Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1862-03-12
NEW SERIES-YOL. M,-NO "a

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ground that he understood the Mcrccdita
cost only SGlOOO; yet Mr. Morgan, when
he took the 50 500, gave a receipt for the
same "iOr commissions on sale Of the
Mercodua." The owners deny that they
ever asked $50 600 for the steiner, al
though Mr. Morgan claims in his states
ment that such amount was demaulcd Of
him. The Department fixed the value,
and negotiated through the medium above
stated.
On the Nth January, Jewet & Co.wyote
another letter to the Secretary, in which
they recite the facts Of their former CON-
plants, showing that they have teen Up.
pressed or aqgvisrrd in which they say
"Do you think it right to endea7or to carry to
the public after such an offer on our part,
the idea that we sought 10 obtain $4,000 more
than this vessels values and 10 foster this inlse-
hood on the pupic, to give al idca ofyour broth
er-iu-aw's fitness to purchase vessels fer the
Government"
PURCHASE OF HALLS CARBINEs.
! Another remarkable transaction was
the sale by the Ordnance Bureau, to Mr.
| Eastman, of 5000 Halls carbines, an arm
which needed some alteration TO be useful
! for $3.50 each. This private sale was
made at time when the Department was
buying arms, which had been condemned,
and sent from the arsenals of Europe
After an expenditure of from IS cents to
1925, they were sold to Simon Stevens
$40 so then to Gen, Fremont for 500 -
DR.. Cummings bought 100 of the same
car Dimes for SO.
The evidence of Major Hagner shows
| that Mr.. Stevens was an aid or agent Of
Gen. Fremont. This Mr.. Stevens denies.
However, the relation ~as one of warm
personal character. He had probably
Just left him with instructions to purchase
His dispatch to Fremont is Just such as an
agent would send, or one who had an aso
surance Of the necessities of the West and
that the arms would be taken. AT ell
events, the bargain was an unconsciona-
ble one, whereby Stevens was to make
about $50 600 in one day, without incur
ring any IisE or investing any capital.
DEPARTMENT or TIE WEST.
There seemed to be no green spot in
the Republic The gross frauds upon the
seaboard, by the Potomac, found a count,
erpart on the banks of the Mississippi
The contagion spread and fastened itself
upon the department Of the West. A
i beyy of cormorants gathered around FREE
mont, who were feastiug upon the blood
they were drawing from the natlon-more
impudent in their claims, more unblush
in their extOrtlons. There rs hsrc, none
but special favorltes could share Of public
! bounty. There, as here, no sales could
be nude NTH the Government ex-
cept through TIE medium of heart,ess
contractors. Those willing 10 furnish
cheaply aId well were cast aside, while a
hardware firm, Child. Pratt & Fox, were
allowed TO furnish nearly 81 900, 900 with
out the formalty Of tiXug the price in ad
vance, they procuring from the very men
who offered to supply Government, and at
the offered prices, while they charged an
advance of25 to so per cent. Men in
league with Quartermaster McKmstry and
his inspectors would first extort from the
honest farmer, and then unbUshingly rob
from the Treasury. In building the forts
at St. Louis, more than 100000 was
squSudered upon prohigate, unpnncipled
fayorites
These plunderers, some imported from
California. and some for q long time in the
employ and receiving food and raiment
from the Government, gathered around
the person of Fremont, and suffered none
to approach him too nearly.
Quartermaster McKinstry was the high
priest at this festival of robbery and crime;
a man who had for many years been in
the regular service of the United States
a man furnished 10y the Administration
to the department OF the West which was
supposed to be guaranty for his faithful
ness and integrity; trusting COnhdngly,
Fremont watched him not closely. | do
not pretend that Fremont shared the
spoils with Child, Pratt & Fox, or McKin.
stry, any more than |, for a moment, be-
lieye that Secretary Welles shared the en-.
lormous profits Of his brother -in-law. II
is no excuse to say that the magnitude Of
this rebellion, huge in proportion, the
impending danger casting dark shadows
over our national pathway and threaten.
ing the nation life, was q justification
for allowing the exercise Of unlicensed Gu.
pidity. Without doubt, generals and
Cabinet ministers have bowed down be-
meath the weight of increasing responsi>
, bility; but this reckless horde were un.
derming the very ground on which they
trod.
ARMY TRANSFORMATION.
Another item of rreckless expenditure
was the order of the War Department al
lowing two rents per mile tor tho trans
portalion of troops and liberal price for
baggage and horses. So enormous were
the profits that railroad companies in the
West bid and paid from 81 500 to S2,5OO
to nearly every regiment for the privilege
Of transportation. 1t is remarkable. that
the late Secretary, who was himself, bv
long experience and observation, so con,
versant with the management of railroads:
who rejoiced in the confidence of a friend
whowas intimate with railroad connexions.
especially in Pennsylvania, should have
allowed railroad companies such large
amounts that they could lavish thousands
for the transportation ola single regiment.
Trains not running as swiftly, and some
times with no better cars, charged nearly
double more than emigrant rates. Did he
not know that each passenger was ehtitled
to eighty pounds Of baggage? yet an extra