The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1862-01-10
BEDFORD, Pa, FRIDAY MORNING, JANUARY 10, 1862


Answer. | should think So
While the investigations of the committee
sa'e impressed them with the conviction that,
With few exceptions, the QuartermasteFs and
Aommlssaries in the regular employment at the
government as members Of the old regular
amy are gentlemen OF ample and equal ca
q7city and fidelity, and in the midst Of our mis-
ftunes have been ever jealous for the public
7efare, the occasional aud irresponsible agents
employed by the departments to purchase sup
plies have, either through want OF experience
I Of integrity sacrificed tie public Interests.
1t is proper to remark that in furnishing
apphes in the Western Department the COM
slnding General was peculiarly unfortunate
the character Of the men b2 whom he was
tsfrounced. The system of public plunder
ehich pervaded the Department was inaugura-
sd at the very beginning, and followed up with
gltiring zeal; the public welfare as entirely
overlooked and as etfectuaIly ignored as if the
gar was gotten up 10 enable mammoth scheme
q speculation, at the erpsnse Of the people, to
tg carried out.
TO illustrate the importance Of system in the
purchase OF these supplies, as well as thePru-
gence Of only employing the reasonable agents
tastead of irresponsible temporary agents, thro'
&hom system of favorItsm could be consum-
aaed, the Committee call the especial atten-
ion Of the House to the purchase Of supplies
- Alexander Cummings, in the city of New
lork, under the directIoa Of the Secretary of
a War. The purchase of these supplies, with
CIT advertising for competition, was clearly JUS
i.fiable. But the failure TO employ in this
1lslness an experienced public officer, furnlsh-
just ground OF public complaint,
These purchases were made on the spur of a
pressing necessity, commencing about the 2lst
Of April; but at that time there were in the
city Of New York, at the head OF Quariermas-
Ter and Commissary Departments, gentlemen
miliar with every want Of The army, familiar
with the New York markets, and possessing
erery other advantage which years of exper-
isnce could confer. Major Eaton, the Assls-
taHt CommissaFyG of New York, and
C5l. Fompkjn5, the Assistant Quartermaster
General, at the sdne city, were fully entitled
,ths confidence Of the Government on the
a9re Of capacity, experience, integrity and
siosism. Fhe legitimate duties o. each of
These gen,Iemen nave, 70 some extent, been
performed by persons entirely irresponsible to
the Government, and OF, at least, limited ex-
periance, and, SO far as the committee is inform
ed, without any public necessity, for the heads
OF those departments at New York have been
fu..y able 10 meet any emergency.
On the 2lst OF April, Alexander Cummings,
who for twelve years was the editor OF the Eue-
niag Bulletin in Pennsy lvania, and for the past
eighteen months the publisher of newspaper
called The W0rla, in New York city, received
two letters fran the Hon. Simon Camerou, Sec
retary of War; the one apparently a private
letter, the other more official, after stating that
the War Department needed an intelligent, ex
petenCed and energetic man to assist in push
IEg forward troops and supplies, and calling his
attention 10 the fact of his knowledge of the
railroads 10 Pennsylvania, savS:-''with this
view, will thank you, iG consultation with
the officers Of the army and the navy, 10 assist
in getting vessels, or arranging with the rail-
road companies for the accommodation oil the
troops as fast they are ready TO march TO their
destination, and also 10 assist them in making
purchases or other arrangements, and to com
muncate at the earliest moment any information
Of service to this Department."
No person bat The Secretary Of War, seems to
have been aware OF Mr.. Cummings peculiar
itness for so important duty as the purchase
of supplies, when great business experience
aud familiarity with the New York market, and
army supplies in general, were indispensable,
but on the 23d of April, two days after Cum
mings was instructed TO cooperate with the
officers of the government, the Secretary of
War issued the following order:-
DEPARTMENT. OF war, April %, 1861.
n consideration OF the extraordinary emer-
geRcies which demand immediate and decisive
for the preservation of the national
ca pital, and the defence of the National Gov
hereby authorize Edwin d. Morgan,
Governor of the State OF New York, and Al
exandp~ Cummings cow In the city of New
York, 20 make all necessary arrangements for
the Transportation of troops and munitions OF
war in aid and assistance OF the officers OF the
army Of theUnited States, until communication
BY mails and telegraph is completely re-esab-
lshed between the cities of Washington ana
New York. Either OF them, in case of inability
10 consult with the other, may exercise the au-
-horlty hereby given. SIMON CAMERON,
Secretary of War"
And on the 4th of May, Gov. Morgan issued
he following ORDER
"ALBANY, May 4th, 1861.
Duties al the capital preventing personal ex-
4rcise of the powers within conferred upon me,
delegate my portion thereof to George D.
Morgan, on April 26, 1861, being then. first by
elegraph, apprIsed of this appointment.
E. d. MORGAN.
George Morgan was relative and business part |
Ter Of Governor Morgan, residing in New York
atv. Governor Morgan seeE,s to have regar-
led this extraordinary appointment as a fran-
hise, subject TO be transferred at pleasure.
In connection with The appointment of Nor
.an and Cummings to make these purchases, |
be Secretaries OF War and of the Treasury, as
S sated by Mr.. Cummings in his testimony |