Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1862-03-05

number ana almost unlimited power VI
persons at that time assuming TO act rs
agents for the Government. He says:
81 was sent for by Mr. Weed to come 10 the
Astor House about the time of the commencement
Of these troubles. lie stated that he an agent
/ the Government, and had troops and munitions
of war to soud to Washington by way Of the Chcs-
apeake, and that he wished to charter vessels for
that purpose" afterwards, Cummings cal
led upon me and showed me the same authority
that Weed had shotcn. 1t had been transferred TO
him to perform the same service" 81
should think that Weed chartered from six to ten
vessels"
This testimony was given on the 28th
day Of December, and up to that time the
committee had no evidence or intimatlon
that Mr.. Weed had been an agent for the
government or acting 0s such. The De-
partmenJ was liberal III bestowing cond-
dence and grants Of power, but that conf
dence seems TO have been abused by the
! transfer OF authority one to the other
Mr.. Weed absence from home prevents
an examination at present into the nature
and extent of his agency,
The committee haye not been able to
show for whom the steamer was loaded. -
1t has been intimated that she was loaded
by private parties, TO be run, however, at
the risk and expense of the Government.
And when she could not obtain o clearance
her cargo was in whole or part sold to the
Government. If this be So it will account
Tor the Doctors purchase OF straw hats,
linen pautalooEs, London porter, Scotch
ale, Dutch herring, "6utter, cheese, and
all"
f'olloofo, parno,, s,voors tho On tho OF u
April Mr. Stetson, in whose name the IL
tie had been taken, called on him demand
ing a clearance to Annapolis. When ask
ed how she was loaded, and to whom the
cargo belonged, he replied she was loaded
with flour and provisions, and belonged
to several of his friends. Mr.. Barney re-
! fused TO clear her Stetson then said the
provisions were for the army. Barney re-
piled that as the property was not Govern
ment property, but property OF indiyidu'
ais, that he could not clear her except by
a request from some Government officer.
It is but Just to say here that Mr.. Develin
was evidently induced TO purchase the
vessel at the suggestion Of those who were
acting for Government, and that Mr.. Stet>
son, in everything he did, was frank, can -
u, =.
Mr.. Stetson again called on the Collector,
che brought note from Mr., Weed stat
ing that til cargo consisted of supplies
for troops, Rnd requesting clearance. -
Mr.. Barney declined, but saw Mr.. Weed
and explained why clearance could not
be granted. Mr. Weed said lit was I'll
light, and ,c0,tH be arranged IN some oH.er
gay." He concluded not to give clear.
ance unless requested to do so by General
Wool. He saw the General, and requests
ed him to be careful before he gave orders
| for clearance. A pass, however, Was OBJ
tanned flom the General, which he regret
ted for Monday morning he sent an or"
der to the Collector revoking it; but the
! fugitive had escaped, with the condemna-
tiop OF the Collector and General Wool
upon her. Her voyage was an unfortu-
nate one; after two months service she
was destroyed by fire.
The question recurs who were the
friends referred to by Mr.. Stetson as the
owners of the cargo? 1t is necessary to
90 back and see who had any interest or
connection with the transaction. MI.
Freeman, who had one tenth interest in
the profits, swears, after first declining to
do so, that he received, as part security for
the purchase-money of the Cataline, four
notes, of 81, 500 each. AS follows:
One note by John L. Develin, indorsed
G. c. Davidson. One note by Thurlow
Weed. indorsed John E. Develn. One
note by G. c. Davidson, indorsed o. b
Matteson, one note by o. B. Matteson, in
dorsed Thurlow Weed.
oil have
York CITY at this time. The only other
person besides the Captain and crew was
james Larkiu, who went on the boat, ne
SAYS, as purser, although he finally conciu'
ded his duty was to act as check upon
the Captain. This man was appointed by
Mr. Devalin upon the recommendation o
! Mr.. Davidson. No one seemed to take
anv interest in loading the vessel except
Mr.. Develin. Col Tompkins knew moth
ing of her cargo. The Union Defence
Committee knew nothing OF her cargo -
and when Doctor Cummings was asked :!
he knew anything Of her cargo, said, "No
a gartcie." He relied entirely upon and
trusted to the clerk, Mr.. Humphreys, ap-
pointed upon the recommendation Of Mr.
Weed. 1t must be left to surrounding
facts W no were lnS lIlcIuS IcleIItu W W
Mr.. Stetson, and whether the boat was
first loaded for private speculation and
when no clearance could be obtained, Mr.
Cummings, through his clerk. purchased
the cargo for Government, so that pass
could be procured. Gen. Wool's hesitan'
cy in giving pass to the Catalne proba
bly, induced a representation TO Gen. Scott
that the condition of his WOODS health
required repose from arduous duties.
The Doctor was certainly remarkable
agent. The Secretary wants an energetic
i,stelliqsnt, and experienced man, of course
one more so than the Union Defense Com
mit.ee, OF the army officers in New York
one on tghom he can rely; yet the Doctor
apparently takes no interest but to draw
and pay money. When he was called on
especially to aid in purchases, he trusts 1t
ali to Mr. Humphreys, his clerk. When
vessels are chartered he doesn't deem IT
worth while to examine them. he good
natnredly says he took it for granted that
what the owners said was true. lie was
certainly confidence man. The Secreta'
ry SAYS, Notwithstanding the pressure on