WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1831-H:32
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obtained security worth half a million dollars, as he states. For I never spoke to anyone on the subject, nor was I ever interested, to that extent, which induced me to believe that I would be con- cerned in the contract. If Duff Green ever had the alleged con- versations, they must have taken place previous to the publica- tion of the notice! - and he has been pleased to vary the time, so as to fit the case which he is trying to make out! Neither the President nor Major Eaton could have had any motive for stating an untruth to Duff Green; and if they had made the statement, when and in the manner he alleges, it would not have been correct; therefore Duff's 1nistaken. But I must meet Duff's charge, and show how utterly ridiculous it would have been for Major Eaton to have attempted to give me a "fraudulent con- tract," when the very course pursued by him must have exposed him to shame, by first asking, and receiving, bids under the no- tice given ; and after calling the public's attention, and exciting the cupidity of even the emaculate Duff himself, is it to be sup- posed that he could have given me or any other person a contract, at a higher rate than that proposed by others? Had he done so, he must have been exposed, and would have deserved the full share of odium, which is like to fall most appropriately upon the head of the honest, Duff Green!! If Major Eaton wi~hed to favor me, or to encourage fraud on the Government, why did he not let it out privately to me; and say that I had agreed to furnish the ration at eighteen cents, when they had cost the Gov- ernment about twenty-six or eight cents up to that time: and that there was no law prohibiting the act, nor designating any course on the subject; nor had any contract ever been 1nade by the Department before. This he might have done and cited the allowances by Col. McKenney on file in the Department, as prece- dent for his conduct. Moreover, Major Eaton and myself were not very friendly at the time-nor had we been so from the mo- ment Duff Green took charge of the Telegraph. I was opposed to his ever being admitted into the editorial department of that paper; for I had learned something of a certain Duff Green in Missouri, and I was not anxious to have any identity with him, either socially, morally, or politically. As Maj. Eaton was more instrumental in obtaining Duff the situation, than any other per- son at the time, it produced a coolness between us, which has never since warmed into such cordiality of friendship, as would induce him "fraududently" to give me a contract.
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