Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-07-21

War Treasurer OF the Obatcu o'"teS' hooiS
fer and Second Auditor OF the Treasury ,and
Of their respective answers-the copy oil your
eirculae being in print; the Others ] had also
seen 10 the newspaperssomsd days beioreyouF
letter reached me
In your letter TO me above referred to, YOU
spsaE OF my having charged several officers
of the government with conspiracy, and
s,ate that they have denied the charges pre-
fsrred against them by me. must be per
rnitted 10 say that have not charged these
officers with any specific offence IN the form
suggested by you
I have stated that the late Secretary of
War and acting Secretary Of War were ly-
ing in wait for the purpose Of making an as
.ault upon me, on my way TO the othce, as
believed With an intent to assassInate. | also
stated that grocery store between my lodg
ings and the office, and the room of the Urea
surer and Register were alternately occupied
by them as places Of rendezvous while so EN-
slowed. further stated that the Treasurer,
Register and Second Auditor were in their
company. also stated that the principal
persons thus engaged, viz: Eaton and Ran
dolph, with recruited force, threatened
an assault on the dwelling resided in the
that this threatening was continued until
late hour on the following night. The off
GERS who have denied the charge as framed
by YOU admit having been in company with
Mr.. Eaton during the time referred to. but
they deny having been in his company the
whole time; this was never Intended to have
been alleged by me.
The admissions, equiyoeati and paipa
bic reservations in their letters are abundant
proof of all the material facts asserted by
me so far as they are concerned; but If any
doubt remains, it should be observed, that
my letter of the list was addressed to you
especially as Chief Magistrate of the District
Of Columbia, in which capacity your powers
must be ample TO direct The proper officer Of
the Government to instigate legal inyesti
CATION Of this transaction before a tribunal,
having power TO examine and compel the at
tendance or witnesses When this shall be
done will, without delay, return to the seat
Of government, and render a the aid in my
power to such officer in the discharge Of his
duty.
It must, however, be distinctly understood,
that IT,. investigation shall oegin with The
principals. and before | furnish d list Of the
witnesses, that an assurance Of protection
shall be given to those who hold offices that
they shall suffer no injury in consequence Of
giving testimony. This has become neces-
sasy by reason of the declaration of Mr. E.
vans, the brother iu-laW of .Hr. Eaton, that
1.-THE President would turn every clerk out Of
Office who took nay part in this business" and
OF other fact, which have since come to my
knowledge. Although do not assume that
y. II, -
it is Indispensable 10 justice that no appre-
henslon OF this nature should rest on the minds
Of toe witnesses
have the honor to be, very respectfully,
yours, &c. 5. ID. INGHAM.
THE PRESIDENTS REPLY.
WASHINGTON, Jul 7, 1881.
SIR: The President, on his return TO day,
from the Rip Raps, has received your letter
Of the seth, nit. In reply to your renewed
call npon him, "as Chief Magistrate Of the
District IF Columbia" | am directed to in
Term you. that he does not consider the fact
Of Certain officers, having been in company
with Maj Eaton" during office hours, andin
their Offices, where it is their Iuty to be, and
where every individual has a right TO go, as
supporting the charge that those offices were
used las places of rendezvous" by a party
lvlng in wait to assassinate you; nor as con
sttutng "prohable cause" 10 justify the sub
lection of citizens Of fair character, all SOL
emaly denying your imputations, TO arraign-
ment before court of criminal jufisoic ton.
That if "a legal investigation OF this transac-
ton before uibuna! having power to exam
inc and compel the attendance of witnesses"
be, by you, deemed necessary, he assures You
of adequate protection in the City Of Wash
ington, where you have the right, as prose-
cutor before the grand jury, to present the
supposed offenders, or - summon them
bei' re any magistrate Of the District: Also,
that 'fan assurance, of protection shall be
gwen TO those who hold Offices that they shall
suffer no injury in consequence of giving tes-
timonv'--an assurance, however. not to be
construed as affordlns IMMUNITY for any mis-
conduct which the investigation may unfold.
The President directs me to inform you,
also, that. should any persons connected
with the Government be found implicated III
having formed part of ''a recruited force" to
( engage in bostilities Of any kind, within the
precincts of the Departments, or elsewhere
within the district of Columbia, or IN having
armed and associated together, to the dstur-
bance AID alarm Of its peaceful citizens, he
will feel il his duty, in addition to the penal
ties of the law. forthwith to dismiss the oiien-
ders from the public service. lie directs me
further. sir, aud ia conclusion, to state that,
from the inquiry he has made, your charges
to that effect, against the acting Secretary OF
War, and others, do not appear to be found