Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1852-11-17


those of our readers who may have read the
paper Of Tcritas," to which it is a reply
Oar only purpose in all We have published IN
relation to .he Pension Office has. been to
elicit the truth Washington Union OF the
24th ultimo.
To the Editor Of The Union
SIR: Your paper Of the 18th inst contains
sundry interrugatories in relation to the al
lowance of the hall. pay claim Of DR.. Cosbin
Griffin BY the present Commissioner of Pen
sions, and which interrCgatories. by innaendo.
impugn the validity Of that claim, and assall
the integrity Of the agent who prosecuted it
and recovered the money.
1t is neither my business nor my purpose
to enter into the general controversy which
has arisen in your columns with reference to
the administration OF the affairs Of the PEN
sion Bureau; bat is is my right. my duty. and
my present purpose, to defend my own agen-
ey whenever and however assailed; nor shall
! stop on this occasion to inquire who il is
that deals the blows behind his mask |
should prefer. it is true to know my assailrnt,
but willingly forego tho enquiry in the pres
cnt instance, not doubling that he will appre-
eiate my forbearance in not requiring his name
in advance of my response. When assure him
that, if he be that honest and conscientious
man he assumes to be- | have too much pity
for bis weakness to desire 70 witness bis con-
Triton.
The innuendoes Of your correspondent, who
writes over tbeinaypropriate name. Of peritas,
are as follow:
LIST. That the Secretary Of the Treasury
rejected the claim o. DR.. Corbin Griffin. many
years ago, on the ground that bis services was
not of a military character.
I'd. That subsequently,, the late Commits
sioner OF Pensions rejected the claim on the
same ground.
3d. That the present Commissioner Of PEN
sions allowed the claim without the produc-
ton Of any new evidence.
4th. That the dgent who made the appli-
cation, and recovered the claim by the pres
emf Commissioners decision. had made efforts
in the Legislature of Virginia to prevent the
removal OF said commissioner from the Office
of auditor Of Virginia.
The fourth and last innaendo will be irst
noticed
The claim of Dr. Corbin Griffin was pre-
sented for reconsideration by myself in 1850.
The prosecution If said claim was conducted
solely BY myself The money was paid TO me
and to me alone No other person had any,
thing whatever to do with the management Of
the claim from the time asked its rcconsid
GRAFTON to the day Of its adjudication and pay
ment.
,sas not then, nor bad been for twelve
years previously, member of the Legislature
Of Virginia; nor did | ever whilst ia the leg
islaturc make any efforts or know Of any be-
ing made, to prevent Mr. Heath's removal
from the Office of first auditor. / know of no
opposition made to his re- election to that post
whilst | served in that body. So much for
this innuendo. as far as the agent who recoy-
cred the claim is interested 1t is simply un-
true in all its bearings.
But have casually learned that your ill.,
informed correspondent aimed his attack at
another gentleman whom be supposed pros.
ecuted this claim. How far Mr.. "Veritas"
may consider himself justified in dealing his
blows at random. and without investigation,
may depend somewhat upon bis own peculiar
"pf"i pSttSBtiVuos Iput BC ouuI HuNt tuc
full benefit of even bis coniecturcs.
A gentleman in lower Virginia, disin-
euished and honorable member Of the Virginia
legislature, held power Of attorney from the
personal representative Of DR. Griffin 60 pros
ccute this claim. This gentleman substituted
me as the agent of .hc administrator nor did
be on any occasion. whilst the claim was in
progress. interfere, personally or by letter.
with my management of the claim; nor did
the Commissioner of Pensions know that
this gentleman name aras in the po,rer Of
attorney until he had adjudicated and allom-
ed the claim.
Wien tue case had been decided on it's
merits. presented the power of attorney and
substitution, with the certificate Of admins
tration, aud received the amount awarded
The fourth innuendo, therefore, has its found :.
alton in the fertile Imagination of its author,
who has had the magnanimityto fabricate a
charge of collision. favoritism, and corrup-
ton, without even the semblance of pretext
lie is welcome to his reflections
now proceed to notice the other innuen-
does in their order
First. The Secretary Of the Treasury did
UUt JtJcCt Tue claiUl, Us mas Deen animated.
The ground on which lie suspended the claim,
in 1885 may be seen by reference to his let
ter of enquiry directed to the auditor Of Vir
ginia on the 18th February, 1885, and his
letter addressed to myself (the original agent)
on the 18th day of April, 1885.
He inquired of the auditor as follows -
'rhether there aods any proof in his office Of
the existence and organisation of napal
hospital in Virginia in The rerolation
The auditor of Virginia. not being able at
that time to furnish such proof. tue Secreta
ry. on the 18th April, 1885. informed me that
had not furnished the necessary proof that
DR.. Grifhns services were such as to ent;tle
him to half pay, ''5ut that any record proof
SNORING such serrice should receire due
considerations"
The sum total, then Of the Secretarys ac-
tion and opinion was, that the case must be
suspended until the production of some re.
cord proof showing that there was naval
hospital Gas alleged) at Yorktown and that
DR.: Corbin Griffin was its surgeon
In this opinion | cheerfulIv aeoniesoad nm 4