Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-08-31
MIR. LINCOLN OF MAsSACHU-
SETTS

We deem il proper place before readers the fol-
lowing Letter from Mr. Lincoln TO the editor ofhe Nation
al Inegenccr necessary Perfect understanding Of
his position, which, in humble Judgment has be-
Worcester Mass July 25 1910.
Messrs Gales and Seaon:
have seen with the SURPRISE the nelg encer
Of the 23d instant which reached me this morning. several
certificates from "Wh9 members Of Congress" the sub
iect Of ga publication in The Globe of TIC 10Th July 1870
under the caption of Messrs Lincoln and Oge and has
become proper for me- personally. to notice both the
certificates and the matters to which they refer. shall
certainly have controversy with either vi the gentlemen
who have seen fit to give these certificates To those of
Messrs. Stanley, Allen and Naylo have nothing to OBJ
ect Indeed to that Of the latter, in whom am happy
recognize personal well as political end, would my
self willingly have subscribed and the substantive facts
stated by all far respects The Of the Hni
te m the Predenfs house no question than them
selves. have said authorized TO be said
ported single word which those certificates gainsay and
feel entirely Of having afforded cause
part any in,erpesilon between Mr. Oge and myself
In the certificate, however, OF Mr. j. O. Clark and others
there expressions to which feel bound TO offer word
reply find in it, the following paragraph: "The UNDER
saneJ do not undertake 10 saw whether Mr. Lincoln used
the language imputed him by the Globe not but he
has permitted its publication 10 remain ten days without
public contradiction we presume h1 now adopts the Ian
guage ascrbed to him, II he did not originally utter IT,. If
these gentlemen heard the remarks which did make
the occasion referred in the Globe they have known
that did mol originally utter the anguage ascbed TO me
BY that paper the extract they have taken thing
like Or, # they heard my reply to Mr. Oge fortnight
afterwards, when, upon my return TO my seat from tenn
porary absence he alluded to the naon Of
my remarks they must have heard my unequvoca denial
of the fidelity Of the 81 bcs report and full ahd frank
expression of what did say that occasion,
From another part OF the above certificate conuexion
with the extract from the Globe might be inferred that
had spoken Of the purchase of furniture under the drec-
ton of the committee public buildings, OF which was
chairman Nothing could be farther from my meaning
the statement made by Even the remurk gwen in
the from the Globe greatly erroneous as most
surely is would hardly warrant the inference dawn from
by tt signers of the certificate. What did say was, in
substance, that had been at the head of the
mee for period of nearly three years. appropriation
tn my pdU a a
President; that ihe committee had always acted the
QUESTION estimates OF the commissioner OF Public build
ngs and that occasion, when the President had
referred the need Of proposed appropriation
he had declined expressing any opinion or wish upon tn,
subject Ofe purchases which had been made, explicit,
discaimed al knowledge. had neither the bills a
that time, nor did | speak Of any manner refer Il
them MY remarks were exclusively replied to the dppro
praons and the appropriations only. 1t we'll known
That there is Committee On EEpenditmss distinct and in
Dependent of the COMMITTEE the Public buildings, an'
by the former AMI not the latter all such disbursements as
spoken OF properly subjects OF inquiry ana am
madyersio. Aud here distinctly and explicitly declare
that the character Of the purchases Of furniture by Mr.
Van Buren, between the 4h of March and The OH OF Dec
1884, which The certlhc tie refers uttered mol wora
remark for knew nothing and before the delivery OF Mr.
Oses speech heard nothing Of the articles or the bills
which the subject Of his comment. When the appro-
praon grained under which the purchases were mad
was not Chairman of the Committee This was in ih'
second session If The 9Th Congress, and my appointment
was in the Congress after. repeat that that period
whatever has been asked for either for the public ground
the public buildings, IN improvements repairs or uni
nished by the Commissioner with request made to tn
committee directly indirectly to my knowledge from IN
President This observation is, AT least duo to The INDIE
pendent action Of my associates.
The appropriation, under which appears from Tue sa
vouchers, that than elehlsen thousama So,as W.T.
expended in furniture for the Presidents House between IN
h day Of March, 1887 and the 9th day OF 1887
was doubtless made IN general terms, WIN no direction
the specr articles or the cost at which they were TO
procured and besides having no agency myself IN direct
np The expenditures in fact during tho whole inter
vonnp between those dates at residence IN Mas
made that I'M
and NOT the Of sT Application, that said tn
committee responsible. Whatever there has been @
prodgaty extravaganza in the expenditures, has neye
been, and will not be- justified by The item in the b
which gave rise TO the discussion embraced only tho dan
pay Of the labocrs some ordinary supplies for the cuya
ton Of the grounds, and five hundred dollars Tor repair
judged necessary upon the house and in commenting uPo
these and the remarks of Mr. Oge, which they seemed
have called forth, incidentally only alluded 10 me pIopo
of suitable furniture TO the house provided by he
through forty years legislation oiconsress i1r 'e
of the Representative Chief Magistrate OF the Union
With sentiments Of faithful regard,
Your obedient servant, -.
LEVI LINCOLN.