Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1870-05-20
BELLOWS FALLS, VT, FRIDAY,

lie died then but he lett the contract
to VIM. j. Martin, who tried to collect it,
but died before he got it through. He
left it to Barker j. Allen, and he
tried to collect it also. He did not sur
vive. Barker ]. Allen left it to Anson
G. Rogers, who attempted to collect it,
and got along as far as the ninth audit
or's Office, when death, the great leveler,
came all unsummoned, and foreclosed on
him also. He left the bill to a relative
of his in Connecticut, Vengeance Hop
kins by name, who lasted four weeks and
two days, and made the best time on rec
ord, coming within one of reaching the
twelfth auditor. In his will he gave the
contract bill to his uncle, by the name of
O-be-j joyful johnson. 1t was too under
mining for Joyful. His last words were
Weep not for mel am willing to 60"
And so he was, poor soul. Seven peo-
pie inherited the contract after that.
But they all died. So it came into my
hands at last. 1t fell to me through
relative by the name of Hubbard-Beth-
lehem Hubbard, of Indiana. He had
had a grudge against me 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. 1
will now endeavor to set myself straight
before the nation in everything that con-
Germs my share in the matter. / took
this beef contract, and the bill for mile
age and transportation to the President
of the United States. He said:
"Well, sir, what can l do for your"
l said:
"Sire: On or about the 10th day of
October, 1861, John Wilson Mackenzie,
of Rotterdam, Chemung county, New
Jersey, deceased, contracted with the
General Government to furnish to Gen.
Sherman the sum total of thirty barrels
of beef"
He stopped me there, and dismissed
me from his presence-kindly, but firm
ly. The next day called on the Secre.
tary of State. He said:
"Well, sir?"
1 said Your Royal Highness On
or about the 10th day of October, 1861
John Wilson Mckenzie, of Rotterdam
Chemung county, New Jersey, deceased
contracted with the General Government
to furnish to Gen. Sherman, the sum to
tai of thirty barrels of beef"
"That will do; this Office has nothing
to do with contracts for beef"
l was bowed out. l thought the mat
: ter all over, and finally, the following
day, visited the Secretary of the Navy
who said, "Speak quickly, sir; do no
o keep me waiting" said:
!. "Your Royal Highness; On or abou
the 10th day of October, 1861, JohI
. Wilson Mackenzie, of Rotterdam, Che
il mung county, New Jersey, deceased, con
6 tracted with the General Government t,
: furnish to General Sherman the sum to
tai of thirty barrels of beef"
. Well, it was as far as / could get HI
n had nothing to do with beef contracts 70
General Sherman either. | began t.
! think it was curious kind of govern
ment. 1t looked somewhat as if the,
;. wanted to get out of paying for tina
). beef. The following day / went to tn
Secretary of the Interior. l said:
f "Your Imperial Highness On o
i about the 10th day of October"
l. "That is sufficient, sir-I have hear'
= Of you before. Go--take your infamou
. beef contract out of this establishment
. The Interior Department has nothing
| whatever to do with subsistence for th
). army"
. went away. But / was exasperate,
now. said / would haunt them
: would infest every department of this in
!, iquitious Government till that contrac
business was settled; ! would collec
that bill, or fall as fell my predecessor:
. trying. assailed the Postmaster Gene
:. raj; beseiged the Agricultural Dc
: partment; l waylaid the Speaker of tn
> House of Representatives. They ha
: nothing to do with army contracts 70
= = beef. l moved upon the Commissione
:, of the Patent Office said,
: Your august excellency: On o
:, about"
u "Perdition Have you got here wit
y your incendiary beef contract, at last
r We have nothing to do with beef cor
le tracts for the army, my dear sir"
IS "Oh, that is all very well-but some
ID body has got to pay for that beef.
H. has got to be paid now, or I'll confscat
r this old Patent Office and everything i
IN it."
IL But, my dear sir"
ne 1t don't make any difference, si
I'd The Patent Office is liable for that bee