience Of Col. Tompkins, Quartermas-
ter, and Major Eaton, Commissary, in New
York City, wrote two letters to Alexander
Cummings, Esq. In one, he ss wants him to
aid the Com1nissary in purchasing supplies;
to assist the Quartermastcr in pushing them
forward" The other letter states that
1.-THE Department needs at this moment an il
tell1gent, experienced and energetic man, in whom
It can rely to assist forward troops, mu-
nitlons, and supplies
No man knew better than the Secretary that
these qualifications were already possessed bY
the army officers in New ork, On whom it
vas safe to rely Armed with letters Of ap-
proVal from tie War Office, he was for tie
time supreme in the department marked out
Tor him. Instead Of rendering aid and as
s,stance, hG etteetually superseded the army
officers Maj. Eaton distinctly informed him
that his services were not needed in the pur-
chase Of supplies. Still the Doctor com
menccd buying over s3l 900 worth Of straw
bats and linen pantaloons, which were worth
less to the army, and noE required By the reg
ulatlons. He employed clerk Of whom lie
knew nothing, Lad never seen before. In bis
evidence, at first, he did not know who recon-
mended him; then l1e thought he was RECON-
mended by MI. T1urlow Nced-fnally said,
IS remember now that Mr. Weed told nc he
knew all about him, and upon his recommen-
dation ! took him" This clerk Mr.. Cum
mings suffered to do all the business aud make
all the purchases, except what were made by
George D. Morgan.
CHARTER OF THE CATALINE.
Mr.. Cummings next appoints Capt. Com
stock to charter or purchase vessels. The
Captain, with friend, goes to Brooklyn, in
sptets the Catallne, and learns that her price
is from $4,000 to $4,000. Instead Of pur-
chasing or charterinss, or recommending Cum
mines to do go, from the owners, his friend
suggests to A1r. Deyelin that there is 4 nice
opportunity to make something by good man.
agemcnt~" Capt. Comstock knew That Cum
mings was agent for the War Department,
still be conn6tls freely with Mr. Deyelin about
what will be paid for her charter. Had she
been cheap at SIS, 900, the Government was
entitled to the purchase After Welding to
Dir. Deyclin all the time lie required for the
negotiation, on the 25th the boat was char
tered by Col Tompkins, he relying upon Capt.
the agent Of the War Department, paying for
her use $4,000 per month for three months,
aud If lost by war risks, then the Government
to pay s5o, eco. Col. TompEns would not
sign until Capt. Comstock assured him that
she was worth $4,000, and that it was all
right. Ihe testimony Of Capt. Com5tock
shows the vast number and almost unlimited
power Of persons at that time assuming to act
as agents for the Government He says:
II was sent for By B1r. Weed to come to the As-
tor House about the time Of the commencement Of
lie a5 sh.sd h that be Wis an aent
war to send to Washington BY way Of the Chesa-
nSsatEe n1Sot that hs to s4tsF vssze} for
thofity that Weed had shown. It had been trans
feEred to him to perform the same seryice.:' +
IL should think that Weed chartered from eight
This testimony was given on the 2Sth day Of
December, and up to that time the Committee
had no evidence or iutimation that Mr. Weed
had been IN agent for the Government, or act
show by whom the vessel was loaded; but
| Collector Barney swears THAT, on the eth of
| April, Mr. StetEon, in E9aosc name the title
had been taken, called IN him, demanding a
! was loaded, and to whom the cargo belonged,
| he replied she vas loaded with Hour and pro
| visions, and belonged to several Of his friends
MI. Barney refused to clear her. Stctson then
| said the provisions were for the army Barney
replied that, as the property was not Govern
he could not clear her except by request from
some Government officer: It is but Just to say
here, that Mr. Deyelin wes evidently induced
| TO purchase the vessel at tho suggestion Of
those who were acting for Government, and
that Mr: Stetson, in everything. he did, was
Mr.. Stetson again called on the Collector,
"he brought a note from Mr.. Weed, stating
that the cargo consisted OF supplies for troops,
and requesting clearancc.' 3Ir. Barney dc:
clined, but saw Mr.. Weed and explained why
q clearance could not be granted. Mr. Weed
in some other way" A pass was obtained
from Gen. Wool, which he regretted; for on
Monday morning he sent an order to the Col
lector reEoking it; but the fugitive had es
capped. Her voyage vas an unfortunate one
aftcr two months service she was destroyed bJ
fire. The question recurs, who we're tht
friends referred to By Mr.: Stctson as the OWN
| eIs Of the cargo9 Mr.. Freeman, who had {
onc-tenth interest in the profits, swears, aftc1
first declining to do so, That he received as
gart security for the purchase money Of tlt
One note by John E. DcTelin, indorsed G. C
Davidson; one note by Thurlow Weed, in
dorscd john E. DeTelin; one note by G. c
Davidson, indorsed 0. B. Mattcson; one note
by Q. B. Matteson, Endorsed Thurlow Weed
The only other person beside the Captain ant
crew, was James Larkin, who went on tht
boat, he says, ae purser, although he finally
concluded his duty was to act as d check upo1
the Captain. The man was appointed By Mfr
Deyelln upon the recommendation Of Mr. Da
yldeon. No one seemed to take any Interest
IN loading the vessels except Afr. Deyelin
Colonel Tompkins knew nothing Of he
cargo. The Union Defense COMMITTEE
EneW nothing Of her ca1go; and Doctor
Cummings was asked If he knew any
thing Of her cargo. s., ,000, 900, By the Secre
| tary Of the Treasury, were placed in the hand;
Of a committee Of high-toned, honorable men
to be paid out on the order or requisition o
Mr. Cummings, without his pl oducing to then
any vouchers. Strange as it may appear, Will,
this money was there to respond to his re
QUESTION, he draws s160, 600, and deposits it il
bis name, with bis private account, in one 0
after his agency bad ceased, he lcayes NJ
vouchers with the War Department. Th,
War Department, in its generous confidence
seeks no settlement nor an inspection o
vouchers.
GENERAL MANIA FOE STEALING.
The mania for stealing seems to have ru1
! through all the relations OF Government
! Even in the matter Of the purchase Of tw1
sailing vessels, two men Of New York, 10 III,
| crime Of larceny, added the sin Of perjury
that they might rob from the Treasury S., 600
In the case Of the Stars and Stripes, the Pres
ident Of the New Haven Propeller Company
| ataertaking from the Government Sic, 600 NOR
than she cost, took of that amount nearl,
5000 to line bis OWL pockets, and in excust
to bis company pretended that he had to brib,
m ex-member Of Congress to gain an arldienc
to the head Of the Bureau; aud from that in
l -E-.- =