The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-01-01
COMMUNICATIONS.
For the Union.


agent and the appointment OF successor from abroad
who Is in many respects not qualified for the place. every
sensible and honest must 10 the conclusion,
that not only has injustice been done 10 worthy and
most efficient public servant whose former services to
the country at the most trying periods OF her history are
placement. deep injury has been inflicted upon every
man, woman, and child upon the frontier of Texas.
The same apparent disregard for important facts, as
parry removed and the party appointed 10 office, was
manifest in the Of the ordnance agent at Galveston
Appointed by direction Of Mr. Marcy AZ the instance Of
General Sam Houston in ls46 Captain b. o. payn went
into Office under The auspices Of personal and political
friends, who, eighteen months after, sDere compelled to
remoue h for misconduct lntemperatc, OF weak intel
application Of public money and other acts highly dis.
graceful the fruits OF the appointment 10 oce OF
such man. IN fs47 he had become 50 cbnoxios ha!
the Office, and Captain Chase, of The army, sent on
TO Galveston for that purpose L was well known, not
only from the statement OF his clerk but from his own
admissions that the agent was defaMter Tor near
$4,000 twas also known that he bad pledged public
property, well the faith OF the government whose
agent he TO raise money for private purposes to aid
him in carrying his revels and debaucheries II was
likewise known that he had taken blank vouchers from
individuals and filled them up with amounts much great
er than had been actually paid out. II was further
known that he bad procured receipts for money not pam
and that he entered the amounts his abstract OF out
standing debts, furnished his successor for payments
which, but for the most careful investigation, would
have made the latter individually responsible to very
considerable amount This he attempted to explain, but
not till after detection Oversight" The facts
disclosed to Captain Chase led 10 report adpcrse TO the
agent, and he was accordingly REMOVED His place, by
an order from the department, was filled BY gentleman
long and favorahy known im Tor his high charac-
ter and intelligence His appointment could not have
been otherwise than popular with the people; and the
manner in which the affairs Of the Office were con-
Quoted by him reflected not only credit upon him.
self. but honor upon the administration Upright,
courteous, and correct in all his transactions, public
and private. Major Simmons gave universal salts.
faction. Although democratic supporter OF General
Taylor, he did not embark at all in politics; and
in OF the political meetings then common in
Galveston can it be shown that he participated
In the contest between Cass and Taylor his vote IS
known to have been cast for the latter, in common
with those OF many others of the same party who
locked to General Taylor for great reform lie is, in
short, gentleman whose character completely covers
the social and political "plaorm." with the additional
claim OF family who, while they among the orna
mens OF the society in which they move, are, in great
measure dependent upon his personal exerons for their
support Shortly after General Tayor's Inauguration,
the former dsgraced and discarded agent who had been
guilty of each and all the charges herein enumerated,
and who offered TO subscribe his name 10 paper 10 that
effect TO avoid its publications. consummaion IRON
which he saved by the interference OF one OF the
political friends of those who had originally put him in
ofcearved in Galveston with instructions TO resume
his former official position This was regarded by the
citizens OF Galveston and speak, Messrs Editors, ad-
vsedy when say this) an outrage and so high was
public Indignation the time, that had not been that
an "oRDER" soon followed for the dsconnuance OF tne
depot statement OF facts would have gone on 10
inton, the shape OF public remonsraDce, signed by
every respectable citizen of Galveston
appears that lew weeks Alter NE present admins
traiion went into power. Payn left Albany his
tive city, and repaired TO Washington where he was al
lowed by those who officially bound 10 nterpose to
make false statement OF hs case to the new Secretary
OF War, who, not being aware OF what had transplled-
not that this agent had been dismissed, and not
suspended" until be should from his wounds,
he falsely stated al Washington and on his return to
Galvestontths true history OF those wounds being care
fully onceaed)-dreced him TO return 10 his duties
duties which he had shamefully neglected The Hon
T. Pillsbury known to have stated thai Payn appealed
to General Houston TO aid him in restoration 10 the oce
from which be had been dismissed and that General H.
refused He appealed TO Mr. Crawford, and, at the same
time, was allowed by those who knew the history OF
the represent that be bad merely been suspended
Undue influence in quarter and Official delinquency
flowing from IT, alone account for the thrustng back
into public office, and upon the people OF Texas, man
so utterly unworthy Of public or private confidence
Whether this the result Of private friendship cen
tired In Albany, and reacng upon one OF the bureaus al
Washington, or whether prompted by secret desire TO
bring the wing administration into deep discredn with
both the political parties Texas, is of course known
only 10 those who were thus instrumental IN the
restoration to office OF one whose name was and by
word for all that is contemplate The history OF those
I" wounds" which appealed 80 strongly, and were used
with such effect in favor OF this unworthy agent
before observed, kept carefully from the knowledge both
oil the Secretary OF War and the committee OF Con.
gress, who were duped into awarding pension where
punishment and light punishment either, had been
unquesonably Payn y sad TO have represent
ed himself at Washington an old soldier OF Texas
while all that is known OF him that character by any
one is that he pockeed the emoluments OF sinecure
Office at Houston some time before his appointment as
ordnance agent Galveston and that his vices and foes
in the former station notorious as they became IN
The latter II he was engaged IN any campaign or
any field Of Texas, in this State 70 conyersant
with the fact The sympathy caused at washington by
wounds incurred by gross and indeed 1iindt miscon-
duct on his part enabled him 10 pcrpetrate fraud upon
the treasury Tor the pension 10 all inicn and pur
poses, money obtained under false preences Can be
supposed that the real facts OF the had been known
10 the committee, he would not have been turned out
OF the room, occasions in Galveston II
is well known that although the depot was mere place
OF depoee and issue, and not military post he was much
the habit Of firing sautes private as well as public
occasions BY reference 10 the hes of the Galveston
papers, will be that the special firing which caused
he wounds" at the time the instant death OF two
(Gen. Memucan Huni) given to some ol his friends Al
the fremont Hotel and three days after the arrival oil the
news OF one of our victories In Mexico which the agent
afterwards pretended led 10 the salute The gun used on
the occasion piece OF old Texas ordnance that had
been condemned years before by Captain Banks an
army ofhcer OF the republic LIS bad conanon, wnlcn
rendered il unit Tor USE unsafe in firing had been ex.
prcssly shown him by that officer. The gun had been
mbedded for years in salt waier and was so hons
that II well nigh impossible TO re II second time
without rvemaure discharge There we're al the same
time in the depot yard two fourpounders IN good condl.
ton lie, however wanted report suited TO the occasion,
and selected the identical twentyfonr FOUNDER against
which he had been empAatieaify warned Nor was this
a be employed two German men 10 serve the gun win
out apprzng them Of lis bad condition they were ss igno-
rant OF our language unskled in the manual OF guns
and in loading for the second fire, might have been
expected, the discharge PREMATURE and the two men
were blown TO atoms from the muzze OF the piece leaving
charity OF the citizens OF Galveston This Messrs Editors
n fr,e history of Cant payns wound for the dis