The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-07-19

In Justice to the Commissioner of Patents, who has
been rudey assaied and wrongfuy charged by Off
Ger in his bureau, deem it proper TO lay before our
readers the following communication, addressed yester-
day by the Commissioner to the House OF Representa-
lives AS several of the opposition prints have pub
shed the charges, which have called forth his letter to
the House, would suggest to their conductors that
it will be but justice Mr. Burke to publish his
to those charges and then wait the issue of the nves
tgaton which both parties request, before they indulge
in further comments to his prejudice. We confident
that no man is more willing than he to submit his official
acts to the examination OF the representatives Of the peo
ple or to any other tribunal before which he have
fair and impartial hearing:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE, July II, 1s45.
To the House Of Representatives:
am informed that Thomas G. Clinton, an assistant
examiner in this Office has presented petition to your
honorable body in which he prefers twenty specific
charges against me- for acts done in my official capacity
as Commissioner of Patents involving in the language
of my accuser, fraud, bribery corruption, embezze-
ment, felony, and malfeasance in office"
All the charges OF the said Clinton, thus specifically
set forth, SO far they affect my integrity officer
of this government and my honor and character as a
man. pronounce to be, in general and in detail, utterly
unfounded and false and to proceed from the bases and
most malignant motives.
AS soon these charges were communicated to me by
the Secretary Of State, to whom they first preferred
pronounced them, | now do false and malicious,
and requested OF the President of the United States
immediate investigation, with view to ascertain their
an 5 ha o me
by the President, and commission was appointed for
the purpose But my accuser declined to proceed with
his proofs before the tribunal thus chosen by himself on
pretexts which will fully appear in the papers
panying this letter.
He also preferred his charges to the grand jury of this
county, who have during the last fortnight been engaged
in most acute. persevering and thorough pare ex-
amnaton not only reference to the charges preferred
by my accuser, but understand the affairs of the
Patent Office generally with every facility furnished by
myself and the officers of the Treasury Department who
have the auditing and settling of my accounts and yet
infer from letter addressed by my accuser to the Pres.
dent, (Which will be found in the printed document
companyng this leer that respectable body have not
been able to find bill upon any one OF the charges sub
mjtted to them
Failing before these two tribunals of his own CHOICE
he has transferred his accusations to your honor
able body for investigation under your order and drec
ton.
official and personal and that my and his confed
crates may be covered with the infamy which they so
justly merit, respectfully request your honorable body
10 give them any facility which they may desire for
thorough and searching investigation not only with
gard to the truth of the charges which he has preferred
against me, but the administration OF the Patent Office
generally, since it has been under my charge Confident
that not single fact can be proved by unperjmred wit
nesses, that will tend in the least degree to mpcach my
integrity as an officer, or my character as man, in,
vite and desire the rigid scrutiny into all my official
acts since | have held the office OF Commissioner Of
Patents
In conclusion, will take the occasion remark that
Immediately upon my assuming the duties of Commits
sioner of Patents, in May 1885, appointed this Thomas
G. Clinton to the place OF assistant examiner, the
strong recommendation and earnest personal solcita
tons OF gentleman then and now high in Office, with
any previous knowledge my part of his character
qualifications On the 9th of March last in antcpa-
ton of the passage of the bill increasing the scientific
force of the Patent Office this man, Clinton presented
written application to to be appointed 10 the Office of
principal examiner. Having become convinced of his
total unftness for the place he sought declined grant
him the promotion which he solicited Hence his tissue
of atrocious caumnes upon my official and personal
character embodied in the form OF the charges which he
has submitted your honorable body, some of which
based upon pretended facts happening, in part
least, two years ago, and which he has permitted to
slumber undisurbed until the present time, and never
would have disturbed if had appointed him the more
intimate official relation with myself for which he ap
piled, FL ese.rot.q1f
trust your honorable body will grant to my accuser
every opportunity he may desire for pursuing the nves
CATION which he now seeks that justice in the end may
be done both to myself and him..
Respectfully submitted,
EDMUND BURKE.