The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-10-24

purpose in all we have published in relation 10 the PEN
sion Office has been TO elicit the truth.
10 the Editor Of the Union.
SR Your paper OF the 10th instant contains sandry in
terrogaores in relation TO the allowance OF the hafpa
clam OF Dr. Corbin Griffin by the present Commissioner
of Pensions and which heterogeneous, by auendo, i'm
pugn the validity of that claim, and assa the integrity Of
the agent who prosecuted il and recovered the money
II IS neither my business nor my purpose 10 enter
into the general controversy which has in
your columns with reference TO the administration
OF the affairs OF the Pension Bureau; but it is my
right, my duty. and my present purpose to defend my
own agency whenever and however assaed; shall
stop Mi, occasion inquire Vl. it is that deals the
blows behind his mask should prefer. it is true, TO know
my assaian, bW willingly toego the inquiry IN the
present instance. not doubling that he will appreciate my
fobearance in not requiring his in advance OF my
response. when him that. if he be that honest
and conscientious he assumes TO be, have too much
pity for his weakness 10 desire 10 witness his contron
The nnuendoes of your correspondent, who writes
the inappropriate name of VerttGs follow
lst That the Secretary OF the Treasury rejected the
claim OF DR. Corbn Griffin. many years ago. the ground
that his service not of military character.
I'd. That subsequently,, the late Commissioner of Pen
sions rejected the claim on the ground.
Sd. That the present Commissioner OF Pensions allowed
the claim ,oi hout the production of any evidence
4h That he agent who made the application and re-
covered the claim by the present Commissioners decision
had made efforts in the legislature of Virginia prevent
the removal OF said commissioner from the Office of audi
tor OF Virginia
The fourth and last iHnuendo will be first noticed
The claim OF Doctor Corbin Griffin was presented for
reconsideration by myself in 1850 The prosecution of
said claim conducted solely by myself. The money
paid to and to aons. No other person had any
thing whatever to do with the management of the clam
from the time ask ed It's reconsideration 10 the day of its
adjudication and payment
was not then, had been for twelve years pre-
viously member of the legislature of Virginia nor did
ever whilst in the legislature make any efforts or know
OF any being made prevent Mr. Heah's removal from
the office of first auditor. know of no opposition made
10 his reelection TO that post whilst | served in that
body SO much for this innuendo, far the agent no
recovered the claim is interested II is simply untrue in
all its bearings.
But have casually learned that your ill-infomed cor.
respondent aimed his attack at another gentleman whom
be supposed prosecuted this claim. How far Mr. "Veri-
tas" may consider himself justified in dealing his blows
at random, and without investigation, may depend
what upon his own peculiar moral perceptions. But he
shall have the full benefit OF even his conjectures.
A gentleman in lower Virginia, a distinguished and
honorable member of the Virginia legislature. held a
power OF attorney from The personal representative Of
Dr. Griffin prosecute this claim. This gentleman sub
ttufed the agent OF the administrator did he
on any occasion, whilst the claim progress
ere personally by letter, with my management, OF the
claim did the Commissl0nsr of PsnaoHs kaow that
this gsnismra's the poUr Of Attorney untR
he had adj Indicated and aiO0sd ne claim.
When the case had been decided on lis merits pre-
scented The po~er OF attorney and substitution with the
certificate oil administration, and received the amount
awarded The fourth tnnasnd0 therefore, has lis found
aion in the fertile inas naion of Its author, who has
had the piagranimy TO iabrcsie charge OF COLLISION.
favo.iiism and corruption without the semblaace
OF pretext. He is welcome TO his reflections.
now proceed TO notice the ether innuendos in their
order.
First The Secretary OF the Treasury did not reject the
claim, as has been minated. The ground which be
suspended The claim in 1885 may be by reference 10
his Of inquiry. directed TO the auditor Of Virginia on
the I7th February 1885 and his letter addressed 10 my
self CHE original agenD the 18th day OF April, 1885.
He inquired of the auditor follows: igtsther there
anu proof ia his Office Or he sriees aad oglH'za-
tion Of nIUal hospital Iuga,a ia he revolution
The auditor Of Virginia. not being able at that time 10
furnish such proof the Secretary the 18th April 1885,
informed that had furnished the necessary proof
that Or. GIithns such 10 enlle him to
half pay but that any record pro scwng such service
should rscsirs due ecnadsraion."
The sum total them OF the Secrelarys action and opin-
ion was. that the must be suspended until the pro-
duclion OF record proof showing that there
naval hospital Gas aeged) at Yorktown, and that DR..
Corbin Grirtn was its surgeon.
In this opinion cheeriully acquesced; and there the
case rested, until time afterwards las ean)
other individual. during my absence from Virginia. took
charge Of The claim, and mad. insHecsal efforts Iro
cure The proof which haI been required
This brings me 10 the second iHnusndo; and on this
point can only say that have evidence OF any
action whatever by The former Commissioner OF PEN
sons on this claim There il note The papers Of
any such action: have found after much search,
that he ever considered the case al ALL III he did do So
presume he adopted (as he should have done) the
opinion OF the Secretary Of the Treasury expressed
1895, that some record proof uas nsonarg 70 1ow
hs srsnce and org Inizatlon Of ndVa hospital and
nat Dr.. Grifia toas us surgeon"
This brings me TO the third and most important nnusndo
to wit " that me present Commissioner Of Psn1ns al
Ioped this claim pl,ouf the prodae ION Of pIdeHe"
And here, AIR Editor. allow to repeat thai the
quremen OF the Secretary ls35. to which have ALA.
ded in strict accordance with the general practice 81
this in the adjudication Of claims OF the Off
GERS OF the Continental and Sia lDes to witt that
RECORD PROOF of the fact that the claimant off,
Ger should be required There in which this
rule has been relaxed, and where overwhelming parot
proof has been held sufficient In the OF DR. Grit
6n the allowance OF the claim WITHOUT such record proof
after the Secretary had required il, would have subjected
any Commsso OF Pensions TO censure; aud presume
no agent Who values his reputation for fairness would
upon such allowance, without producing the proof
which had been mus properly demanded.
twas simply and qaig because could not find suci
proof at earlier day, that I permitted Ihs case to