WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1814-1836
14
and more satisfactory to them, than by contract - therefore, I will accept no bids, nor will I make any contract at this time." Now, Mr. Prentiss, and Mr. Blake, the "Sub-Agent" to whom he refers, were "deputy bidders," as I can shew, to the CROWELLS; one of whom is a Creek Indian Agent, the other a Creek merchant, and the same who put in a bid for the con- tract! No sooner did Mr. Blake return to Arkansas, than he was kind enough to insinuate flatly (as he does everything) that Major Eaton and m,yself were acting corruptly ancl in partnership in the Contracts! Mr. Blake's bid was eight cents, that of Mr. Prentiss, nine, and Mr. Thomas Crowell's was a higher bid! Some- time during last spring and summer, Col. Crowell wrote to Mr. Blake, f1·om, Washington City to "withdraw his bicl," after which ti1ne Mr. Blake frequently declared that Mr. Thomas Crowell and himself would get the contract, and engaged corn to m,eet it. So this inference is natural and true. That Mr. Blake, Mr. Prei- tiss, and Mr Thomas Crowell, all put in their bids with the understanding, if at any time the Highest bid, Mr. Crowell's, could be brought in, by withdrawing the two lowest, it was to be done. For even Mr. Prentiss does not alledge that he was the lowest- so he has no reason to complain; but if Major Eaton had said he would make a contract, Crowell was to settle all matters, and Mr. Prentiss, for a bonus, or fee, was to withdraw his bid, and Mr. Crowell's was to slip in for the contract, at a higher rate, say fifteen cents. The go-betweens, or counters are convenient sort of articles! Thus the parties being all disappointed, not- withstanding the master spirit of Col. Crowell in management, this Mr. Prentiss is again introduced as a "hand plant," or cat's paw, to attract Major Eaton, and to bring in my name as a make- weight to the charge. This "Mr. Prentiss" has been so kind as to say that Maj. Eaton and myself ,~ere "bosom friends," as I presume with no other design than to compliment me. I decline his complaisance, and take leave to assure him that Major Eaton and myself are not, nor were ever "bosom friends!" But a sense of justice to him as a public officer, demands of me this statement of facts, as I know them to exist. The laws of Congress did not prohibit the Secre- tary of War from making private contracts, to furnish "Indian rations," which he could have done, and even saved thousands to the Treasury, which had been, and were then unnecessarily expending every year, under arrangements of the former admin- istration.
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