[Report to the Secretary of the Treasury — May 1794] Observations on David Allison Vouchers, for payments made to the Militia for military Services performed in the Territory South of the Ohio in 1792 & 1793 — as deputy payments — Said Vouchers one from 1^st to 54^th Bundles handed in a Trunk directed to Jos. Howell esqr. accountant of the War Department Philadelphia Sir/ In my confidential communication to you relative to the hostilities that on the several parts of the government in the Territory South of the Ohio, I shall endeavour to point out all the abuses, from whences they originate and their dangerous progress and ill consequences, [strikethrough: to the alarm] time, be cautious to explain them, you would, and that whatever time it may be necessary to make of this my address, I [strikethrough: freely] acknowledge and support it. [margin: and/for them] For a more easy development of the same, [strikethrough: brings us to a more] [undecipherable] now shall range that [strikethrough: thorough] whole transaction [strikethrough: rather a] [undecipherable] that pertain to the subject under their different heads as they have rose to my view, and as I have [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] To begin with the first, the Ration contract has been made with every advantage to the Contractor, which not being sufficient to satisfy those concerned in it, I am well informed that bad provisions has been dealt out to the troops, which created some murmuring. That some [undecipherable] persons has been attempted in settling [undecipherable] the back rations. When arrived at Knoxville, a few days after I had your advertisement inserted in M^r. Robb's Gazette, only one proposal was made me, which came from M^r. Chisholm, the same that I forwarded to you and which M^r. Allison presented to me and from the manner in which he [strikethrough: offered] it and other circumstances, I was led at that time to conceive it a deception. I am since convinced of it. For M^r. Chisholm's circumstances is as low as its character, both of which are far from respectability and he is now employed under M^r. King as an issuing Commissary just to help him make a living. M^r. Allison when he brought me the proposal intimated my enlonging the Contract for two years, and if I am not mistaken told me it seemed to be my desire in somewhere before he set off for the territory, my answer to him was that I had no such instructions from you, and that [strikethrough: there] [were?] to be my guide in the business. Here I am led to show that I suspect the Governor is concerned in the contract, and that he was always the invisible agent, that M^r. King is the ostensible one. As the [undecipherable] of serious import even to gives sufficient against a chief Magistrate and a [undecipherable] being very cautious of touching the character of any man, I shall inform you from what ground I harbour these ideas, they may be judge of according to their own value. When I was making the Contract for the Rations, M^r. Miller whom I endeavour to make it with — or at least to hire of [undecipherable] against M^r. King, that the extravagant prices of the rations might be explaind, told me that the Governor had endeavoured to discourage [strikethrough: it] of taking it, as he would suffer as M^r. King had done. [strikethrough: it is my opinion] that it must not be in his power to any satisfaction in the [undecipherable], as he knew things [undecipherable] [strikethrough text] upon the settlement with M^r. King he requested that I would endeavour to get the two balances of his accounts early as possible, and he wished to keep the monies in Jackson [undecipherable] and at M^r. [undecipherable]'s, now it is evident that King was not worth any thing of consequence when he arrived at Knoxville, but he required support, and I was informed had assistance from the Governor. [undecipherable] has he never [undecipherable] balance negotiated any business in the City of Philadelphia for [undecipherable] and that therefore the remittance for the rations supplied must be [undecipherable] [strikethrough text] viz: the Gov^r. Allison and King's. I therefore reference M^r. Gordon had to me for my opinion concerning those men that supplies themselves [undecipherable], whether they was not entitled to the 25 ¢ for doing it, because the Governor gone him his opinion that the Contractor had it in his power to make an offset of the rations which if they refuse it to deduct them of every other of the settlement, I was obliged to differ from this opinion of the Governor, and told M^r. Gordon that they often finding their own arms, Rations, Forage &c were entitled to the 25¢ also, for which he obtained a settlement with M^r. King with ease. For which [undecipherable] I seem to influence on easy settlement. These are the chief articles on which my opinion is founded that the Governor is the prime [undecipherable] in the Ration contract. The second article of abuse is the supply of goods to Indians and others, on our arrival at Knoxville, the Governor and his party remained with the Gov^r. for some days. I had frequently told me that the nature of an Indian was such that if you gave a great variety of presents, still if there was any thing of which he [undecipherable: must have it], or all that you had done for him would be [undecipherable: lost]. He immediately recourts to my mind that it was 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 manage the presents with property. But my wonder was a little excited upon observing the manner in which that party was supplied, it served to bear the semblance of caution and not of [undecipherable: Government]. For was I made acquainted with any presents that was designed for them, but accidently saw them as they was on their path [undecipherable: started] This I thought rather [undecipherable: unkind], as I was instructed by the Secretary of War [undecipherable] from the three instrument of the bearing department to have my attention fixed upon my abuses that might arise in supplies [undecipherable] to the Indians, and if I had been present at the delivery of the Goods should have been able to judge [undecipherable] and his party had twelve hundred dollars, for their eight hundred and [undecipherable: forty] or if they had only to the value of four hundred dollars and if it was the former, the party that supplied them should undoubtedly have had the credit of such liberal conduct, in my reports. The manner in which M^r. Allison conducted this being [undecipherable] the aspect of [undecipherable] and cunning, charging a Commission of 5% to get on the purchase in my view of things, is rather of an ungenerous kind, as it [strikethrough: seems] extends to all the people inhabiting that territory. That the store of Goods which have been [undecipherable] by [undecipherable] afterwards by [undecipherable] M^r. Cake, and now reported [undecipherable] out to Charles M^r. Gling [strikethrough: more] and in which the Gov^t. are said to be purchasd were the Governors and M^r. Allison's property. and I heard it called [undecipherable] a hundred miles from Knoxville. This concern must have originated from the Governor for M^r. Allison's affairs were desperate when the Governor first took him by the hand and brought him into these extensive concerns, besides the accounts and Vouchers which I shall remark upon elsewhere will some further to elucidate the facts. The third article of business is the payment of the troops under the [undecipherable: denomination] whether Militia or Regular. I call at once show the impropriety [undecipherable] and perhaps extensive speculation in these payments to the Militia. The payments of the regulars was made by M^r. Allison and the accounts brought off without my examination by M^r. Allison, and I shall request the Secretary of War to let me have a view of them, that I may disclose every thing that is wrong or report upon every conduct that has merit in it — and [2] and that you may have as little trouble as possible. I have marked those observations to which I refer you to. I have marked there & discovered inaccurate and to me has the air of speculation [undecipherable] that of the payments for whom so many receipts to have been taking, [undecipherable] has an effect to make people careless in their transactions. There [undecipherable] convinces me of some wrong conduct in these payments, for the money was at first payed T. Winchester without any proof of [undecipherable] the money [undecipherable] some time after the departure of M^r. Allison [undecipherable] Knoxville, M^r. King desired that he might be permitted to have those bundles of Vouchers [undecipherable] 21.23 — which I readily granted, having marked [strikethrough: of] and numbered each of them and having my [undecipherable] knew it was impossible for any thing to be altered without my knowledge, and to give into their requests where I might be in knowledge with propriety might in the end bring one profit & any thing wrong. This had in some manner turn out as I [undecipherable: suspected] for the Vouchers was afterwards found in the Names of James Deaderick and one of the M^r. Deaderick received in view for the money, the old receipts by T. Winchester taken out by our King and visible by three M^r. Deaderick. The transaction [undecipherable] after presents made to [undecipherable] at [undecipherable] has [undecipherable] comes to a conjecture that the private business of these Gentlemen extends to Cumberland, and that the line of concern is very extensive. From your sedulous attention to the public business, my discernment behaviour and remarks to all those persons that have an on concerned, it seems to have an effect upon their plans. The store of Goods is reported to have been lost, to M^r. Gling, and the Vouchers seem to discover that there has been some division of property, for this strikes my mind [undecipherable] signs for [undecipherable] as [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] Ogden, after his death is some other division. It is common for the stores to supply the Militia with what they may want for themselves or Families and to take the powers from each they supply for the amount of pay due them, which I told could be found by the Vouchers that were the whole money as carried up is [undecipherable: paid] often in this manner. I now I will take the liberty of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] should not be checked [strikethrough: otherwise] that the merchants [strikethrough: Vouchers] should not be checked in the necessary measure, for it is to them that [undecipherable] a dependance must be placed in giving the post notes a circulation, as they are wanted on that parts to remit to this city for the goods they purchase. After the [undecipherable] I shall become my intention of calling your attention to such as may be, and I go on to observe that my conduct that sound to me like a [undecipherable] upon them. [strikethrough: to have] [undecipherable] see them you telling their affairs or making a new arrangement, perhaps both. M^r. Allison got off for the City, on anxiety and [undecipherable] was visible to me, of their [undecipherable] all monies that they could collect in the hands of Jackson and County. Col. Thomas who may be in the concern and gone to the Southward. At name [undecipherable] only as a [undecipherable] and not there I know any thing of for being [undecipherable] in [undecipherable]. [undecipherable] want of monies they have got the Subscribers' and Receipts from persons having to show they was obliged to, upon promise of paying the monies at some other time, for which he gave what is called among them a due bill — a Copy of one I have with me which is as follows: I owe John Green & C^o. D^o. D^t. 153. 6 Cents also to D^o. D^t. David Allison — Martha Wallace presented me the above due Bill, and told me the Governor had promised with M^r. Allison to pay the same. Another I saw signed by the Governor for supplies on public account. The holders of them thought they was all treated in not receiving their monies; I advised them Government had nothing to do with them, that it had remitted money to pay off these accounts, and if they were so [undecipherable] to take such [undecipherable] notes, [strikethrough: the] [undecipherable] must be for themselves [undecipherable] this is a further proof of bad conduct and wrong management of the parties, particularly those in public Commission. The payment of 6 or 300 Dollars to John Sevier without any power to pay him the fellows, when the character [undecipherable] from their own means is instruction to his [undecipherable], is not in his accounts and addicted to gambling, gives me a reason that there is some [undecipherable] there to their advantage, either [undecipherable] monies in his hands to buy up the federal pay or supplies in goods. However this may be it is quite contrary to rules of office to pay any monies unless the [undecipherable] houses and proper had authorized. Whether this transaction is censurable. The payments said to be to [undecipherable] Ogden for 800 [?] for which receipt is lodged in his name date in [undecipherable: November], when a gentleman did sometime before the money reached Knoxville, is a most glaring deception, and will not admit of any excuse, the monies being paid in several parcels for which there is forty three receipts shows evidently that it was intentional, particularly as I have M^r. Allison's accounts that stated and I talked with his [undecipherable] since those payments I was informed that by M^r. King that Ogden sign'd the receipts, that the [undecipherable] was left blank as to [undecipherable] with a design to get the monies at [undecipherable: pleasure] so that I will show that this conduct was not [undecipherable] to the regularity and economy of business, that M^r. Ogden has been [strikethrough: not] [undecipherable] for he was a regular bad Manchester merchant and would know better than to blot his receipts in such a manner before he had received the money, and the only method he could take would be to empower some person to receive and cosign for the money; further he could not know what fund was due for the money; the accounts had not at that time [undecipherable] there [undecipherable] asked the Accountant of the War Dep^t. whether M^r. Allison or M^r. Ogden sign'd the receipts they are evidently wrong, and M^r. Allison must explain himself in it — when these observations of mine was known to M^r. King to whom I told them and who informed [strikethrough: they] we both stood with astonishment — and it was deemed by persons who was knowing to it that it had affected the whole of the concern. The [undecipherable] article, and while confining the rest is the Governor made [undecipherable] coming forward as an Apologist for M^r. Allison, when he showed my anxiety and [undecipherable: desire] that [undecipherable] bring him to account for the [undecipherable: monies, it was the] [strikethrough text] [undecipherable: Governor] had [undecipherable] been to draw on the monies who [undecipherable] was [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] finding that I was [undecipherable: not] to bring him to settlement and that he could not prevail upon me for an indulgence, Allison come for the Warrants, which were [undecipherable] payable to him and for which he was held accountable, the [undecipherable], drawn [undecipherable] him, while [undecipherable] from [undecipherable] was [undecipherable] he had accountable till he closed [undecipherable] & [undecipherable: confiscated] my anger, and I shew them such marks of it that the Warrants were again drawn over as they was at first with an apology to me from [undecipherable] saying that I was right and that it was an error of theirs [undecipherable] But a fragment of the same evidence remains on the Account marked [undecipherable: B] for the Goods [undecipherable] promised of [undecipherable] his party being [undecipherable] I was bound on a tour to [undecipherable] in Washington County makes it from the mountains and there it [undecipherable] take some time before my return, [undecipherable] and it does [undecipherable] Allison from [undecipherable] expenses of Government [undecipherable] for the payment of those Goods & Warrants [undecipherable] for the Indian Dep^t. that M^r. Allison should settle the [undecipherable] purchased for the Indian offices. Whether they conjectured that [undecipherable] account on the impropriety of the transaction, or whether [3] it was to draw the monies from my hands I am not able to [undecipherable: judge], but they endeavoured by all means to get [undecipherable] as much as the [undecipherable], and their conduct seemed to me in many instances so [undecipherable: unwarrantable] that I felt hurt for the chief Officer of that Government, and here will be a proper place for me to remark that all the consequences of these [undecipherable] — First no subordinate officer can have any confidence in a Governor that then conducts himself, instead of manly, just and upright conduct, to attend interested matters [undecipherable] and little [undecipherable: subterfuge] to turn interested matters [undecipherable] and amount to [undecipherable] an advantage, [undecipherable] will deprive him on the [undecipherable: eyes] of those to whom he is set over to govern, and it already has had this effect. Of which you may judge, [undecipherable] what encouragement for a man if so disposed to draw out the Militia for often investigation [undecipherable] are made, and on the balances due the [undecipherable] Government a greater right arises, for they even to the stores are owed for Goods making over their pay for it, and are charged on the stores to an enormous drone. 3. All persons that have or can make any account requests against the United States, whether for military Services or furnishing the troops [undecipherable] only being interested will be most likely to be rigorous in getting their accounts [undecipherable] and of course the public will [undecipherable] suffer from an information which private interest may have too much influence over. 5^th Article — If my observations may be admitted 5^th of being and necessity of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the consequences [undecipherable] more [undecipherable] are we capable of is there not danger of these transactions do not receive [undecipherable] if permanent check they may overstate the expenses of that Government [strikethrough: that] a magnitude far disproportionate to the defence of the frontiers. And now having giving an exact account [undecipherable] of my agency [undecipherable] over which I could [undecipherable] services will operate no further than a timely check to [undecipherable] that must soon have disclosed themselves — [strikethrough text] I will [strikethrough: point out remark] with pleasure that I have always heard the Governor and M^r. Allison speaks in [undecipherable] terms of [undecipherable: respect] for the President — the Governor and all the heads of the departments, I therefore sincerely believe that the Governor has done every thing to promote the Indian War and followed his instructions on that part with great faithfulness, and the only and that he would wish to make happy the people over whom he presides. That for my own poor [undecipherable] the treatment [undecipherable] received personally has been civil and generous, and for which I feel a greater regret that my duty compels me to make my disagreeable observations of this conduct. For when I accepted of my appointment it was my [undecipherable: determination] to be faithful in [strikethrough text] that matter far or [undecipherable] or affection should influence my conduct. I have the honor to be