New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-18
MR.. CUMMINGss DEFENSE.


Mr.. Alexander Cummings, late Of Tile World, has
published hs defense sgsius, the chsrges preferred
against him by tie Van Wyck Committee in De
cember last lie gives az reason Tor not having
done it before that be has bat u,t recovered from
severe Illness. He says that, learning toward the
middle Of December tha, the report Of The Committee
confined statements nufousy affecting bis repuia-
ton. he came g. Washington from sick bed TO en-
deavor to eIpl.iu the msipPreLensions II tho Com
rittee. He cent 10 New-Y0rk f0r Mr.. Blstchiorc,
wHo I'd in IL ro.se.sion the facts ana Won hers,
and Oh h. sriiyal compelled by his physiean to
reform bone. lie sHys; -
NJ Bchord va. not allowed 20 sppssr before ihe Gem,
c.un a..ssesAs va launched upon tie noase AID
nj. Illness continued for Tvs 0 monihr and it war not
until tue I'd day % Feb that lie waf allowed TO rec
The reuort Mr. Cui miugs, after declaring his as-
continent ri Us contents, taVe
Tho srsoreiaay sad iertsd ecu,e OF the Com
itt,e ,ern.d to hcN from drsllc which Hf0nged have
beer vii imput- 70 them 20 produce en- lueus' sen
fson sh partial End ufTro''n isc aIe unt oonne hss
given ri g. an IMPRESSION witch he Committee owe Il
q te H-yes md tne coan.y p3mp " % ohpc th'. ,eey
dbe -,sJ aid ~ pug e5 ga w. S c.s III
49, way conflict with 900. suYposa1 Developments Win hic
h,y spprssd g. De fs,f 70 s' gre ana me peols
lie state. that Lis best reply will be Il statement Of
the facts and proceeds 10 recall the dark days Of
Baltimore. The appropriation Of 7 '0DVO0U BY the
CORPORATION q! the Oiy OF NewlOrh .or the national
defense, and the extraordinary meaEnres de- med
necessary by the Treasury and War Departments,
refulng in the placing OF SOlO 600 10 the credit Of
Mes,rs Di, OIdyks and bbitchford ard an authority
being given to Gov. Morgan and Mr.. Cummings, or
/ either of them TO
msks al necessary Arrangements or the transportation
OF oops AID mortons Of wsr ia aid and s.'tsc. OF me
oeer o. tie AMY Of the United States, until communion
ton By nss and t.'Eslh oomge,y 10 e.i'bh'hed De-
| tween the ci~s Of N ashinston AID Nes forb"
Under this authority. he says he made purcha'es
and ,harters 10 the amount OF $2l ~ 20, for which
vouchers are ia the Treasury Department. sno OF
which be made fall abatement 10 the Committee ~
! =. ptenber when be told them that the rest OF the
vouchers r purchaser made by him were IN the
hand. Of MIR. Blachford. The'e, with balances since
qeuo.ite1 wi, the United States Treasurer nj New
York make up $50, 900, the total amount drawn by
Governor Morgan aud himseh from tho 81 OU,oiO
subject 10 their dail lie states that III volcf ere
in tho hands of Mr. Blachiord, which the Committee
" 40 unteasonaby and rgihlersly refused even 10
! ok It, were mot OF then indor,ed by The a ma
tures Of ~ II. Grinnell, G. ii. MarslAll, ard ;.
! Sl,sn. many Of them were for articles bought
uraer the dir cion of Sens Wool and Din, end not
Jew were purchased directly by Gen. Nadswofth'
sir Cummings hen takes np the abatement Of the
r.po- rhal he had retained coo, the only gonnd
| COZ which he says was M ingenious ana Wliiiul
tijou" a Tie language Of BIS note To tie Com
uiitte. appeudod 10 tie testimony. lie gives The
o.idaa dFit of ~ which he still retains, Tue nole
t,,n and tie note prnied M TIC report as ioho"s'
! ma There " a. 1esincd-urdef authority u tie
| NJ, Thee frai4cd-under au horny II The
! H.post have ruialatd, under authority Of he
! prAn Secretary o. the Ire.slry-hhy Me"ra
| notr s-cre sry o. IN. TfessufS-by Mcssr
| usoort se.rrtafy Of lie Treasury. BY Mrsut
r. r.chfoes OpdJke hundred and forty thousand
da h.slr What have stated IN ny teslnopNt "AIih 10
! accounted iof BY the 'oaeh'n'
Mr.. Cnmmines save that, in copying the draft tor
tIe Committee, he seems % have omitted the WORD
- was." bot the " least intelligent reader woali
| in un inelant haze supphtd II. Aeide nom o. II
alteration Qf language, he states that 10 las ON, ai
| raners which sustain his statement, aud which MIR.
hi tch.oId would have shown tho Committee, II
allowed Upon the eihdrawal OF the ,ame from
Wss,ts. Dix Batcbford aud Opdyke, they replied
,l,t there were outstanding Obligations amounting
10 about sl40, 900, which amount they had retained
s,hi.ct 10 the approval of the Secretary OF the
Treasury, ana aif Cummings gives 'ho 'oA' VI ''''
approval. lie adds
Tle simplc statement Of these facts cony'cs mo Commit
tee Of such aad ftc1s.s sstice ta, 90 not zee
| ,pd apufopriafe Ell thet," .
| N IN, alteration was q mistake, be asks why the
| Committee refuted to hear Nlr DLncliofd, and n,
ur.s,es Ibis question upon them:
"I Il too much 70 10y hi. however the alienation ma,
bsve L,,u made Originally the Committee, by their subse
an NJ eondue, me- ard b, the argument OF TIE report
In reItion t. the purchase OF straw hats md liner
| panialODns, be says
cles ON The eon.ry II Is well known that they pur
cba,c1 a, vrrv low rae-berg about ~ cents PAIR for ia
aud Il piece for tie hats The most, there
M n.i can be char grd this altar. and other Of sms
tlsfnot,r 10 sn Of judgment On Nat point no
aenii but moy he excused FOR still believing that larg
ho,, Of suddenly transferred from the noheriy cline
al Main. snd Michigan where tho chill Of Winter ati
uuon them 20 a latitude where the heat ranging from l.
T. ~ degrees would mud great Teie sud comfort aud ildr 81
an exemption from tbs danger of sudden overlooking
,an..tIok. many OF which actually occlrfed-
by the seasouaDls clothing thus pfcuced. Tho
non were soldiers, Ia tIs technical sonte 81 Tia
seL losk e.ayi 10 NsJlcg ua9.s la1 theJ we've teIAl