Report to the Secretary of the Treasury [relative to practices and abuses in Tennessee].

Item

Type

Draft Document

Title

Report to the Secretary of the Treasury [relative to practices and abuses in Tennessee].

Description

Report to the Secretary of the Treasury relative to practices and abuses in the Territory of Tennessee.

short description

DrDoc, rpt on abuses in Tennessee Terr

year created

1794

month created

05

author

sent from location

War Department

in image

notable person/group

Joseph Howell
David Allison
Joseph Howell
Mr. Roleson
Mr. Chisohn
Mr. King
Mr. Miller
Jackson & Company
Mr. Gordon
Piomingo
Bryant McCabe
Titus Ogden
J. Winchester
George Deadericks
Mr. McClung
Col Thomas
Matthew Wallace
John Sevier

notable location

War Department
Philadelphia
Knoxville
Cumberland
Manchester
Washington County
Iron Mountains
United States
Territory of Tennessee

notable item/thing

vouchers

notable idea/issue

abuses
payments

notable phrase

report to the Secretary of the Treasury
observations
vouchers for payments made to the militia for military services performed in the Territory South of the Ohio in 1792 and 1793
vouchers
bundles packed in a trunk directed to
Howell
accountant of the War Department
confidential communication
relative to the practices in
Territory
endeavor to point out
abuses
from whence they originate, their dangerous progress, and ill consequences to the Union
whatever use
I freely acknowledge and support it
more easy development of the same
more clear and concise view
range the whole transactions
under their different heads
first
rations contract has been made with every advantage to the contractor
well informed that bad provisions has been dealt out to the troops
created some uneasiness
some pressure has been attempted in settling for the back rations
advertisement
Roleson Gazett only one proposal was made me
forwarded to you
manner in which he offered it
I was led at that time to conceive it a deception
Chisohn's circumstances is a low as is character
far from respectability
now employed as an issuing commissary
to help him make a living
Allison
proposal intimated
enlarging
contract for two years
told me that seemed to be your desire
my answer
I had no such instructions from you
I suspect the Governor is concerned in the contract
he was always the invisible agent
Mr King
the ostensible one
serious import
suspicion against a chief magistrate
desirous of being very cautious
tarnishing
character
inform you
from what grounds I harbour these suspicions
when I was making the contract for the rations
I endeavor
to play him off against Mr. King that the extravagant prices of the rations might be reduced
Governor had endeavored to discourage his taking it
he would suffer
settlements with Mr. King
he requested
to get balances of his accounts as early as possible
to lodge the monies
at Philadelphia
King was not worth anything of consequence when he arrived at Knoxville
had assistance from the Governor
never
negotiated any business before in the city of Philadelphia
therefore the remittance for the rations supplied must be I imagine on joint account viz. the governor, Allison and King
these men
supplied themselves and horses with rations
not entitled to
governor gave him his opinion that
contractor had it in his power to make and offer of the rations
I was obliged to dissent
they upon finding their own arms rations forage etc were entitled to the 25 cents
obtained a settlement with Mr. King with ease
these are the chief articles on which my opinion is founded that the governor is the principal in the ration contract

second suspicious article of abuse is the supply of goods etc to the Indians and others
at Knoxville
Piomingo and his party remained with the governor for some days
I had it frequently told me that the nature of an Indian was such that if you gave a great variety of presents, still if there was anything on which he cast his eyes with desire he must have it, or all that you had done for him would be lost
occurred to my mind
better at first to give him his choice and probably the few articles that he might take might leave it in the power of an agent to increase the presents with propriety
my wonder
a little excited
on observing the manner in which that party was supplied
I though it rather improper
instructed by
Secretary of War
and Treasury department
to have my attention fixed upon any abuses that might arise in supplies issued to the Indians
the manner in which Mr. Allison conducted this business
slyness and cunning
charging a commission
is rather of an ungenerous kind
appears notorious to all the people
store of goods
not reported sold out
and
goods are said to be purchased were the Governors and Mr Allison's property
called a think of old standing the Governors and Mr. Allison's store about a hundred miles from Knoxville
must have originated from the Governor, for Mr Allison's affairs
were desperate
governor
took him in hand
brought him into these extensive concerns

