Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-06-15

In the history Of this republic, perhaps, there
has not been an investigation oil more practical
i'm 3ortance than that which has been secretly
conducted in n small apartment of the Custom
House by MIR. J~Ourdan, the Solicitor OF the Treas
ury. The alleged frauds in the sale OF prize yes
sells, the subject of inquiry, may not be viewed in
the mere light of the loss of dollars They are
the great key to the ineniciency Of the Navy; they
reveal the hitherto inexplicable cause of the reg
ular success of the blockade runners, and render
the vast squadrons Of the Southern coasts as so
many buoys. through which Rebel vessels are
honored with n Federal court, to coneenial ports.
Hence, the alleged frauds, in the prize sales, may
not be estimated by even the great sum they in
rolve. To ascertain the loss and injury to the
Government, they represent the cost of the Navy,
the appraised value Of the services of that mighty
arm of defense. with that OF successful blockade
runners and the careoes the squadrons might
have captured-must be Incorporated with the
sum. for which those charged with NAL practices
in the prize sales are accountable
But who can estimate the value of n Navy in
a period rite with the expectations OF foreign war.
and the bloody incubus of local insurrection. un
p~aralleled in It's extent and powerf Paymasters
NAV affect to be robbed but The greenbacks nav
be duplicated; IL. however. the honest dues of
the Navy are distracted by a" ring" of office
holders, already ENJOYING sinecures. the dispiriting
influence of the series of grand larcenies ON the
captors of prize vessels involve the very security
ami value OF the nation itAelf But if the charges
are proved, are they not collectively a fit sequel
To the career of men who have sent loyal men To
Fort Lafayette IN response to teIegraphic orders,
to be released in a few DAYS without redress for
such outrages on personal liherty7
Mr.. Jourdan. however, avowed publicly that
he did not attach the same importance to the in.
quiry as the wealthy aud distinguished merchants
who have, in the language of one of them,
"forctd" the Government TO inaugurate the in
vcstigation. The remT ks OF Mr.. Jourdan at the
opening of the inquiry led Mr.. Moses H. GrIunel
To declare his belief that the investigation would
he an ser parfe" one: to which al, the other
merchants gave their verbal consent.
Similar avowals were made nv Capt. Marshall.
whan Mr.. Jour1an peremptorilv elected the mem
bers OF The press, andrefused the merchants even to
have a reporter to note their evidence. not for
publication. but 20 represent the community. and
be a source of apneal in case of a dispute about
the testimony. Whatever may be the result of
the investigation, evea If, as some anticipate, a
disposition has been manifested to cast its record
into the "tomb Of the Capulets." there is no
doubt that the captors of vessels will. in future,
send them to ports where they will be honestly
sold for their full value, and thereby deprive this
CITY Of the vast amount of labor and money which
such seizures would circulate among a large class
of our people.
Oul ~ ttt oCiOlG bC WIS 0ApClNNhg iIlOt lINn
Mr. Jourdan that he had all the statemei IS that
would come before him in advance. They had
been obtained from authentic sources.
THE SECRET SUPPRESSED INQUIRY.
After tile reporters were expelled. Mr.. Jourdan
organized himself us a Court. The merchants,
foiled in their endeavOr to have the investigation
made public. seemed to labor under the impress
ion that the Court believed the charges not true,
or ut least unworthy Of special notice.
On the first day of the inquiry, a leading wit
ness was examined and. it is stated. his evidence
abundantIy proved the fact cOrrobOrated BY 9th
ers, that after the sales of cargoes of pr re yes
sells we're made, those who purchased them OBJ
tanned considerable reductions of the amounts for
which they bought such goods, although the per
emptOry conditions Of the auction we're. that ''nu
reductions or r%eclamations" whatever should be
made
The following is said to be some of the evi
dence ELECTED Mt the inquiry; and we publish
it, even at the risk of Mr. Jourdan. in his
own language. having his "mind prejudiced,"
against any one who would make the important
exposure:
ALLEGED FALSE WEIGHTS.
The cargo of the captured schooner Solidadcos
was sold in March. 1862. Among the articles
found on board were ls9 bags OF coffee, which
were weighed at a warehouse in BROOKLYN. and
each bag was represented to contain one hundred
pounds. The auctioneer, however. subsequently,
received n sworn certificate from the weigher in
a prominent store. that the sample bag contained
two hundred pounds. The attention of a United
States official was sailed TO the fact Immediately
after the sale. This official, however, il is stated,
expressed himself satisfied with the original re-
turn, and the matter was thus allowed TO rest
The loss nv this transaction to the captors was
about 81, 900.
ALLEGED ILLEGAL REDUCTION.
The cargo of the captured steamer Ann was
sold in November last. Among the items were
2l3 chests of tea. and $40 bags OF Rio Coffee
which were purchased by certain parties. whose
names we have in our possession. at 401s cents
per pound for the tea, and 80 cents for the coffee.
Soon alter the buyers obtained n reduction OF III
cents per pound on the coffee, and 10 cents on
the tea. The tea was disposed of by the pur.
chasers. before the reduction WAS obtained, at an
advance on the original price bid. 1t was stated
by q prominent official that the reduction was
made at the earnest request of a Prize Commits
sioner. The loss on the above sales. or rather
the gift TO the purchasers. was about $4,000
The cargo er the steamer Stettin. sold in No
vember last, contained among other items 9I5
bags of coffee, which were advertised on the cata-
loeue rs damaged and musty." 1t was bid off
at 2I% cents per pound ia a gentleman sand to
be n pear relative of the party who had the goods
in possession for the Marshal, and who had thus
every opportunity OF inspecting it. Subsequently,,
the hnyer was allowed to pay for $50 bags at the
appraised value of 20l5 cents per pound. nOtwith
standing the positive terms ON the catalogue that
no reduction whatever should be madei Thus
there was a loss Ia the sailors OF about SIS .000l
There was n difference in the weight of about
9,000 pounds.
There was a second sale of n portion of the
cargo Of this steamer, OF n large lot of goods,
which were purchased by two persons, one of
whom stated he was buying the goods for the
government officials. who had these matters in
charge. The hnyers. however. neither pail for.
nor took the goods. amounting to some SS0 900.
and they were resold at a loss of 50, 900 to the
sailors.
CHARGES OF BRIBERY.
Such was The frequency and ease with which
reductions on the amounts ut which cargoes we've
sold were obtained, that one buyer thought he
should also enjoy a.similar privilege, although he
confessed he had no right to such a favor. He
purchased a lot of goods from the steiner Slet
tin; and subsequently, obtaired from the Court. a
reduction of a little less than one thousand dol
lars. In order TO obtain this reduction il is stated
that n gentleman connected with the Prize Com
missioner's office was to, and did receive. about
one fourth of the amount; and that a counsel who
hauld have interposed. received n lee not to on
pose the application. We have the names of all
the parties said To be implicated in this transac
ton, but at present we refrain from publishing
them.
MORE REDUCTIONS.
In the Naval report on Prize Matters. there is
a record of n sale OF the cargo of two captured
lighters, consisting of ] ,253 bags OF rice. On
making inquiries, we found. some time since. that
the siorekeepers of the goods we're the buyers at