Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1862-04-30

panied him, he chartered magnificent
steamer at q cost Of 81 600 TO che govern
ment, to convey himself aud cortege alone,
The steamer was anchored out in ths
stream, instead oflying at the wharf, as
all others did and do, and when the gen.
eral drove in his Carriage and four TO the
waters edge yet anothe. steamer, at still
| further cost to the government, rs we
learn from claim presented for it. was EN-.
ployed TO put himself and suite on board.
A foreign prince or potentate, in season
of national moruning, might thus live, and
thus enter his pleasure yacht or his barge
ofstate OF inseusibiity amid the calami.
ties Of civil war and wastfulness when the
public debt is -beitsg increased st the rate
of from one TO two millions daily, when
exhibited by general of the American
army, is spectacle from which the patriot
may well turn away in grief and humilia-
ton,
As was 20 have been expected, the inau.
ence of such an exhibition was everywhere
felt. High officers did not, it was true
dare charter steamers for their own con-
venience, but they did, it vas true, dare
chart er steame for their trains for the
convenience Of themselves and attendants,
while yet humber officers, dw&rfing their
pseudo pomp to the narrower sphere Of
their authority hired at the livery stables
for months tuggies and horses at the cost
Of the government, and this although the
Law only recognized them Oh foot, or as
mounted Mt their own expense. Thus,
in evey way, and almost everywhere, un.
der the maign influence Of the declara>
ton that neither laws nor regulations lon
ger prevailed, there was manifested dis.
potism TO convert the national tragedy
through which we were passing into sat.
urnaIia of personal and official self.indul,
gence and extravaganza
Having, in the fultiment OF tho trust
committed to US, lifted the veil from a
field OF prodigAllty, lnsubordinst;on, and
generalization, in the midst Of which we
have been toiling for the last four months,
we have felt it incumbent upon Us TO
point the department to the true causes
of these disorders. We have .presented
the testimony Of Colonel Andrews and
Major johnson, not tor the purposes OF
anlmadverslon, but simply to explain the
scene which we have barred to view. In
the light OF this explanation, we are hap
py to believe that the disease, i'll the vir'
ulence with which it has prevailed here,
vas not national, but local, aud was the
result of local and personal causes.
So soon as we had been sufficiently IA
milar with the facts presented and with
the principles applicable to them TO ena-
Bile US to feel entire confidence in the
conclusions arrived at, we began to deliv'
er vouchers, certified in accordance with
the instructions OF the Secretary of War.
The first delivery occurred on the 9th day
Of January, 1862, and has been since reg.
ularly continued, rs our decisions have
been pronounced. In giving out the
claims presented, with the allowances up.
on them, it was necessary that some re-,
ceipt should be executed by the claimants
In deciding what should be tho character
of the receipt, il seemed TO us that as
prOtracted and patient examination had
been given to these claims, and the par
ties had been heard either in person or by
attorney, and the cases had been contin-
ued from day TO day, so long as those in
terested desired to produce testimony,a and
the government, by our action, was COM
mitted to pay the amount allowed, it was
no more than proper that the claimants
should be required to accept the allow
ance in full for the amount demanded
This course was adopted, and was cener>
ally acquiesced in Prominent among
those wh3 demonstrated was Leondas
Haskell, whose transactions figure in this
report, and who gave to Vi formal notice
of his intention to appeal to Congress
from our decision on his claims.
The department is aware how constant,
ly we have in our correspondence urged
tae payment Of these liabilities. Those
for money seized and borrowed from the
banks, with the exception probably of
some 100000, have been satisfied, and a
number of the ho,deis of the smaller
class Of volchers have been so fortunate
as TO have their claims settled by the dis
bursting officers but probably fully three.
fourths of the amount allowed by the
commissioners still remains unpaid. -
When it was borne in mind how long
many OF these debts have been due, and
how much from these del;ys the youch.
ers have deprecated in the hands of the
holders, many of whom have been obliged
/ TO cash them in the market at heavy dis
count, it is not a matter Of surprise that
an irritating sense Of injustice on the part
of the government is beginning to be felt
here. This feeling is increased by pre-.
vaiing impression that the same tardi>
ness Of payment has not distinguished
the service in the east. We earnestly
recommend, AZ a measure of common JUS.
tice, due alike to the highest pecuniary
interests Of the government as TO its hon
or, that the claims which we have certi.
fed shall be at once paid.
While we have necessarily devoted the
principal part Of our report to an expos
sure Of the abuses which characterized the
late administration Of this department,we
cannot close it without bearin 9 testimony
to the integrity which has generally been
displayed by merchants, mechanics, and
manufacturers when permitted to deal di-
rectly with the government. Wide spread
AS has been the decentralization in official
circles and among their dependents and
favnrites, and startling as are the frauds
which have been attempted and consum
mated a large majority Of tho claimants
have presented themselves before US un
;r,Daachad hv inpntations eithar upnn