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

tne propeller Dayllgnt leIb new 1orR WIN
supplies for the Seventh Regiment and
two hundred recruits of the brave and
generous young men Of that city. The
Daylight left without convoy, passed up
the Potomac without convoy, and reached
Washington safely. l never can forget
that 23d day of April and the trip of the
Daylight, or of that gallant band who
were leaving all she endearments Of homes
and associations of friends to enc ounter
the perils of disease and battle. l never
can forget the universal disquietudo in the
grea. city oil the continent. No mails, no
telegraph, a dreadful, solemn suspense
brave men good men, fearing, doubling,
yet hoping actuated by one impulse, roa.
dy to give all, to even life, for the defense
of the capital Washington founded, aud
the flag the patriots of the revolution bap.
tized in blood. NO one could have be-
heved that at such moment men could
find leisure or inclination to ascertain how
something could be made out of the grefs
OF the people by good managemnt Yet
that very day when sympathy for bleed
ing country and the obligations of duty to
his employers should have received from
Capt. Comstoek all his skill and energy, ,
his mission was used to benefit frie nds. -
He knew DR.. Cummings was agent for the
War Department still he counses freely
with Mr. Dcvelin about the value of the
Cataline, and gives an opinion what will
be paid for her charter. Had she been
cheap at Sic, 900 his government was en-.
titled to the purchase. After yielding to
Mr.. Devein all the time he required for
the negotiation, on the 25th the boat was
chartered by Col. Tompkins, he relying
upon Capt. Comstock the authorized agent
Of Mr., Cummings, the agent of the War
Department, paying for her use $40 900
per month for three months, and if lost by
war risks the government to pay $50, 600
Col, Tompkins would not sign until
Capt. Comstock assured him that she was
worth $50, 200, 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 profits, swears they did
not pretend she was worth 600 Cap.
tain Comstock, however, MES that he al
legged she was worth that amount The
testimony of Captain Comstock shows the
vast number and almost unlimited power
of persons at that time assuming to act as
agents for the government. lie says:
81 was sent for by Mr.. Weed to come
to the Astor House about the time of the
commencement of these troubles. He sta .
ted that he was an agent of the govern
ment, and had troops and munitions of
war to send to Washington by way of the
Chesapeake, and that he wished to char
ter vessels for that purpose, n
Afterwards Cumming called on me and
showed me the same Authority that Weed
had shown 1t had been transferred to
him to perform the same service.
| should think that Weed chartered from
six to ten vessels"
The 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 de-
dartment was liberal in bestowing conf
dence and grants of power; but that con.
fdenee seems to have been abused by the
transfer of authority one to the other
| Mr.. Weeds absence from home prevents
al 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 intina-
ted she was loaded by private parties, to
be run, however, at the risk and expense
of the government 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.. Cum
mings purchase Of straw hats, linen pan
falcons, London porter, Scotch ale, Dutch
herring, "butter cheese and ALL" Ocl-
lecter Barney swears hat on the 9th of
April Mr.. Stetson, in whose name the title
had been taken, called on him, deman =
ing clearance to Annapolis. When
asked how she was loaded, and to whom
the cargo belonged, he replied she was
loaded with -four and provisions, and be.
longed to several of his friends. Mr. Bar
ney refused 10 clear her. Stctson then
said the provisions were for the army
Barney replied that as the property was
not government property, but property OF
individuals, he could not clear her except
by request from some government officer
1t is but just to say here that Mr. Develiu
was evidently induced to purchase the YES.
sells at the suggestion of those who were
acting for government, and that Mr.. Stet
son in everything he did, was frank, can
did, and made no concealment. Wher
Mr.. Stetson again called on the Collector
''he brought note from Mr.. Weed, sta
ling that the cargo consisted Of supplies
for troops, and requesting a clearance, ~
Mr., Barney declined, but saw Mr.. Weed
and explained why clearance could no
be granted. Mr., Weed said lit was al
right, and would be arr nged in some 9th
er way" He concluded not to give
clearance unless requested to do SO b.
General Wool. He saw the general ant
requested him to be careful before he CAV
orders Tor a clearance. A pass, however
was obtained from the general, which h
regretted for On Monday mornino h