The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-03-06


House OF Representatives, place where could not
ply jusihes my resort To the press the only suitable
means OF defence Although my professions 10 import
society are humble yet my character Is dear
to If | filled much higher sphere. Nor can per
NIT an attack from who holds the honorable station
of representative OF the people to pass unnoteed lest
those who do not know both. may believe conscious
guilt kept me silent.
The proper for YOU to have pursued. had you
believed your charges true TO move fer
of invest CATION, that full disclosure OF my misconduct
might have taken place. and the remedy been applied.
could not complain OF Injustice II should have AN OPP
porusily OF defence requested several OF your asso
cates TO tell you nay opinion the subject, and thai
dared an investigation | have no doubt you received
my message. | have waited vain for you to MAXI
your motion until IT Is now too late. | dd not believe
you would pursue 80 honorable course after your
insai to make an ISSUE OF fact with my irend the Hon
Mr.. Cobb of Alabama.
have unfortunately occupied situation OF great diff
Guilty, although was agreeable from its
ion with The army, with which have sympathized in
sailerngs AMI glored triumphs. fell the strongest
desire that ITS Just claims should De fairly and promptly
adjusted, and have spared labor TO effect it have
not received from Others the aid and countenance in the
performance o! my duties which they should and could
have Afforded and hence the cnbarrassnenis OF this
olce.
Before the war with Mexico began there were not
enough clerks in the office perform It's duties. Its bust
ness, even then, greatly IN arrear AT one desk
twenty five hundred accounts bad accumulated, and the
registry OF settlements had been suspended since 1888
With two efforts made by myself to bring that bu-
up, still remains suspended, and Is now
years in arrear Then the business comparatively
light and yet we needed several additional clerks TO
bring and keep up The army then consisted of about
5000 OF all arms-luiey stationed the frontier,
under the command OF experienced officers, all ITS details
well understood, and its regulations enforced.
The amount OF money dlsbursed through the Second
Auditors office durin. the year preceding the war,
about four millions of dollars The force employed
seventeen clerks and it was insufficient In the Third
uditors office, where smaller amount audited,
thirty clerks ue,s employed; and the business OF that
Office also in Why larger force, under the
circumstances, allowed TO that office, leave those
who perpeated the injustice to explain. The fact is
deniable Had many clerks been allowed this Office
its situation would have been very different.
The war began in 1916, and Immediate change. in
the business OF the office took place The army was
placed the establishment Had the increase con-
sisted alone regular toTce difficulties would not
have been great. But such was not the The
first forces raised volunteers, hastily organized
der inexperienced officers utterly unacquanted with the
system Of accountability which prevailed in the army.
Filled with courage and ardor, they pressed into the
service without knowing caring anything about de-
tails Large portions OF the supplies which they needed
furnished by the States and individuals the
spur OF the momenta looking TO the national govern
ment able and wiling TO reimburse them; bur, al
most every instance with inadequate evidence to support
their claims. These accounts far they came to
the Second Auditors Office, have given great and
tious labor and trouble.
Other troops called for. Regiments of regulars
enlisted. Fifty thousand volunteers embo-
died. and in the course of year from the
ment of the war; army of from seventy TO ninety
thousand men in the field. All its enisments all
the purchases OF arms, announcements, ammunition. and
men, and especially all officers for arms, camp
and garrison equipage and clohing-all, all poured in
upon in Overwhelming volume.
The disbursements rose from four to fifteen millions
in year. The accounts multiplied without limit, and
the difficulty in settling them increased in equal ratio
The clerks aboet In vain to correct errors and bring the
But when bloody battles and more fatal diseases
hnned the ranks OF our brave army, long catalogue oil
claims in favor OF the heirs OF the gallant dead were
constantly coming in and constantly accommodating. for
We had not force to settle them TINS GLASS of accounts
could not be put Oft and delayed with inpunity, for
represented suffering widows and orphans and aged IA
theirs and mothers the staff OF whose comforts had fallen
the public service, and public sympathy became enlist
ed in their behalf. a loud demand made for the
cause OF the delay IN settling claims OF such unqneson-
able merit. That demand still continues, and il must
have an answer,
In your place in the House OF Representatives. you as
serted that the of the delay b. found in the
misconduct and of capacity of the Second Auditor
mse-nlsconduct in neglectng his duty, and want OF
proper skill for the station.
Ii these charges true ought to be punished and
you believed them rue and failed to invoke the actisn of
Congress the subject you also guilty of neglect
Your public attack upon me has brought the subject up
before those concerneda large and mertorious portion
of the people, and intend thai they sh ali have an
opportunity 10 hear my defence.
deny the truth Of tie charges. shall in turn become
the prosecutor, and submit the evidence to the public at
once, TO acqu myself and TO convict those who the
real cuIps; and it, in these cross-ndicments, you and
your associates shall suffer by the exposure you may
I charge upon Congress the whole delay and emJar-
rassmen of tis Office And now to the proof First as
my neglect of business have been nearly four years
in Office Ii is customary for all public officers here TO
have an occasional leave of absence OF few weeks
which is onsdered only due liberal indulgence,
but necessary to health. Once year this is generally
granted. Except when permitted to visit Kentucky 10
close my private affairs haze had Leave of absence
| Sir days besides will cover all the business days in
which have been absent from my Office from April,
1885, to this day Although advised by my physician
apply for leave, have refused to do because such
was the press OF business thai could not be absent
without still more embarrassing the business OF the office
This is simple statement of facts upon which will
risk the public judgment Is evidence required re-
fer you every member OF Congress who has trans.
acted business in my Office, to every officer of the
whe had business with me, and who visited the office,
say what they have seen there. They will prove, that
so far from neele5tiag my business, wearing away
my health by excessive devotion to it, leave them to
say il it be So and upon their testimony stake the
| issue
AS to my incapacity for managing its aRairs, will not
speak word. refer tbs public that question to the
witnesses, especially those who acquainted with
the mode OF transactny such business They testi
fyas TO the system and regularity, well as pronpude
with which its affairs have been conducted and am not
disturbed by fear of their opinions convc,ing me.
| AT early day after entering the duties OF the
office. discovered the want OF clerks and made appca-
ton for additional force. 1t in vain. When the
war began renewed II with importantly, stating what
would be the consequences without immediate and eec
tual aid warnings which have been fully realized At
first three clerks granted then four and when the
delay in the office began to attract public notice, and
cited indignant clamor, you at last granted twenty five
clerks, after having long delayed the assistance, that
even that number was insufficient
adequate to the OF the office, will appear BY my
nunlcations now on file in the Offices Of Congress