Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-05-02

Very respectfully,
JOHN c. SPENCER.
Hon. a. T.. LINN, Chairman Committee on Pub.
tic Expenditures, X. II.

Your ob't serv't,
JOHN c. SPENCER
Hon. A. l.. LINN, Chairman Committee on Pub.
Tic Expenditures, r. III.
The cores 7ondence was in the War Dep,rtn,en,
as late the spring Of lS4l, Just before MIR Poir-
sett left that DEPARTMENT, sworn to by Mr. Coch.
Tane. Why, then, is II now among the missing =
a copy Of the letter Of Porter wns made out Tor MIR
Ponse; he refused to surrender the original to Mr.
Harris. IL was made the foundation of an official
correspondence between two high officers of the
Government, evidently in relation 10 the official
misconduct Of one OF them. In all its bearings the
whole correspondence was official. Why, then, hes
u been abstracted from the proper Office, where II
had been kept for moro than two years Why Is
II now only matter Of conjecture, but that con q.
lecture prompts 20 desire for concealment7 By
whom these papers have been distracted, the com
snI,teo cannot assert; but the evidence OF MIR Coch
rane, (which is appended) traces them last TO the
bands OF MIR Ponsctt.
To ascertain the contents OF this letter OF Porter
20 ltnuts, the committee roeOred 10 parol tes
mony. The result will he found in the Deposition
OF ID. kurtz, who then was, ss he Is now, chief
clerk IN the Indian bureau. He states that the
Porter letter reached his hands while acting MS prin.
olpal clerk, and that the contents we're Of such a
character rs 10 determine him, under hsh sense
OF duty, TO lay IL before tho Secretary 81 War lie
informs Us that the contents or this lcper related TO
certain lands In Mississippi belonging 10 the In.
dams, and made propos,ons for securing certain
reservations for the benefit Of the writer and Mr.
Harris, who was regarded as part or In the specu.
laton, and was TO profit Ivy the land II reserved.
That Harris, as Commissioner Of Indian Affairs.
al 90 ndludcate upon these reservations holding
the power TO award the lands to whomsoever our.
chase 4. The letter referred to certain persons.
among ,NtheSs 70 Sir Birchard, who were TO be met
and overc. 'rnc IN some way, 10 secure the lands.
Witness also states that he had demonstrated with
Mr. Harms for drawing so freely upon the funds Of
the Department, 70 he discussed through his ogen.
oy
The facts here disclosed, rs connected with this
case, present public officer assuming qucstiona-
bic power which gave him absolute control over
the moneys appropriated for the Indian department.
They present that officer being suspected Of
using these moneys IN partnership with anothcf in
.dividna IN purchasing Indian reservations ~ the
validity Of which purchase he was cN officio 10 10
the Judge. When called 10 explain the cucum-
stances leading IN his suspicion nc is unable or IN
willing 10 DO so satisfactorily. And worse than
ths with al these facts before tho President this
'ficer IS permitted TO resign without any further
vostigation being had and the papers Which would
NUards lead 10 the detection Of HE misconduct
Solroyed OF distracted from the Office in which
20 hnd been placed
'w committee refer 10 the evidence connected
~, q case, and enter into detail by way Of
Hn W. o. Inc facts allodged.
',uenoo 40 the distracted letter, testimoncv was
ntese' NJ committee A Mr. Kuuz, a clerk in
N'. ny kpdlnn Affairs, was examined. Mr.
!, o'".. u' hat The letters referred 10 were IN the
eHA s"eats 1hor Or October, 1888. portion
nee w Septol " IN thess words
hls lesumohy tork in the Office Of Indian Affairs
nee NC eIy pW Nurn, he called for all the IN
hcial or private lett, ~ in ouestion csiis5 ~
9TH all, except the ed bin 10 s,ys !, 40 - ~ ~
e Secretary, and ash tdo-baving go .,.,sS
'lIveryj which he did no '''''''