Washington telegraph., 1845-01-15
PETITION OF GOV. JAMES S. CONWAY
- To THE SENATE OF u. 5.

James . Conway, late Governor OF Ar
kansas, hunb.y represents to the Congress
oil the Iliied States Of America, that suit
has been instituted against him by the Gov
ernnent Of the United States tor a very
large sun of money. 10 wit: $4,000, in
ciuding principal ami interest, as an alleged
baance iemaining in his hands of the sum
OF 5000 with which be was entrusted 10
delray q fevpenses- in ncarred BY the Regi-
meni oexsan as eciuutecrs, which was
called mo the service of the United States
BY Gen. Gaines. in the wear 1896. That
said suit has been prosecuted into Judgment,
and that execution has been ordered and
levied on the property Of your petitioner,
ami that his property will be sold on the
brst Monday in .larch next to satisfy SAID
judgment and execution, unless your peti-
toner obtains relief from Congress. That
your petitioner here most solemnly AYERS
that he does not owe exceeding one thou
sand dollars Of This large sum Of money and
prays that Congress will relieve him from
the residue thereof. which he does not owe,
and TO pay which would not Only be unjust,
but would in 4 Pecuniary psin, o. view prove
ruin0us to him.
which he was entrusted as Aforesaid, came
u his hands, the Government Quarter
Master, who had been appointed to the
Regiment of volunteers, has resigned. and
that there was no other officer al or near
Lite Rock TO discharge the duties of lhat
office; and in addition TO The duties which
dcvo.ved on him at ihe time as Governor
OF tle State of Arkansas, lie was In quite
il hca!.h. and could not in person attend to
tie examination and ad jusimeni oi the NUM-
eioIs claims presented for that service
against the Government .OF payment, but
had TO en.ru 4 that duty 10 other hands, and
IRON a long and in;ima acquaintance wish
The ate K. ID. {. Collins, Captain in the
L. ). army, as a man, togciher with Il
knowledge of the fact NJ his having been
for many years disbursing officer TOR the
Government he thought tha: he could /
aisign The duiyto more safe and appropriate
hanis thin to his. tnlrr these circum-
stances, he did nJt hesitate 10 ace the fund
a his disposal. and request his services in
their proper application. 'fhis done, hc
gave hiifsc.f no further concern ia relation
TO the moiier until The disbursement were
gone shrJaz5 ssith.
Some lime afterwards, The Treasury Ne.
paltmenl drew his attention to the subject
and requested settlement of his accounts.
he then called on Capt. Collins to render
him an account of the disbursemenis.-
Said Collins delayed . compliance time
aiier time lor several months, always as-ur-
ing YOUR petitioner that ai his first c.sIJe he
would arrange the vouchers in proper order
prepare the necessary duplicate accounts
current, and have the whole in such condi-
ton that The business should give your pcii-
TONER no trouble, that II would All ~ right,
&c. &c.
Your petitioner ultimately discovered that
he was was dccciving him; that tx n0. On.
w had the business with which he tad been
entr,is ed in great confusion, but learned
with much surprise. that the said Collins
own accounts with the Government were
in equally bad ifno, worse condition. You
petitioner then made an imperative call Nm
him for bis vouche ), and he brought hiIr
in one general heap of the most confused
mass of papers that yrur petitioner ever bc-
HEX. aud saying as he delivered them, This
Is not all, these are a great mlny rnore
which viii hunt up aad dcliycria lcu
days." Thus ended his agency III the mat.
ter, never rendering another voucher. aul
leaving The large balance which still stands
against y0ur petitioner wv thc books uf il.g
Trea su.y unaccountcd for.
That the sail Col ins did make fnt.cI
proper paymea.s " within one lh9usnn-
d1'iars 0f this large balllcc, your pe.iti nel
verify believes. ald that vouchers for ihc
same in most instances were Obtained bu
were misplaced and !u-t by the said Collins
At al events, your petitioner has The sl.is
faction OF knowing that more than five thou.
sand dollars of Ibis remaining large sum ]:
not Justly chargeab.c to him, and that Ia,
residue was certainly made use of by Capt
Collins. Yourpetitioncr would further rep
resent, that with the hope and expcc;a. iUr
OF being abe 70 find among the papers 4
said Collins, vouchers covering large p0r
lion, ii n II the whole residue of this large
balance, did visit the city Of Washington
in March Ia st and prevailed upon iha SDiic
itor OF the Treasury to direct the suit IN hi.
case to be continued from the !asi April tern
TO the succeeding October term ottAe Court
to give lime for the necessary examination
TO be made for such vouchers. and although
such lamina,ion has been diligently made
not another voucher has been discovered
Therefore. your petitioner hInbly prays tha.
Congress will pass bill for hi relief; anC
as iii duty bound, yJur petitioner will evel
pray. ---. u
(Signcd) y. = CONWAY.
CogNrr OF hor srrtSos-
STATE CT ARKANSAS,
Dec. 20, 1sil-
TowNsuiP OF FULroS,
CoVxrY OF Hor SrsiNGs,
STATE or ARKASAs.