The republic., 1852-06-30
The oomm...,onsr OF Psn.,on..

Tho OOmmissioncr Of Pensions.
WAsHINSroN, June %, 1852.
Sla: Intending by all honorable means to protect
my official as well personal reputation from false
and libeIlous charges. ask the favor OF you to in
sert the subjoined correspondence with the Wash
ington Union, and to express my regret that the
publisher OF that paper should have forced INC into
a contest with him. from which might have been
relieved had the name of the real assailant been
disclosed.
want, J. E. HEATH.
To the EDITOR of the "Repubic.''
WAsHlSGroN Cry, June 25, 1852.
Sra: In your paper Of yesterday l find a COM
municaton sgned "A Locker On" accompanied
by two articles from the Virgnia Republican OF
June 5th and 18th, referring to my action as Com
missioner Of Pensions, all Of which are false and
lbelous, and which an constrained 10 notice.
have therefore 10 ask you the name Of the author
of the communication signed as above; and doubt
not your sense Of honor and propricty will prompt
an early response to this request.
am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
}. 4. HEATH.
General Roskar AamsrRoSo, Publisher of the
"Unon."
WAsnINGT0H, June 70, 1852.
SiR: In reply TO your letter of the 25th instant !
complaining Of a communication which appeared
in the Washington Union Of the gath instant in
relation to your action as Commissioner of Pen ]
sions in two specified cases, and asking the name
Of its author, have to state that tho communica-
ton came from which leaves do doubt in
my mind that ii was written in good faith and de J
signed tc elicit that public investigation of your
official action in the premises which the article n
terms calls for, and which am unwilling TO be-
lieve that you, as public officer, open in your
official conduct to public animadv ersion, desire to-
shun.
To such investigation. on both sides, the columns
Of the Unson are open to a reasonable extent, my
desire being to do you no injustice in the pre-
Inises.
As to the name of the author of the communica !
ton in question, see no good purpose to be am
swered in giving it up to you until know inore
fully your object in asking it, especially as do
not perceive that the communication materiall VI
varies tho state of the case given in the two ar
ticles from the Virginia Republican, on which it is
apparently based, and which made part of il !.
am. very respectfully. your obedcnt servant,
r. ARMSTRONG
JAMES E. HEATH, esq.,, Commissioner of Pensions
WAsMINoYoN, June 49, 1852
SIR: Yours of Saturday last, (26th,) in answer|
to mine of the 25th in relation to the publication
in your paper of the oath instant, has been duly
received.
II does not comport with my views of propriety]
of self respect to enter into newspaper con
troversy in relation to charges against my off
cial action, and especially with anonymous accu
sers nor do consider this the surest mode of ar
irving at the truth even in contests with open as
sailants. Your offer, therefore, of the use of your
columns $50 a Reasonable ertent" ia respectfully|
declined
As it regards my purpose in asking the name of
the author Of the communication signed "a Locke er
On" l shall promptly satisfy your curiosity by
stating that made the request with view to de j
eide whether should hold the author. or the pub
Hsher or botA responsible for the libel. Your an
swer settles this point.
That the original libel Gas you suggesi) has bccn
published in another paper. 'does not materially
vary the esss" it relates TO your responsibility;
nor is the made any more favorable to you byI
tho further fact that similar charges have bcenI
heretofore submitted to the President by the same
man whose initials (R. II subscribed to onel
Of the articles republi,bed by you tho Gath inst
and that the Presidcnt examined and discounte i
nanced those chargcs
In announcing 20 Jo~ my purpose submit your
publication to the consideration Of a Jury take
occasion to state distinctly and unreservcdly that
90 far as depends me- you shall be permitted toI
prove, IL you can, the truth Of the charges in order
TO justify the publication complained Of
am, cir. very respectfully. your obedent ser
want, j. l.. HEATH
General RsBkRr AnMsTnoNo:
TO the Editor ef the Republic: