Kelsey v. United States

Alexander Kelsey represents that on or about the 29th of August, A. D. 1863, he filed proposals with Captain E. D. Chapman, then acting quartermaster at the city of Saint Louis, to furnish two hundred thousand bushels of oats for the use of the government, at forty-three cents per bushel. It is alleged that Captain Chapman, in order to secure the filing of a bond for the faithful performance of contracts to be entered into, had, of his own motion, required that all bidders should deposit as a pledge, with their proposals, a sum of money. In obedience to this regulation the petitioner…