Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-02-24

| CHARTER or THE cATALINE.
The doctor next appoints Captain Comstock
to charter or purchase vessels. The Captain,
with friend, goes to BROOKLYN, inspects the Cat
aline, and learns that her price is from Sl6 900
to $50 600. Instead of purchasing or chartering
or recommending the doctor to do so, his friend
suggests TO Mr.. Deven that there sis nice op-
portunity TO make something by good manage
ment" This was the 22d day Of April, the very
day the propeller Daylight left New York with
supple for the 7th regiment and two hundred re-
cruits of the brave and generous young men of
that city. The Daylight left without convoy,
and reached Washington safely. / never can for
get the 23d day of April and the trip of the Day
| light, or of that gallant band who were leaving
all the endearments of homes and associations Of
friends to encounter the perls of disease and bat
tie l never can forget the universal disquietude
in the great city Of the continent No mails, no
telegraph, a dreadful, solemn suspense-brave
men, good men, fearing, doubling, yet hoping
actuated by one impulse, ready to give all, even
/ life, for the defense of the capital Washington
founded, and the flag the patriots of the RevoIu
tion baptized in blood. No one could have be-
lieved that at such a moment men could find
leisure or inclination to ascertain how something
could be made out of the griefs of the people by
good management Yet that very day, when
sympathy for bleeding country and the oblga-
tons of duty to his employers should have re-
ceved from Captain ComstOck all his skill and
energy, his mission was used to benefit friends.
He knew DR.. Cummings was agent for the War
Department; still he counsels freely with Mr.
Develn about the value of the Cataline and
gives an opinion what will be paid for her charter
Had she been cheap at $4,000 his Government
was entitled to the purchase. After yielding to
Mr.. Develin all the time he required for the ne
gOtiatiOn, on the 25th the boat was chartered by
Colonel Tompkins, he relying upon Capt Com
stock, the authorized agent of Mr.. Cummings
the agent of the War Department paying for her
use 5000 per month for three months, and If
lost by war risks then Government TO pay S50,-
600. Colonel Tompkins would not sign until
Captain Comstock assured him that she
worth $50, ,000 and that it was all right. The
Captain knew the value Of the boat and what she
cost. Mr.. Freeman. having an interest in her
prUhts, swears they did not pretend she worth
S50,000. Captain ComstOck, however, denies
that be alleged she worth that amount. The
testimony 0f Captain ComstOck shows the vast
number and almost unlimited power Of persons
at that time assuming to act as agents for the
Government. He saws:
81 was sent for by Mr. Weed to come to the
Astor House about the time of the commence
ment of these troubles. He stated that be was
an agent of the Government, and had troops and
munitions of war to send to Washington by way
of the Chesapeake, and that he wished to charter
vessels for that purpose.
Afterwards Cummings called upon me and
showed me the same authority that Weed had
shown. 1t had been transferred to him to per-
should think that Weed chartered from six to ten
vessels"
This testimony was given on the 2Sth day of
December, and up to that time the committee
had no evidence or intimation that Mr.. Weed
had been an agent for the Government or acting
as such. The Department was liberal in bestow-
ing confidence and grants of power; but that con-
hdence seems to have been abused by the trans
fer of authority one to the other. Mr.. Weeds
absence from home prevents an examination at
present into the nature and extent of his agency.
The committee have not been able to show for
whom the steamer was loaded. 1t has been in
timated she loaded by private parties, to be
run, however, at the risk and expense of the Gov
eminent And when she could not obtain
clearance her cargo was in whole or part sold to
the Government. If this be so, it will account
for Mr.. Cummings purchase Of straw hats linen
pantaloons, London porter, Scotch ale. Dutch
herring, "butter, cheese and all" Collector
Barney swears that on the 9th of April Mr..
Stetson, in whose name the title had been taken,
called on him demanding a clearance to Annap-
oils. When asked how she was loaded and to
whom the cargo belonged, be replied she was
loaded with flour and provisions, and belonged to
clear her Stetscn then said the provisions were
for the army. Barney replied that as the proper
ty was not Government property, but property of
individuals, he could not clear her except by a
request from some Government officer. 1t is but
Just TO say here that Mr. Deyelin was evidently
induced to purchase the vessel at the suggestion
of those who we're acting for the Government,
and that Mr.. Stetson, in everything he did, was
frank candid and made no concealment When
NJ lod Lat -ash.
brought note from Mr.. Weed, stating that the
cargo consisted of supplies for troops, and re-
questing clearance" Mr.. Barney declined,
but Mr.. Weed and explained why clear
ance could not be granted. Mr.. Weed said sit
was all right, and would be arranged in some
other way" He concluded not to give clear
ance unless requested to do so by Gen Wool. He
saw the General and requested him to be careful
before he gave orders for clearance. pass.
however, was obtained from the General. which
he regretted, for on Monday morning he sent en-
order to the Collector revoking it; but the fugi-
tive had escaped, with the condemnation of the
Collector and Gen. Wool upon her. Her voyage
was an unfortunate one; after two months ser
vice she destroyed by Ere.
The question recurs, who we're the friends re-
ferred TO by Mr. StetsOn the owners Of the
cargo? 1t is necessary to 60 back and see who
had any interest or connection with the tIansac-
in the profits, swears, after first daclining to do
so, that he received, part security for the pur
chase money of the Cataline, four notes. of S4,
500 each as follows: one note by Thurlow Weed
indorsed John +. Deyein; one note by G.. @.
Davidson indorsed by o. B. Matteson and one
note by o. B. Matteson, indorsed Thurlow Weed
These parties must all have been in New York
city at the time. The only person besides the
Captain and crew was james Larkih, who went
rh ha alf o4erh ha
finally concluded his duty to act check
upon the Captain. This man was appointed by
Mr.. Develin upon the recommendation of Mr.
Davidson. No one seemed to take any interest
i'm loading the vessel but Mr. Devein. Colonel
TOmpkins knew nothing Of her cargo. The
Union Defense Committee knew nothing of her
cargo; and, when DIR. Cummings was asked if he
knew anything OF her cargo. he said, Not a
particle" He relied entirely upon and trusted
70 the clerk. Mr.. Humphreys, appointed upon the
Recommendation Of Mr.. Weed. 1t must be left
to surrounding facts 10 show who were referred
to by Mr.. Stetson, and whether the boat was
loaded for private speculation; and, wheE no
clearance could be obtained, Mr.. Cummings,
through his clerk, purchased the cargo tor Gov
ernment, so that a pass could be procured.
General Wool's hesitency in giving pass 10 The
Catans probably induced a representation to
General Scott that the condition Of his (Wool's)
health required repose from arduous duties.
Mr. Cummings certainly a remarkable
agent. The Secretary wants an energetic intel
ligent, and experienced man, Of course-one
more 30 than the Union Defense Committee, or
the army officers in New York-one ON whom
he can rely; yet the agent apparently takes no
interest but TO draw and pay the money. When
he was called on, especially 70 aid in purchases.
he trnsts il. all to Mr. Humphreys, his clerk.
When vessels are 70 be chartered. he doesn't
deem Il worth while TO examine them. He good
naturedly says he took il for granted that what
the owners said was true He was certainly a