The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-07-07
From the Fayetteville Observer.

THE PROTESTED DRAFT.
There seems TO be some little Disunder.
standing about tho protest, damages, &c.
on Mr.. Henry's draft for his s. ,304 81 pay
as Spanish Commissioner in 1888. We
think we understand the matter.
Gov. Morehead did not say here, that
Mr.. Henry had COLLECTED damages from
the government" The government, we
believe, never pays damages. This was
the substance of what he did say
That he had found IN Mr.. Henry's Let.
ter Of acceptance the following passage =
Public credit is public honor, and public
'neaith. Totarnish that credit, ought to be look.
ed upon as the greatest crime. 1t is bringing
shame and dishonor on ones country &c.
That he had heard that the author of
these fine sentiments had himself been gull.
~ Of this greatest crime" He had heard
from one Of the most distinguished sons Of
North Carolina, that a, lhe time MIR. Hen.
ry got his draft for his pay, III being dur.
ing the suspension Of specie payments an
arrangement had been made by the Score.
tary, Mr.. Woodbury., that where govern
ment draft was presented and not paid, il
should be protested, or marked protested F."
by the person on whom it was drawn, and
that this protest or endorsement made i; re
ceIvable any where 10 the u. s. in payment
Tor debts due TO the government. Well,
specie beng hard 10 get, and the govern.
ment taking only specie or its equivalent
IN payments TO itself, il followed that one
OF these dlshonored drafts was equivalent to
specie in New York. Now Mr.. Henry
draft was on Baltimore or Philadelphia, we
are uncertain which. When he had got
Il thus protested because he would receive
nothing but gold or silver, he posted Off to
New York with Il; and there sold 1t al 6
per cent. premium, (report says, deposited
the ayaIls IN a Bank in New York, and
came home and sold his checks on the New
York Bank at another premium
II thus appears, what is undoubtedly the
fact, that Nr. Henry received nothing from
the government but his S5,304 81, He
was only enabled, by this rery conrenlent
arrangement Of his much lauded friend Mr.
Woodbury., 10 draw an additional per
cent. GU, OF the pockets Of some of the New
York merchants who had debts to nav at
the Custom House, and Of 2 or 3 per cent.
out Of some of our merchants who had debts
to pay 10 New York.
Gov. Morehead also stated, tha, the zen.
tleman who had stated the facts to him land
whose name he mentioned IN reply 10 a
question from Mr.. Henry,) had rcmons,ra.
ted IN vain with him against thus dscred.
ting The government.
All this operation, in itself, NAV, how.
ever, be jusiifiable. 1t was only in connec.
lion with the declaration abou, furnishing
public credit being the greatest crime, that
Gov. Morebead spoke Of it. He spoke Of
|; to compare theoretical patriotism with
practical cupidify.
The facts as stated by Gov. Morehead
were not denied by Mr. Henry who now,
however, puts forth very bold denial in
his organ of supposed state Of things by
correspondent Of the Raleigh Register,
abo, unable TO account for the odd sum Of
1894 81, supposed that the IS, 900 was |
or salary, $500 for damages, and 81 81 |
Or costs ofprosest. Dir. Hcnry's account