third article of suspicion
payment of the troops
militia or regulars
show the impropriety
extensive speculations in the payments to the militia
payments of regulars
accounts brought off without my examination
I shall request
a view of them
air of speculation
when so many receipts have been taking
payments
portends idea of making money easy
people careless in their transactions
those marked X convinces me of some wrong conduct
Mr King desired that he might be permitted to have those bundles of vouchers
I knew it was impossible for anything to be altered without my knowledge
the powers were
filled up with
names
powers of attorney
receipt taken out
and replaced
presents made to Piomingo and his party
led me to a conjecture
private business of these gentlemen extend to Cumberland
line of concern is very extensive
my assiduous attention to the public business
reserved behavior
remarks to all those persons
seem to have an effect upon their plans
store of goods is reported to have been sold out
vouchers seems to discover
some division of property
administrator
It is common for the stores to supply the militia with what they may want for themselves & families and to take the powers from each they su0ply for the amount of pay due them
the vouchers that near the whole monies we carried up is paid off in the manner
I have taken the liberty of observing
that the merchants and others should not be checked in this
necessary measure
dependence must be place in giving the post notes a circulation
as they are wanted on their parts to remit to this city for the goods they purchase
my conduct there seemed to act like a pressure upon them to have set them upon settling their affairs or making a new arrangement, perhaps both
Allison set off for this city
anxiety and earnestness was visible
lodging all monies
in the hand of Jackson and Company
Thomas who may be int he concern gone to the southward
mention only as a possibility
got the soldiers powers and receipts
promise to paying the monies
some other time
gave what is called among them a Due Bill

signed by Governor for supplies etc on public account
holders thought they were ill treated in not receiving their monies
prove of bad conduct
particularly those in public commission
soldiers
character
John Sevier
inattention to his business
careless in his accounts
addicted to gambling
some concern
either lodging monies in his hand to buy up the soldiers pay or supplies in goods
receipts
most glaring deception
sighed the receipts that they was left blank

fourth article
which confirms the next is the coming forward as an apologist for Mr. Allison
to bring him to account for the monies
warrants
error
tour to muster the troops
left with Mr. Allison for expenses of government
goods purchased for the Indian Department
settle his account at the proper offices
impropriety of this transaction
they endeavored by all means to get possession of as much as they could
conduct seemed to me in many instances so unwarrantable that I felt hurt for the chief officer of that government
proper place for me to remark that ill consequences of these proceedings. First, no subordinate officer can have any confidence in a governor that thus conducts himself instead of manly, just and upright conduct to behold evasion, prevarication
and little subterfuge to turn interest matters and accounts to
advantage
depreciates him in the eyes of those to whom he is set over to govern, and it already has had that effect
if my conjectures are right
what encouragement for a man
to draw out the militia
for upon every ration issued four cents is made
and on the balances due the soldiery a greater profit arises
for they run to the stores at once for goods making over their pay for it and are charged for them at an enormous advance

all persons that have or can make any accounts against the United States whether for military services, ferrying the troops, or any other way will easily embrace a store or stores
and of course the public will
suffer
if these transactions do not receive a permanent timely check
I have always heard the Governor and Mr. Allison speak in terms of high respect for the president, the government and all the heads of the departments
I likewise sincerely believe that the Governor has done everything to prevent the Indian War and followed his instructions on that part with great faithfulness and that he would wish to make happy the people over whom he resides
treatment I received
civil and generous, and makes me feel a greater regret that my duty compels me to make any disagreeable observations their conduct

document number

1794059921001

page start

1

number of pages

11

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Document instances

In image In source Location in source
[view document] (11 pages) XFH15 (11 pages) Collection: General Information Index, 1794-1918. (RG94) B:22
[view document] (11 pages) XFH15a (11 pages) Collection: General Information Index, 1794-1918. (RG94) B:22

Document names

Type Name Location Notes
Author Joseph Howell War Department [n/a]