, 1862-02-13

quircd Of Mr. Smith what he could afford to
pay; he replied i've Per cent; Mr.. Smith also
sns = thAt A1r. Weed asked him what he could
atit,r.l to pay. Tint afterward, ut Washington,
Il. LANDED his propositions for powder to Mr.
Weed, who took them to Mr. Cameron There
letter to Gtn. Ripley, the head OF the Ord
nuEce Department, to divide the contracts for
powder between the States manufacturing.
It is somewhat strange that tue Secretary
should appoint Mr.. Weed as his messenger to
carry lis wishes to the different bureaus. Mr..
Smith understood that he was to pay Mr..
Weed five per cent. Mr. Lafln also testified
TINT his powder firm demurred to paying Mr..
Weed I've per cent; that Mr- Weed gave them
authority 10 make COO barrels VI powder,
y from the Government. He also testifes
that the pntriot, Dryer, who figured in the
cattle contract in May or June, at Washing
ton, told him if he would give Eve per cent.
ne would sell all the powder he could make
but Latin declined.
THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT. -
Even in the Treasury Department-pu
and upright as believe the Secretary to be-
what business man could justify, or who, in
lis own transactions, would allow, that con-
tract Of over half million expenditure,
should be competed for by only two firms,
who could combine and unite? It is no an-
swer to say that the work is done as cheaply
as before; the spirit Of the law has been yio-
lated and the millionaire enriched besides, the
products Of all departments Of labor are
eheapened by the stagnation Of business. In
this matter Of the bank note contrnct, as in
some Others, under]iDgs control the affairs Of
the department; they say who shall approach
within the charmed circle they say whose
papers shall be put on file, and whose shall be
gladdencd by the eyes Of tie Secretary.
GEORGE D. MoRGAS's OPERATIONS.
Mr.. George D. Morgan has prepared an
elaborate paper, showing the benefits of his
agency, and relies upon tic fact that in nearly
owners asked. We can test the strength of
his position by the Stars and Stripes. To build
her cost $36 GOO; by her charter the owner re-
allied S15,000 from Government; they then
asked s60, 600. Mr.. Morgan paid 255, 900, s., 900
less than they asked, but sl9,O more than
she cost. While with the Potomska and
Mamsutta the owners realized $53 GOO, the
Government paid see, 600, although Mr. Nor
gan's paper alleges he was asked $50, 600 This
seems the reverse Of the proposition. The
gnWa5d N 06 va vas offered to private p parties for
paid 81, COO. These are not the only instances,
as the Committee will show by a further ex-
| animation, to which they are invited By the
Secretary, and directed By resolution Of this
House. Mr: Van WJck proceeded to give
| many instances Of e1tortion in the purchase of
| vessels, and then refers to
TIE PURCHASE OF ARMS
| Another remarkable transaction Was the
| sale By the Ordnance Bureau, to Mr. Eastman,
| OF 5,0OO Halls carbines, as al 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
nails OF Europe. Afteran expenditure Of from
Simon stevens for sl5B; then to Gen,
eral Fremont for 81 No wonder
our expenses arc $2, ,000, 900 per day-Goy-
ernment sells M At $3.50, and in short time
Of the same carbines for$l5. The evidence Of
Maj Hagner shows that Dir. Stevens was au
| agent for and aid Of Gen. Fremont. This Mr.
Stevens denies. However, the relation was
one Of warm personal character. He had
probably just left him with instructions to
| purchase. His dispatch to Fremont vast lust
such as an agent would send, or one who had
the assurance Of the necessities Of the West,
and that the arms would be taken. At ali
events, the bargain Was an unconscionabIe
| one, whereby Stevens was to make about
s50, GOO in one day, without incurring any risk
or Investing any capital Nr. Van Wyck next
referred to the Department of the West, and
| charged that Child, Pratt & Co. made from Is
to 81 per cent. on contract Of 81 ,000, 600.
