Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1862-02-15

luu untll near IRON you sDhIl do nothing
N the matter. Ihate requested M. STAR
buck aoho purchased her, TO call ana see
yoa.
every truly, your obedlent servant,
"GEORGE D. MORGAN. /
IS. L. Breese, Esq, Flag officer,
washington, June /, 1851"
1t is due to Commodore Breesc to sag
that, when the ships were brought to the
navy yard, he discovered the fraud, in
formed the Secretary, and desired to have
them to consider Mr.. Aspinwalps pur-
chases, which he understood was done, as
an order was issued for loading them ~
The Secretary also refers to tho Penguin
and Albatross, bought by Commodore
Broese for $4,000 each, alleging that
they were of no greater tonnage than the
Stars and Stripes. The Secretary, how.
ever, omits to state that the Penguin and
Albatross were built fer seagong vessels,
with double engines, and cost, probably n
construction, one.third more than the Stars
and Stripes. The Secretary further says;
"In single transaction origicnally
made with large shipowner by Commo-
dore Breese, for five valuable steamers,
felt that the government was unfortunately
involved, and Mr.. Morgan was employed
to relieve the department. Under many
and great difficulties he succeeded in sa-
wing the government, by his action in that
transaction, above Sl25,0OO."
The explanation, as I understand it, is
this: The commodore, in chartering the
five vessels, required the owners to insert
price at which they would sell to gov.
ernment. 1t was a mere proposition on
their part. 1t was not accepted, neither
was the government bound to pay it.
The Secretary also adds;
"Yet hear from the owners and sellers
no complaint that they, by the operation
of this system of purchase, have bcen op.
pressed or aggrioved.'
Let Us examine the correctness Of this
statement by one transaction. In the
month of May last, j. Rudolph Sicg and
James G. Jewett g. Co., of New ork city
we're owners of the steamer Mercedita,-
During that month man by the name of
BurriIl, claiming to be an agent and ad-
wiser Of the Navy Department, proposed
a purchase. Jewett & Co TO prevent the
tSx'ortions of government agents, on thu
10th day Of June wrote letter to the Sec.
rotary Of the Navy, Offering TO charter
or sell that vessel at valuation to be fxed
by the Department. A similar letter was
sent by them to the President of the Uni
ted states The Secretary returned All
answer refusing TO charter or purchase
MS she was unsuited for an armed ship
Burrll shortly after appears, saying that
he can sell the rejected steamer; that he
hod returned from Washington, and asked
authority from them to sell to government
which given to him on the Sd day of j uly.
On the 3lst of July Burgili came again and
made an offer from the Secretary Of the
Navy for the rejected steamer, cn the
condition that the owners should pay s.,
900 to him, besides fair brokerage,
which SIS 900 Busrill said was to be given
to government officials for their assistance
in selling this vessel. Jewrtt X O.. re.
fused, proclamin. that they would first sec
their vc sol rot at the wharf, and thom
selves wanting for bread, before one penny
should 90 to bribe government oflicia s.,
requesting BlrrilI t, say to those who scnt
him, if the government walked 5000,
they would give that sum towards raising
another regiment to fill the place Of tn,
New York Sixty ninth. Burrill left, and
after the lapse Of a few hours returned
saying that he had heard from W yashingtor
and that he would wi hdraw TIE condition
and they need only pay what they saw fl
to allow him for his services. hey &C
cepted, and on The same day gave Bur
rill bill of sale for the department and
he presented list of alterations required
in the handwriting of S. NJ Pook, the ma
val constructor, and one Of the board tc
examine vessels. On the 9th Of Septem
ber they delivered up the vessel to gov
ernment through Burrill. Much to tn,
surprise of the owners the Secretary sent
a requisilion to pay Burrill the 100000
for the Mercedita' although the names to
the bill of sale were that Of Seg, owner Of
seven tenths, and Jewett & Co three
tenths. They succeeded in arranging so
that the money ahould be drawn by a
third party. Some twenty days after the
date of the requsition an order was had
on the sub treasury for the money. Mr..
George D. Morgan did not appear in the
negotiation until after the requisition for
the money. lie thsn came and demanded
81 500 for his share, admitting that he
did not sell or purchase, yet the owners
could net get thoir money until he was
paid; and, if they would consent to pay, he
would write to Washington and urge the
immediate remittance cfthe money. The
above facts must have been known to the
Secretary. They were written 10 Com.
Hudson, October 81, with request tha4
they be filled in the Navy Department
which doubtless was done. since the let
ter of the Secretary the committee have
not had time to examine the owners of the
Mereedita but the foregoing and subse-
quent facts in connection with the purchase
are sustained by afidavits of j. Rudolph