The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-10-29

Hon. r. w. KelloSx
Much has been aid about the money that
this gentleman has made in raising bis regi-
ments of cavalry. He is charged with selling
commissions, with being interested in the Con
tracts for feeding the soldiers. snd the purchase
of horses, and with -quandering the public
money in moving the regiments and their hor
.es by Detroit instead of marching across the
country to Kalamazoo.
Mr.. Kellogg made speech at Grand Rapids
on the 9Th October, in which he fully vindica
ted his innocence from all these charges.
After abiding TO his inexperience in mill
tary matters, when asked at Washington TO
raise some cavalry in this State, Mr.. Kellogg
said:
Il have been charged with selling commits
sions last year and this, and, so constantly has
this charge been reiterated throughout the
country, that, doubt not many people believe
it. l have received a great many letters on the
subject, and l shall only say that this charge,
whether referring to the regiments of last year
or this-is false in every particular. ZAP
plause)
Ny own personal expenses while raising
these regiments were consideIab able, aud | was
told that the Government would pay all that
was necessary, but never received dollar
from the Government for them yet.
The officers Of the first regiment which |
| raised last year, never 10 my knowledge Goa
| tributed q dollar; but some three or four OF the
last regiment contributed about $500 to pay
expenses incurred for the regiment. None OF
1t was for my personal benefit.
When left for Washington, after the regi
h,A< ,ts of ho isv
tributed unasked. small purse to pay my eX-
penses, for my own means were exhausted. The
whole city was benefited by the rendezvou &
Of the regiments here. and many, was told.
were glad " show that my efforts TO the benefit
of the District, were appreciated" (Applause.)
Concerning the Cavalry now encamped at
Grand Rapids. he said
Il requested Gov. Blair TO inquire if any or
or all OF their commissions cost them anything,
and if so. I desired him to withhold them.
have never received dollar from any OF them.
directly or Indirectly, and not a man of them
ever promised to pay me tarthing for
them"
In regard to the corruption in feeding the
men, be said:
"The Adjutant General directed me to con-
tract with some one to feed the men. al q rate
could be served TO them by the United States
| officers. contracted with gentlemen to feed
them at thirty cents day believing ii was as
low as it could be done. No one offered TO do
it for less and, as the contract was to termin
ate any day when our camp equipage should
arrive, no one expected to make much money
by il. But it is sa d they d make money; and
presume it is So though they could not have
made large sum, aud would have made very
little, had We been able to get our camp equ p
age in any season. The same course was pur-
sued this season"
Two or three equally dirty lies are thus dis
posed Of:
Again, I am charged with squandering the
public money. in moving troops by Detroit in
stead OF crossing The country to Kalamazoo
Now the facts are, that d 4 a. was directed
by one whom was told to obey. The first or
der for moving the troops was sent to Colonel
Bsckus, aud be made a r,quistion for cars OF
one Of the railroads. to come Ia Grand Rapids
| aud take them. A, the time this order was re-
ce.ved l was on my way to Washington, and
on my arrival there | learned the order to
move the regiments bad been sent by telegraph
| the day before. Well. the men were not Ready
to 60. Over two huudred OF them had no
boots or uniforms, and when told the Adju-
tant General how they were situated, be coun
fernandez the order. On my return to Detroit
one of the first men met was Captain II. X
Miner, and told him the regiments must go
loon. and spoke Of crossing to Kalamazoo. He
said be did not thiok l could do it that Co.
Backus had once ordered cars to take them
| away and advised ME to see him. did so,
aud he hardly gave civil answer to my ques-
| ton about crossing to Kalamazoo. He said we
could 90 TO st. Louis ty railroad, while We
| were going to Kalamazoo. No officer in the
| army. as Eave been assured by many OF them.
would have thought Of moving them except by
| railroad, under such circumstar
Then there is another matter-the contracts
for horses-in which am charged with giving
them to men for pay. This is not true, and
| those here who bad contracts can certify to il.
They are our neighbors aud fellow citizens. and
YOU know they will not prevaricate to screen
| me in the least The Quarter master of the
| Regiment was authorized to buy the horses at
| price fixed by the Quarter master General.
and he gave the contracts to individuals in al
most every part Of the State. Some of them
were given to persons whom designated: and
most, if not all of those persons are known to
you. To some Of them am indebted for many
| favOrs, but none OF them paid me a dollar for
and contract. so given, at any time or any
where" (Applause.)