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

the lowest cash price, and add two and q
half per cent, thereto. If Mr. Morgan
possesses the business ability which the
Secretary claims, and which do not doubt,
he certainly could have obtained all the
vessels at the price he did, less the two and !
o half per cent Who doubts it! Why |
shoold not the sellers as readily have given |
the two and half per cent, to the govern.
ment as to NJ. Morgan? No, sir that
failacy may suit the Secretary, but it will
not deceive the people. In September last
when Nv. Morgan had made over $50 900,
representation was made to the cabinet in
regard to this matter, and the attention OF
the Secretary directed to it. Had he
changed the policy, no censure could have
been charged upon him ; hut he persistently
refused, and in December M Morgan had
increased bis fortune to the enormous sum
of about 0,000-at The fortune of O
quarter of a million per snnum, M. Nor.
gan's services could have been secwed az
$4,000 annually, and tttis enormous sum
saved 10 The Treasury but if thiS be not so,
and men owning vessels have been com-
PEELED or induced to sell them small prices, what
right has the secretary to allow his brotherin.law
put BIS hands in the pocket of each seller and realize
money really belonged to the government As an agent
he takes and if it be an unconscionabe amount
belongs TO his employers The secretary should knoy
that the rules of the Chamber Of Commerce in New
York as to commits do not apply where the value
of the vessel exceeds $4,000 beyond that per
cnnegc is left to bargain between seller and broker
Can the secretary find itary where merchants
have allow two and half per cent ON a vessel worth
Si0j0o0l The rulc in Boston is one per cent where
| the value is over $4,000
DEFENSE OF SECRETARY wELLEs.
The secretary, in his last message, claims
that the vessels have been eheaply pur-
chased. Assume it, if you please. Does
he not know that our commerce is paralyzed
i that sail and steam vessels have been
crowded On the market, and must be sold
at any price or rot at the docks. As well
justify the purchase OF the Potomska and
Wamsutta, which were charged to the
government for 81 900 more than the
owners received on the ground that thoy
were cheap. The secretary must have
known this transaction was liable to the
criticism it had received or he would not,
as he says did ia advance, feel ho might
receive some consure because this great
bounty was bestowed on brother. in law
The secretary, in his labored defence of
Mr.. Morgan, has done great injustice to
SOh - GtoC III JJlc purchase OIL tile
Roman and the Badger. There was an
early opposition on the part of the Secretary
to take the purchase of vessels from the
navy officers for the commodore swears
that he chad direction from the Navy
Department by letter, April 2l, 1861, to
consult with persons capable of giving
Information and advice" A letter, written
April %, by H Bridge, chief of the bureau
of clothing, says: "Nr. William II Aspin.
wall has offered his services to the Score
tary ef the Navy, who wishes you to cal,
On him if you need assistance in the matter
of the steamers, as we'll as to acknowledge
his courtesy" On the same day the
secretary also wrote, "advising him to
consult with Governor n ,rgan, G d.
Morgan, with Messrs William Evarts,
, Blatchtord, Grinnol, also committee of
citizens, who are empowered to act for this
department In letter of April 20, the
secretary says:
'In my letter of the 23d inst, referred
E to certain gentlemen as an advising COM
mittee, with whom you might consult
One Of the gentlemen allldcd to, George
u. Morgan, Esq, has the special cofdence
of the department, and you will advise
with him, in behalfof the department, and
as its friend, in this emergency, in the
e purchase you may make, aud the extraor.
dlnary measures you are compelled to take.
1t has teen gratifying TO the department
to witness the Tonp ituSe aid alacrty that
have been exhibited, and The services rem.
dered, not only by the gent emon referred
70, but by Mr.. Aspinwal and others"
90 the 3oth April, 1861, the secretary
says:
In order to relieve yourself of incon-
, venience, and sundry gentlemen who were
specified as advisers in the late emergency
. L have proposed that Mr. G. D. Morgan
and Mr.. w. II. Aspinwal be substituted
! in their places. These two gentlemen have
been efficient in aiding and assist NJ you,
0 and are Wgilant fer the country and its
$ interests. They will, it is believed, cheer.
e fully act for the department when you
have not opportunity or time to consult
with it. Both of the gentlemen have been
3 written to by this mail on the subject, and
you will consult with either, or both, in
, your future negotiations and purchases. -
In letter of May 18th, speaking of
purchasing several vessels, amoLg them
, whaling ships, he says;
, "Fleasc advise with Mr.. G. ID. Morgan
in regard to this matter, and make pur-
. chascs with his approval"
Thus it clearly appears that Commodore
S Brecse was induced to confidence in Mr..
- Aspinwall and, when the whaleships were
ordered, in the absence of Mr. Morga he
5 called on Mr.. Aspinwall, and was governed
, by his advice and action, and, May 10,
t wrote to the secretary:
| ~ have commissioned an agent indica-
J ted by Mr. Aspinwall, to proceed to New
Bedford to negotiato for the purchase OF
: three whale hips, viii CHI the department
i directed me to obtain for coalin4 uses
: none can be purchased in this place"