Weekly Trinity journal., 1870-05-21


In as few words as possible wish to lay be-
fore the nation what share, however small,
have had in this matter-this matter which has
exercised the public mind, engendered so
much ill-feeling, and so filled the newspapers OF
both continents with distorted statements and
eXtravagant comments.
The origin of this distressful thing was this
and assert here that every fact in the following
resume can be amply proved by the official rec
ords of the general government
John Wilson Mackense, of Rotterdam, Che
mung county, New Jersey, deceased contracted
with the general government on or about the
10th day of October, 1851, to furnish to Cen
eral Sherman the sum total of thirty barrels OF
beef. Very well. He started after Sherman
with the beef, but when he got to Washington
Sherman had gone to Manassas so he took the
beef and followed him there, but arrived too
late; he followed him to Nashville, and from
Nashville to Chattanooga and from Chattanooga
to Atlanta, but he never could evertake him.
At Atlanta, he took fresh start, and followed
him clear through his march to the sea. He ar
rived too late again by few days, but hearing
that Sherman was going out in the Quaker City
excursion to the Holy Land, he took shipping
for Beirut, calculating to head off the other ves-
sci. When he arrived in Jerusalem with his
beef, he learned that Sherman had not sailed in
the quaker city, but had gone to the plains to
fight the Indians. He returned to America and
started for the Rocky mountains After eigh-
teen days of arduous travel on the plains and
when he had got within four miles of Sherman S
headquarters, he was tomahawked and scaped
and the Indians got the beef They got all of il
but one barrel. Sherman S army captured that
and so, even in death, the bold navigator partly
fulfilled his contract. In his will, which he
had kept like journal, he bequeathed the con-
tract to his son, Bartholomew w. Bartholomew
w. made out the following bill and then died
The UNITED STATES
In acct with John Wilson Mackense of New
Jersey, deceased. Dr.
To thirty barrels Of beef for General Sherman, at
To travelling expenses and transportation 1900
Rec Pay't
He died then but he left the contract to Will
liam j. Martin, who tried to collect it but died
before he got through. He left it to Barker j.
Allen, and he tried to collect it also. He did
not survive. Barker j. Allen left it to Anson
G. Rogers, who attempted to collect it, and got
along as far as the Ninth Auditors office, when
Death, the great leveller, came all unsummoned,
and foreclosed on him also. He left the bill to
relative of his in Connecticut, Vengeance Hop
kns, by name, who lasted four weeks and two
days, and made the best time on record coming
within one of reaching the Twelfth Auditor. In
his will he gave the contract bill to his uncle,
O-be-joy-ful Johnson. 1t was too undermining
for Joyful. His last words were " Weep not
for mel am willing to go" And so he was,
poor soul. Seven people inherited the contract
after that But they all died. So it came into
my hands at last. 1t fell to me through a rela-
tive by the name of Hubbard-Bcthehem Hub
pard, of Indiana. He had had grudge against
ne for long time but in his last moments he
sent for me, and forgave me everything, and
weeping, gave me the beef contract.
This ends the history of it up to the time that
] succeeded TO the property. | will now en-
deavor to set myself straight before the nation
in eVerVthinO that m share in he ma L
ter. took this beef contract, and the bill for
mileage and transportation, to the President of
the United States. He said:
Well, sir what can DO for you ~
said Sire; On or about the 10th day of
October, 1861 John Wilson Mackensie, of Rot
terdam, Chemung county, New Jersey deceased,
contracted with the general government to fur
nish to General Sherman the sum total of thirty
barrels of beef -
He stopped me there and dismissed me from
his presence, kindly, but firmly. The next day
called on the Secretary of State. lie said:
We'll, sir"
said: "Your Royal Highness; On or
about the 10th day of October 1861, John Will
son Mackensie, of Rotterdam Chemung county
New Jersey, deceased, contracted with the gem
eral government to furnish to General Sherman
the sum total of thirty barrels of beet"
"That will do, sir-that will do this Office has
nothing to do with contracts for beef
was bowed out | thought the matter all
over, and finally the following day, visited the
Secretary of the Navy, who said "Speak
quickly sir do not keep me waiting"
said "Your Royal Highness On or
about the 10th day of October, 1861, John Will
son Mackensie, of Rotterdam, Chemung county,
New Jersey, deceased, contracted with the gem
eral government to furnish to General Sherman
the sum total of thirty barrels of beef"
Well, it was as far as / could get. He had
nothing to do with beef contracts for General
Sherman either. | began to think it was Gu
rious kind of a government. 1t looked some
what as if they wanted to get out of paying for
that beef The following day | went to the Sec
retary of the Interior. said
i" Your Imperial Highness On or about the
10th of October"
"That is sufficient sr-I have heard of you
before. Go-take your infamous beef contract
out of this establishment. The Interior depart
ment has nothing whatever to do with subsis
tence for the army"
went away. But was exasperated now. /
said would haunt them | would infest every de-
partment Of this iniquitous government till that
contract business settled | would collect
that bill, or fall as fell my predecessors, trying
Iassailed the Postmaster General beseiged the
Agricultural department | waylaid the Speaker
of the House of Representatives. They had moth
ing to do with army contracts for beef moved
upon the Commissioner of the Patent office.
said:
Your august Excellency, on or about"
"Perdition have you got here with your in
cendiary beef contract at last2 We have moth
ing to do with beef contracts for the army, my
dear SIR"
"Oh, that is all very well-but somebody has
got to pay for that beef. 1t has got to be paid
now . too, or III confscate this old Patent Office
and Tery thing in il"