Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-02-10
FHE FRAUDS on GOVERNMENT.
Speech OF Mr.. Van Wyck..-Ras-
Callty and Corruption
Exposed

Nh. sPEAKER: On the 18th dsy Of April,
1861, the world was startled with the 70.
,urrenee Of one Of those great events which
marks an ere IN the history Of man, brands
orims with deeper infamy, and exslts the
virtues Of generous manhood TO a nobilt
iy almost divine, Of which heroes have
boasted and poets sung. The parallel Of
April 10, I776, was complete; the days, 1
nonths, wears, end cycles Of peaceful /
and happy nationslity had borne the Mas.
saehusst.s soldier from the 6eld Of Lsxing |
ton 10 he streets Of Baltimore. For . |
time the great American heart ceased to |
beat A Ratibnsl paralysis for moment, |
and then (he people realized the horrors |
and oruelties Of this unnatural var. The
merchant left his counter, the farmer
the quiet of home, the manufacturers shut
tie Ssused in ia hRlf anished round, the
anvil rang aot out tho hammers beat; the
lawyers unfinished brief lost It's interests;
the olergyman folded up his sacerdotal
robes; mothers, with enc devotion Of Spar
tsns. bade their sons 20 forth; the wife
pressed more closely her newborn babe, as
she aave parting, and with blessings and
PRAYERS the husband went forth, probably
never 70 return.
The nation offered up its life and emptied
its treasure into the lap Of this great cal
amity; the rich bestowed Of his abundsncei
the widow gave her mite, an only son, or a
tear sanoti6ed with prayers. Not one Of
US can forget II. History, in after times,
will record this the noblest moral exhibit
ton Of true courage the world has ever
Witnessed. Scarce whisper Of treason
OF murmur Of discomfort in all the North,
vet many Of those who made the Welkin
ring for truth and liberty, who professed
to worship the true God, we're ready to cry
out, 'Great Is Diana Of the Ephesisns!"
hoping to cruelty the spirit Of freedom.
There we're others, meaner, baser still
only watching the opportunity TO make
merchandise Of their oountry's misfor-
tunes, coin the grief Of the nation into cur,
rency, and peril her institutions, If itcould
minister 10 their base cupidity. One class
commenced secretly sending intelligence
10 tbs ro0els; the other rendered to them
no less valuable assistance by conspiring
70 defraud the people and the Government.
Almost the same instant hRrpies besieged
the treasury here, and the vultures in the
North snuffed the spoils afsr of.
While the bridges destroyed by the reb'
els we're yet smoking in ruins, before the
regiments impeded by their destruction
co1ld reach the capital, the ssppers and
miners. who knew the trembling necessi'
ties Of the nation, commenced the assault
II has been said that in the panic Of those
times, Wstchfulness on the part Of public
officers should not be required, and the
lafoeniss Of plundering hOrdes should b'
overlooked.
cATTLK CONTACT.
About the time the New York Seventh
the pride Of the Empire State, composed o.
the best of her citizen sOldiery, Of men O.
wealth, high family position, education
enjoying the confidence Of the community
in eli the relations of life, with the Mssss
ohusetts Sixth, 9 regiment representing
the intelliRence and business occupation
Of thst wonderful State, side by side Wer
foriing streams, building bridges, layini
railroad track, sleeping on the untente'
6eld, and when hunger vas pressing upor
them the Seventh divided their last store o
bacon and hard buscuit with the gsllsn
men Of the Sixth-a contract was made II
tkis CITY by the Department with DEyel
Lsughmsn, Sibley s Ty,er, for cattle, fror
two to ten thousand, ct eight dollars pc
: hundred live weight, delivered here, an
Eve and three quarters in Pennsylvania
What facilities had DWyer & Co. for trans
portstion which the Government did nc
possess.
D Government could lay its strong arm
upon railroads and use them; could plan
its gathering armies to guard the orldg
and track. At that very time an ager
a 1 n---A--rak su.Aa A.
We g - % - u6iIRtfed IN Washington ct 81
aud half per hundred live weight. Be
sides, direct navigation with New York wa
> not obstructed by the Potomac. Stil
3 more, If the danger Of transpor;stio
through Maryland was an excuse for thi
contract big with profits, why proVisio
that portion should be delivered in Penn
sylvanis II the Department desired, an
7 why we're nearly 800 received in Harris
I burg, while scarcely 800 we're delivered i
Washington Notwithstanding the lion
in the way, DRyer & Co. Immediately sub
: let the contract TO New York men, 80 thH
G without any hazard OF perils they realize
over $50, 900 on about 1000 head. The
had no difficulty during the panic Of thOs
times in masking this contract why shoul
the Government have found sny2
There is no pretenee that either Of thes
= men had any speoisl courage in OVeroomin
dangers, or remarkable skill in purehasin
cattle; two we're railroad contractors, on
particularly near to the Secretary, one
/ lawyer, and one the winter before had bee
in.eonsultation and negotiation with rebel
for the sale Of arms. Thus treason an
corruption were continued at the capita
! AGEEcT or ALEX CUMMINGS, Kso.-PURoRAs
OF ARMY SUPPLIES.
J Nearly simultaHeous with this oecurre
another transaction. On the 2lst day {
! April, the Secretary Of War, although b
we'll knew the great ability and experienc
, Of Col Tompkins, Qusrtermsster, and Ma.
Eaton, Commissary in New York city, Wrot
two letters to Alexander Cummings, ESQ
In one he HWants him to aid the Commisss
~ in purchasing supplies, to assist th
Quartermaster in pushing them forward.
The other letter states thst--
! siTha Department needs at this moment an IL
} | telligent, experienced, and energetic man.
S7hoH Z can rely. to Gss in pushing forward troop
J munitions and supplies"
t No man knew better than the Seoretar
, that these qualifications were already pos
setsed by the army ofhcers in New Yorl
on whom Il tOds safe to rely. The Seoretsr,
: then gracefully compliments Mr.. Cum
{ mingE
r aYou are acquainted with the internal arrange
ments and connections Of the railroads In Penn
: sylyania, over which, for the present, they wi
have to pass"
Can there be SO much intrioaoy sbou
the railroad connexions in PsnnsyIVani
: that the United States QuarteFmaster il
> New York or Philsdelphis was not CONVEX
sant With them2 The Secretary then add
the touching appeal TO his patriotism:
II am aware that your private affairs may de
} mand your time. am sure your patriotism wi
induce you to aid me, even at some loss to your
J l self -