Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-05-15

the school, and D.. l.. Eaton, Of the
Freedmen's Bank
Fifth Architects Mullett, Clark and
several contracts testified as to the utter
worthlessness of the patent brick. 1t alb
sorbed moisture too freely. 1t was not
strong enough to bear weight, or even
hang together. One of the bricks had
been Immersed in a bucket of water as
test. 1t became saturated and fell to
pieces. Portions of all the buildings be-
longing to the Howard University fell.
Iron, wood, and brick pillars were put in
70 strengthen the main building.
Sixth. The government erected the
buildings at an expense of about $780,
coo, and now pays an annual rental OF
Sc, 900 to trustees for use of the Uniyer-
SHY aud s., 900 for rent of the hospital.
Seventh. The Contractors were asked
TO buy their hardware ola hardware deal
or here, who owed Gen. Howard sum
of money, and instead of paying the
merchant for goods so purchased TO pay
the amount over to the bureau for How
ard The goods were SO bought and the
money so paid over through Gen. Ballad,
to Howard
Eighth. $sS, 900 of the Refuge fund
was expended in grading square in this
city held in Towards name originally,
but subsequently, decided about half to the
stockholders of the Patent Brick Machine
Nand the rest TO the San Augustine normal
school in Raleigh, North Carolina The
latter was sent down as aid extended to
| this school from the Freedmen's Bureau,
and represented about $4,000; about two
Thousand dollars cash was sent the land
and cash representing $4,000. That it
is SHOWN by testimony that an officer Of
the government sold property belonging
to himself to the government, pocketed
the money and got credit for charity
where there was no charity.
This is certainly good beginning in
the face of q committee, majority OF
the members of which are political friends
of the accused Mr.. Wood has to con-
tend against heavy odds in this contest.
Gen Howard is on trial, but behind him
Turk that great host of men who have
plundered the Treasury of the nation
through the Freedmen's Bureau, men con-
nected with contracts, mel, who took
possession of vacated lands, and worked
them with negroes fed and clothed at the
expense of the nation. These individuals
feel the blow aimed at Gen. Howard, as
one aimed at them. They do not wish
the door of investigation to be too widely
| opened for fear some transaction
in which they are implicated might
be brought to light This fact
brings Senators and journalists and
humanitarians into the field as the defend
ers of Gen. Howard, and loads the air
| with rumors OF the entire failure of Mr..
| Wood. But the field of attack upon the
Freedman's Bureau, and those who run
that swindling, plundering machine is so
rich in materials that Mr.. Wood cannot
| fail to substantiate all bis allegations. The
committee may whitewash Gen. Howard.
Political influence may secure that con-
summation. But the people viii get an
insight into the doings of the christian
| Soldier" and the "Ring" by which he
was surrounded, and they will agree to a
different verdict. All honest men are
interested in his case. They wish to
understand the manner in which the Freed
mans Bureau was conducted, who made
money, who fleeced the Treasury. When
the facts are submitted they will come
to their own conclusions, irrespective of
the action of partisan committee.