WRITINGS OF SAl\·I HOUSTON, 1814-1836
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alone-but when the author of the charge, has been modest enough to involve my name in the matter, it seems to me fit, that I should offer a corrective to his errors, as they are many. I am implicated so far as the following statements of facts will go and no further. Soon after my arrival at Washington City last winter, I repre- sented to Major Eaton the great injustice which was done to the Indians, when rations were furnished by their Agents, or under contracts made by them, as well as the fact, that the government was being swindled to a vast amount, and the evidence existed of the Agents being interested in the profits of the contracts let out by them to individuals. I proposed to the Secretary of War, either to furnish, or cause to be furnished, rations to all the emigrants who were then on the Arkansas, or might arrive there- after, of good quality, and under the inspection of the agents, or whoever the government might think proper to appoint for the purpose, at less cost to the Un-itecl States; and to furnish them at three different points in each nation; whereas the Creeks never received them, but at one point, and that within the limits of the Cherokee nation! I proposed to pay the transportation of pro- visions, and at my own cost to erect storehouses and pay the expense of the issues: all which contingencies were then paid by the Government! Major [Eaton] declined the proposition, for the reason, that he did not wish to let out the contract, as it was important, without a "public notice," which was accordingly done! I had no objection to this plan, because I believed that any change would be advantageous to the Indians, and would break up the system of corruption which then existed! Under the notice issuecl I made no offer, nor did I put in any bid. To say that Gen Fossen did make a bid, I believe is true, but I was not in partnership with him in his bid. Soon after the notice was issued, I left the city on business, and while absent it occurred to me, that the notice given was too short to reach Arkansas, where the greatest competition for the contracts would exist - and as my urging might have been a cause of so short a time being given, I left New York sooner that I had designed doing and reached the City on the day previous to that on which the proposals were to be opened. I called upon the Secretary of War, and suggested to him the partial operation of the notice! His reply was, "I have seen Gen. Gibson, Chief of the Commissm·y Department, and he has satisfied me that the Indians can be furnished cheaper to the Government, through his department,
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