ARMY TRANSFORMATIONS
Another item of reckless expenditure was
the order Of the War Department allowing
troops, and liberal prices for baggage and
horses So enormous were the profits that
railroad companies in the west bid and paid
from 81 500 to s2,500 to nearly every regiment
Tor the privilege Of transportation It is re-
markab1e that the late Secretary, who was him
self, by long experience and observation, so
conversant with the management of railroads,
| who rrjoiccd in the confidence of 4 friend.
who was Intimate with railroad connections,
especially in Pcnnsy lEania, should have Ill
vf%nEr
that they could lavish thousands for the trans-
portation OF single regiment Having re-
| fcTred at length to the magnitude of tue str1g-
gle, Mr.. Van Wycls concluded as follows:
The dead past from out the page Of history
IS looking down upon us; the living present,
tlrobbing with hope, trembling with fear is
locking; down upon us. The oncoming future,
the echo Of whose millions footballs in the
corridors Of time NC can almost hear, looking
upon, bcckcning us, and in silent prayer be-
seceh1ng that VIC may be true to ourselves, to
the great legacy our fathers bcqueatled, to the
trust placed il our hands, to enjoy and trans
NIT, not to tarnish and destroy. By Ill the
hopes Of the future, let us rid ourselves OF the
sapgers and miners at home; conquer this re-
bcllion aud subdue the traitors. Do you say
VIC may not succeed? Then let us perish in
the attempt. We may yainly die for she 1aud
We cannot save? Then be it So Here let
hope and iberty's farewell fight be fought,
The pale angel Of the grave can at least Steer
our ill,destined bark through the "Gate OF
Tcars.''
Our cause may be betrayed,
09r dearlovcd country made
Aland Of carcases and slaves,
| tne dreHry waste Of chains and graves
VIC cannot, we dare not yield, while heaven
LAS light, or earth has graves.
No; rather housclese roam,
| Where freedom and our God may Lead
| Then be the s1eekest e1avca at home,
| That crouches to the cOn1uerer's crecd.s'
1r1S ~ -.
only true to humanity and the God who
guides the destinies Of nations, the move
ments Of arms, as He does tile sparrow in its
tall. Here we make our stand; SOC, 600 men,
wall Of human hearts, to guard the land We
love, the flag We honor. If driven hence,
stand.
Until the last red blade be broken
And the last arrow in the quiyer.''
4 running debate cnsued between Messrs
DAWES Of Massachusetts {of the Commit
tee,) and DAVIS Of Pa, as to the charges ol
fraud against Capt. Davis, q. 8. Quartermns
ter.
Mr.. HOLMAN Of Ind, {of the Committec)
defended the course Of the Committee, and il
conclusion moved the following:
Resolred. That Hon. Simon Cameron, late Sec
retaTy Of War, by investing Alexander Cummings
faithful performance Of ia duties, With tic con on
tro1 OF large Sums Of public money and authorit,
to purchase without restriction large amounts o
military supplies, and the Secretary Of the Navy
in the employment Of George D. Morgan, without
occurring any such guarantee, in the purchase Of
large number Of vessels for the pnb1ic use, with
compensation dependent on the prices paid AMI
receivable from the seller instead Of the Govern
n,ent, have adopted q policy highly injurious t.
thepu1lic service. destructive Of pnbGc econom,
and public confidence, and deserves the censure .
this House.
Nh. Fcnton Of New York, moved to post
ponc the further consideration Of the mAttel
till Tuesday next. Agreed to.
Mayor 0pdYke on Government Finan.
cler1ug-
Mayor Opdyke, Of New York city, has writ
| ten letter to Secretary Chase on the subjec
Of financial scheme to raise money to carry
on the war, Our space will not permit us t.
print it entire, but the following arc the es
sential points laid down in Mayor Opdyke':
letter:
I lst, That demand notes should be issued tc
the extent Of $50, 600 000, for present necessi
, tics Of Government.
, I'd, That they should be made legal tender
in all cases.
+ Sd, That the measure is indispensable te
tie maintenance Of the credit and honor O.
the Government
4th, That prompt action should be taker
IN the premises, otherwise there will bt
difficulty in obtaining supplies for the arm,