Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-02-10


Why should not the sellers ss readily
have given the two and half per cent TO
9overnment as TO Mr.. MorRang No, sir
lhat fallaey may suit the Secretary, but it
will not deceive the people.
In September last, when Mr.. Morgan
had made over $50, 900, representation 70
the Cabinet Was made in regard to this
matter; and the attention Of the Secretary
directed TO It. Had ne changed the pol
icy, no censure could have been charged
upon him; but he Persistently refused, and
in December Mr.. Morgan had increased
his fortune to the enormous sum Of about
$50, 000--at the rate Of quarter of 3 iail
iiAn per annum. Mr.. Morgan's services
could have been secured at s., 900 annu.
ally, and this enormous sum saved 70 the /
Treasury; but if this be not 90, and men |
owning vessels have been compelled or in |
duoed to sell them ct small prices, what |
right has the Secretary 10 allow his broth
er-in-lRW 70 put his hands in the pocket |
Of each seller, and realize the immense |
sum Of $4,000 in a few months. That
money really belonged to the Government. |
As an agent, he takes II; and il it be an
uncomfortable amount il belongs TO his
employers. The Secretary should know
that the rules Of the Chamber Of Commerce
in New York ss TO commissions do not ap-
ply when the value Of the vessel exceeds
$50, 900; beyond that sum the per oentage
is left to bargain between seller and broker.
Can the Secretary find solitary case
where merchants have allowed q percent.
on vessel worth $lOOOO02 The rule in
Boston is per cent. when the value is
over $4,000.
DEFEEoE or SECRETARY WELLS. -t
The Secretary in his last message, claims
that the vessels have been eheaply puT-
chased. Assume it, II you please. Does
/ he not know that our commerce is pRral.
yzed; that sail and steam vessels have
| been crowded on the market, and must be
sold at any price or rot at the docks. As
we'll Justify the purchase Of the Potomsks
and Wsmsutts, which were charged to the
Government for 81 600 more than the own
ers received, on the ground that they were
cheap. The Secretary must hsVe known
this transaction was liable to the criticism
it has received, or he would not, as he says
he did, in advance, feel he might receive
some censure because this great bounty
was bestowed on brother.in-laW.
The Secretary, in his labored defence of
Mr.. Morgan, has done great injustice to
Commodore Breese in the purchase of the
Roman and Badger. There was an early
disposition on the part Of the Secretary to
take the purchase of vessels from the navy
officers, for the Commodore swears that "he
had direction from the Navy Department
by letter, April 2l, 1851, TO consult with
persons capable Of giving Information and
advice" letter written April %, by b.
Bddge, chief II the bureau OF clotaing,
says: Mr. William 3. AspinwaIl has Of
fered his services to the Secretary of the
Navy, who wishes you to call on him Of you
need assistance in the matter Of the steam
ers, as we'll as to acknowledge his courtesy"
On the same day the Secretary also wrote,
"advising him to consult with Governor
, Morgan, G. D. Morgan, with Messrs. William
, Everstts, BIstchford, G;innell, also commit
, tee of citizens, who are empowered to scI
tor this Department"
In letter of April 18th, the Secre tary
says:
/ " In my letter of the 2Sd inst, referred t
certain gentlemen as an advising committee
with whom you might consult. One of the gen
/, tlemen allnded to, George d. Morgan, Esq, ha.
the special confidence OF the Department anC
> you will advise with him in behalf of the De
partment and as its friend, in this emergency, il
| the purchases you may make, and the eXtraOrdi
nary measures you are compelled to take. It hal
been gratifying to the Department to Witnes
! the pr0mptitude and Rlacriiy that has been eX
e hibited, and the services rendered, not only By
the gentleman referred TO, btR by Mr.. AspiRlOal
and others."
! On the Both April, 1881, the Secretary
I says;
! "In order to relieve yourself of ineonYe
] ninnep and auUdrV UauEIpmnn WIN Tuar
specified as advisers in the late emergency,
| have proposed that Mr.. G. d Morgan and Mr
= W. H. AspiHlgau be substituted in their place
| These two gentlemen have been efficient in aid
ing and assisting you, and are vigiiant for thi
country and its interests. They will, It's belley
Z ed, cheerfully act for the Department when you
have not opportunity or time to consult with it
= BOth of the gentvemen have been written to, By
: this mail, on the subject, and you will consul
I with either, or both in VA''- f----- =
: In aletter of May ls, speaking Of purchas
0 ing several vessels, amsng them whaling
ships, he says:
! " Please advise with Mr. G. d. Morgan In re
! gard 70 tbs matter, and make purchases with hi
approval"
Thus, it clearly appears that Commodore
Breese was induced to place confidence in
, Mr.. Aspinwall; and when the whale ships
I were ordered, in the absenbe of Mr.. Morgan,
J he called on Mr.. Aspinwall, and was gov
, erned by his advice and action, and Nay 9th
wrote to the Secretary:
/" have commissioned an agent, indicated by
Mr. Aspinwall, TO proceed 70 New Bedford to
: negotiate for the purchase of three whale ships
which the Department directed me 10 obtain
for coaling uses none can be purchased in this
place"
After the Secretary had frequently advis-
ed him to consult number Of persons, in eV-
, cry letter reducing the mum Der, until hs de-
ciares his warm attachment to Mr.. Morgan
and Mr.. Aspinw al, although the letter or
dering the whale ships requested him to pur-
chase them with the approval OF Mr.. Nor
: gan; still, in his absence, and the pressing
necessities Of the purchase, and considering
the high eulogiums pronounced by the Sec
retary on Mr.. AspinWall, the following
statement in the letter o. the Secretary
is remarkable, and unsustsined by the eyi-
dence:
d" Had the naval ofacer followed the instruc.
tions that were given him, these frauds would
not have been perpetrated. But Commodore
Breese employed Mr.. Aspinwall's broker and not
| Mr.. Morgan, and the results were gross fraud
and the purchase of Inferior vessels which could
not have been the case had the policy which the
Department was then institutinR prevailed and
lis orders been obeyed."
The attempt to sacrifice Mr.. AspinwsIl and
Commodore Breese in Mr.. Norgaa's defence
requires no comment
Still more remarkable is the charge of the
Secretary, when it is remembered that the
person referred to as Mr.. AspinWslIs broker
was StIrbNek, the very man employed by
Mr.. Morgan as broker, even subsequent to
the purchase of the Roman and Badger, as
appears by the following letter:
aDEAR CoNEopORE;
] have not directed the Mediator to 20 to
the Navy Yard, aud until hear from you
shall do nothing in the matter. I ka0s re-
Qaestsd Mr.. Star6uek, phO purekassa hsr, to
call and Sss you. Very truly your