New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-04
hy Gen. McKins,ry. When the prizes for bis work

Gen. McKnstry, directed this officer to reduce
them TO what was lust and reasonable ID both par
ties, having reference TO the circupst ,uces under
hich tho work done, and the extra prices that
bad been paid, 70 10 b. leave the contractor what
might be strictly fair profit on his labor, and his
decision whatever it was, was approved by me. For
cost If construction and other details with which
Nm not acquainted, respectfully refer the Committee
to the testimony Of the Qnar!ermaster and the con-
tractor, whom have asked to have summoned.
To show their nature aud value, the report and
testimony OF the engineers, who planned and were
experimenting the work, viii be furnished the Com
mittec. TIE object aimed At war TIE completion OF
the city defenses in the shortest possible time Tue
works are thor )ughly and well built covering and
comprehending the city itself and the surrounding
country on length of about ten miles, and toe total
cost is | think, les than 100000.
In my judgment, having IN view the time and man
uer in which they were built, the money was we'll
applied aud AZ 4 of expediency and policy,
it was fully worth to the Government what il cost.
| And while examining into the conduct and events
Of the war think il right TO call the attention OF
Your Committee TO the fact that Committee charged
to " investigate fraudo' came into Department
which was under martial law, in the midst Of civil
discussions encouraging INSTRUMENTATION, discredIIng
and weakening the authority Of the Commanding
General then absent in the field, and offer testi-
mony 10 show that their conduct while a. s. Louis
created public opinion that their special object was
to make out a case against self which should jus
tify my removal from that Department. See page
70 OF that report.l And / offer testimony to show
~ al rJ nod ani hav
suppressed, testimony which mlitatedagsns this OBJ
ject and further 10 show that there are IN their re-
port many inaccuracies and perversons and some
positive fslsehoOds.
The labors of the Investigating Committee appear
to have resulted in u single resolution, in which the
purchase Of certain by myself is made promi-
nent subject With respect 10 the sale of these arms
by the Government, ! have nothing TO say. They
were new, and I'm told were sold without being
condemned The contract price at which they were
bought by the Government was, believe, $7 30.
The price at which they set down in the Ord
nance Manual 10 gel. After they had been ri!ed and
otherwise improved, l purchased them at 81
Taking into consideration the advance in price Of
arms caused by the war, submit that the purchase
il not deserving Of special have depressed
from the rule laid down at the outset IN this paper
but the pssssge Of the resolution, which soon to be
before the House. would be vote Of censure, and IA
the report itself together with the Official accusations
have been broadly spread over the country, re-
speetfully ask that the Committee Will csute TINS
statement, together with the accompanying docu-
rnents, to have equal and immediate publicity gwen
10 them in order that Congress may act understand
ingly, aud the censure asked for gowhere 1t properly
belongs.
The turbulent condition Of the State at the end OF
August rendered in my judgment necessary to L.
.ue n proclamation extending martial law TO the
State Of Missouri, and enforcing some penalties ior
rebellion.
AZ explanatory OF some OF the difficulties Oh my
position. and Of my ideas concerning the con
dnc, u the war Ia my DEPARTMENT, refer the Com
naii,ec % the annexed correspondence with tie Pres
den, in this connection.
So late m the 9TH, to the 10th September, ss &c
complaining papers under this date show, no imme'
dn,s danger was unprecedented for Jefferson City or
Lexington.
Price was still on the Upper Usage, aid Was or
suni1ng as rapidly Possible force to march from
kolla and from Jefferson City upon Springfield with
the intention Of forcing him 20 retreat or cutting OH
hi. communications with Arkansas. Want OF trans
ponation. arms. and money was delaying this move
Ioeut. We had just effected Judgments at Paducah
and Fort Holt. and were occupied in oonesting with
the Rebels In Western Kentucky, for which re-en-
forcemonis were constantly required. The condition
of North Missouri required vigorous effort TO sup
press rebellion in that quarter, aud AN expedition,
which occupied a considerable part of onr real force,
WIS cent there under Gems. Pope and Sturgis.
There three points, which We were actually en-
gagged, fully taxed our resources.
Al hi. time sent for Gen. Hunter, 10 give him
command Of the movement upon Springfield. On
the Ilth it will be seen that Con. Pope. with all the
force under his command, was fully occupied IN
North Missouri.
On he ssme day l received the rumor, and only
~ a rumor Of Gen. Prices arrival at Clinton morv
than 30 miles from 81. Louis.
Upon the l2th, dispatch from Gen. Davis informed
me of Col. Muligans arrival at Lexington. Col. Mui.
lgan reports portion of hLs command-Col. Mar
slalrs regiment Of oGyslryss occurring the country.
The same day another dispatch from him informs me
that Price ia reported Wsrrepsburg, with force
vnrionsly estimated from 5000 TO $4,000 men. He
informs me measures were being taken 10 begin Tor.
tifying Lexington. Finally, il appears that Gen.
Davis wa giving his atten ton yigsnty to that sec
ton Of country.
II will be seen, from the kilograms Of this DAY,
that Cairo was also requiring more troops.
/ Oh the 18th two regiments were ordered from 81.
I.ouis 10 Jefferson City. aud two others from
Jefferson City, TO The relief Of Lexington
! Lexington il 2iO miles from st. Loui' ard 10 IRON
j aerson Ctyl, and, in the opinion Of Gen. Davis,