The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-12-23
To The Editor of the Union :

SIR: very scurrious attack by an anonymous letter.
writer has been shown to me, and requires my answer
not from any injury il may do other parties assa
ed, but because may prevent further aid being given IN
great and holy cause-that of saving from starvation
whole famine stricken people, still requiring all our
assistance all our sympathy. II | am to be thus ca
Illuminated, what may those free hearted fellow aborers
OF mine hope for, who still gong on with the good
work Surely only similar abuse in return for their Ia
Dor and their money devoted to this nobest of charities
The writer should at least have waited to what had
been done by before attacking others, and particularly
Mr.. Secretary Walker, whose abors have been acknow
edged by all parties.
The facts Of the simply these Congress hav-
ing given me the ship to perform certain duties with,
have performed them. The Executive had no control
me my acts An order OF the President TO act
contrary to the directions of Congress would not have
been regarded by overriding the authority OF Con-
gress Therefore before leaving New York an attempt
made to induce the Executive to take back the ship from
resisted by telling its authors that Congress had
given her to me, and that power alone could take her
away and the common of the whole country will
sustain it.
Now, to the ballast of that ship, and Mr.. Secretary
Walkers agency therein my memorial to Congress shows
that on the voyage from Cork to Greenock' we found
her light, with her tanks and casks all full,
and the contributions for Scotland still on board The GER
tcae OF the officers and petty officers OF the ship
the necessity of baastng her. to get her home safely
The certificate of the pilot shows that her ballast saved
her in gale, which would otherwise have wrecked her
the certificate of the consul shows that he could give
damage to public property These certificates presented
to Mr.. Walker with statement OF the fact that was
answerable for loss on the iron; that knew Congress
would not, addition to my already great sacrifice IN
executing its orders compel me to pay duty but It did
would have calculated by the collector at New York,
and pay Congress every dollar also stated to the Sec
rotary that would not pay duty without order OF Con-
gress and that if could not land the ballast without
duty, would keep it board, and retain possession OF
the ship until Congress met further stated my anxiety
get the ship delivered up ii expense to of
900 per month; that the duty would be only about
$50 00o and that several months must elapse before
Congress met the cost of keeping her would be much
more than the duty.
In my memorial have made out my account in
dance with these statements and Congress will find the
duty and freight this ballast credited the earnings
of the ship while under my command.
By reference to my memorial, will appear, that alter
credtng these earnings of the ship including these du-
ties there is still paid by me, out of my private
funds OF some $6 0OO vouched for and to by the
dsbursng officers, and that have spent less than the
estimates by nearly $4,000 II must moreover, be borne
mind that the service done by this vessel If in
commission would have been at least $l2 900 per month
or $4,000, showing the wisdom and economy of this
method of transactng the business.
must be permitted to repeat that the Macedonian be-
ing public vessel o-war of the United States which
Congress did the honor to place under my charge, by
name and the pig metal in question being, as is shown
by statements and 3 hereto annexed, Indispensable Tor
ballast it must be evident that duties upon such bal
last could have been legally exacted from and II the
have retained the vessel at heavy expense to myself
! to the government, until the meeting of Congress
As to the SANDER that am DESTROYS of making money
out of it. the facts above and the further fact, that
single dollar has been charged, would be received fo
eight months hard work, nor even cent for my own
ratons or private expenses is abundant contradiction
GEO c. DEKAY
Late in temporary com'd of u S frgate Macedonian
| WASHINGTON, 22d December, 1Si7.