The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-10-11
THE UNION.
COMMUNICATIONS.
PEsTEsrIARY FOR THE DISTRICT COLUMBIA,
Washington. October 10, lS4s.


To the Editor Of The Union;
SR: My aiienton called few days since 10 an
editorial published in the National lniegencer OF the Sd
OF October headed Stange Dongs" the closing part of
which refers myself personally, and charges me, as
Warden of the United States Penentary, with having
employed the prisoners confined therein IN preparing and
painting transparences to be used for eechoneerng pur
poses &c II the circulation of this base fabrication Of
alsood were confined within the circle OF my acquaint
ance, should deem II entirely unnecessary thus to con-
descend TO notice it, or trouble you with this communica
uon feeling well assured that my character and standing
in this community for the last thirty years have been too
well and fayoraby known for such filthy and Libeous
meet with favor from any respectable portion OF my
fellow citizens, of either political party. might
have called upon the editors and demanded of them
proof to sustain the charges they have thus boldly
and unblushngy made; but prefer offering the proof
nysef, eoneiueiy shotcing that the charges not
only not true, but that not the least shadow Of foundation
Gated, or even inferred Aud here will remark, that
am not little astonished that the editors OF the lntell
gencer should have far forgotten what was due to
honorable, high minded men, and decent respect for
the feelings OF deeply afflicted fellow citizen, who was
wrihng, at the time this publication appeared under the
most severe dspensaons of Providence by the decease
within few months, of beloved wife and daughter
which aficton has prevented the preparation OF this
defence sooner
propose to lay before the public, first the arti
Gle referred TO in the lniegencer and follow the same
with certificate oath of eight of the officers of the
institution, who well known to this community TO
be men OF high responsibility and stern integrity and then
whether or not statements coming from the National
lntegencer that dirty sheet he Battery, from which
quotation is made by them, ought to be relied on or
received as truth
But are well assured that crying abuses
than this pracsed in public institutions in this city inn
Inedatey under the control and direction OF the admns
traton We learn for example, that the conpics the
sniiory actually employed in preparing and painting
poses only in this city but in other quarters Whether
t be proper employment for these convcis, readers
quite judge Are We find further,
in paper called The Battery, printed in this city, the
following statement which assured Is literally true
Sand have, in the ring field, the UNI
STATES PENTENTARY The superintendent OF that in
stiluton only signs documents chairman of an
executive committee of Cass and Butler club, but abso-
uely makes huge Cass and Butler docunenroou of the
UNITED STATES PENirENTARY Cart loads of documents
there TO be directed but whether the convcts taken
from their other hard labor and made direct these Cas-
and Batter documents than has yet
pred. Somebody there directs them, at all events"
PENTENTIARY FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
Washington city, Oct S, 1S4S.
We, the undersigned, officers employed at the peniten
tary for the District of Columbia, do hereby certify that
the present warden Mr. c. p Sengsack has not at any
time employed the convicts of this prison. either in
king painting democratic any other transparencies to
be used for electoneering purposes this city, any
other quarter Neither has he employed them at any time
in folding directing documents, for any other polt
cal purposes.
CRAVEN ASHFORD,
JOHN A. YOUNG,
JAMES PARSONS,
L