Now At The Time Of Which I Am Writing, April, 1861,
Mr. Cameron Was Secretary Of War, And Could Be Very Useful To An Old
Political Ally Living In His Own State.
The upshot of the present
case will teach us to think well of Mr. Cameron's gratitude.
In April, 1861, stores were wanted for the army at Washington, and
Mr. Cameron gave an order to his old friend Cummings to expend
2,000,000 dollars, pretty much according to his fancy, in buying
stores. Governor Morgan, the Governor of New York State, and a
relative of our other friend Morgan, was joined with Mr. Cummings in
this commission, Mr. Cameron no doubt having felt himself bound to
give the friends of his colleague at the Navy a chance. Governor
Morgan at once made over his right to his relative; but better
things soon came in Mr. Morgan's way, and he relinquished his share
in this partnership at an early date. In this transaction he did
not himself handle above 25,000 dollars. Then the whole job fell
into the hands of Mr. Cameron's old political friend.
The 2,000,000 dollars, or 400,000l., were paid into the hands of
certain government treasurers at New York, but they had orders to
honor the draft of the political friend of the Secretary of War, and
consequently 50,000l. was immediately withdrawn by Mr. Cummings, and
with this he went to work. It is shown that he knew nothing of the
business; that he employed a clerk from Albany whom he did not know,
and confided to this clerk the duty of buying such stores as were
bought; that this clerk was recommended to him by Mr. Weed, the
editor of a newspaper at Albany, who is known in the States as the
special political friend of Mr. Seward, the Secretary of State; and
that in this way he spent 32,000l. He bought linen pantaloons and
straw hats to the amount of 4200l., because he thought the soldiers
looked hot in the warm weather; but he afterward learned that they
were of no use.
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