Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-03-09
Secretary Stuart.

w ME tne lncidN y ppTopIiu'iou jim Nso "hucl
consideration in the House of Representatives, on
the 23rd ult.. the official character Of the Hon.
A. II. II. STUART, Secretary f,hc Interior. was
violently & graluitously assailed by Col. GENTRY,
Of Tennessee. For this gentleman, we have been
accustomed to entertain feelings Of great respect.
but our opinion of him is now materially changed
and he must saaereia public estimation in conse-
queuce OF his conductoa tac occasion alluded To-
He may have been imposed upon by the repre-
sensations Of others, but he should have been care
full about his facts before he undertook to prefer a
grave charge against one hglrin the public service
The statement Of Col GENTRY isthus reported
among the proceedings of the House:
Mr. Gentry offered an amendment, as an add
ional sectiu.s that If any officer who Is now or
may be charged with the payment Of any of the
appropriations made by this or any other act shall
pay to any clerk or employee less sum than is al
l0wedby law and require such employee to accept
or give voucher for an amount greater than he
has received, the officer thus acting shall be deem
ed guilty Of enlightenment. and shall be fined
double the sum 50 withheld, and imprisoned for
the term Of two Years; and may be prosecuted and
punished by any court having jurisdiction for the
trial of such offences.
He'Said he knew Of clerk inone ofthe Depart
ments who was appointed to office under clrcum-
stances Ike these: His father, who had been
merchant, obtained a little clerkShlpo thousand
dollars after he became iusovent. He died indi
gent s the sympathy for the family was so strong
that the head Of the Department was compelled
to appoint the son to the place thus vacated, that
he might by this means support his mother and a
younger brother He was put in with an'unler-
standing that he should receipt monthlyat thera
of a thousand dollars year, while three Hundred
dollars Of the sum was transferred to favorte in
the Department, He fNir. c. had protested a
gainst the outrage, and learned from the head Of
the Department that it was justified by numerous
presidents.
In response to the general inquiry, he said the
head of the Department referred to was Mr.. Stu
art.
Mr.. BAYLy, of this State, although political
opponent, actuated by high toned chiyalry which
has ever characterised him, stepped forward I'M
mediately to meet the accusation. He remarked
that he knew nothing Of the circumstances refer
red to- but without consulting the Secretary of
the Interior, he undertook to say THAT if there was
anything in the official conduct of Mr. STUART 4
fair subject of Investigation, that gentleman was
ready tom6st it at any time. Mr.. LEroHER
spoke to the same effect. Mr.. STANLY, Of North
Carolina, also took up the cudges warmly in Mr.
SrUARr's defence. and testified to his high char
acter as an honorable man and one of the most dis
tngushed sons of 1.-The Commonwealth of Wash
| ington" Mr.. GENTRY then endeavored to ex-
plain that he did not question the personal honor
of the Secretary of the Interior, but regarded the
act as an Executive abuse, and political impro-
prety which deserved impeachment Strange
distinction, truly, to acquit the nan Of bad mo
tiyes, and condemn the officer fora high crime!
On the following Saturday, Mr.. LETcHER pre-
sented to the House letter from AIR. STUART in
explanation of the case upon which the accusation
was founded We give the following synopsis of
it, which We find in an exchange paper:
The letter was to the effect that, in the month
of April 1852, clerk by the name of Collins died
suddenly, leaving 4 family in great destitution.-
While the corpse was lying in the house, French
S. Evans came into the department and represent
ed the depressed condition OF the family, and ask
ed for the appointment of the son in the place Of
his father. The boy was fifteen years OF age, and
was not competent to discharge the duties OF the
office without assistance. The family spoke to
Mr.. Kane, an experienced clerk, and he undertook
fathery supervision over the boy, and to instruct
him in his duty, and perform such parts of 1t as
the boy could not and to receive suitable com
pensati0n therefor. As to the details OF the or
rangoment the Secretary says he knows nothing
up to the present time, and does not Know that he
ever saw the boy. He had tlattered himself that
he had consented to a commemorate act in saving
a family from want, and putting ameriorous boy
in the way of promotion. Col. Gentry has fallen
into several errors of fact. So far from the boy
being competent. he could not perform the duty
withoutaid When Col. Gentry called upon him
to annul the contract between Collins and Kane,
he refused to do so, the family having been par
lies to the contract. Kane had been their beneac-
tor, and through his aid they had received their
support In conclusion, he challenges the most
rigid scrutiny into this and every other act OF his,
and all he asks is full investigation before judg
ment is pronounced.
Several other papers were read in confederation
of the above statement. One Of them is a letter
to Mr.. STUART from the Rev. T. S. Evans, Chief
Clerk in The Pension Office, as follows:
Agreeably to your request, have to state that
when was chief clerk of the Pension Office, Mr..
Collins, very worthy man and good clerk,
sickened.and died Twas much attached to him,
and felt deeply for the family. He left widow
and son. youth, with probably one or two more
children. In order to afford means of support to
the family, proposed to the Secretary of the In
terror to appoint young Collins to the vacant place,
at 800 per annum, and to transfer tie remaining
$500 to other clerks. This understood not only
met the views of the family but was gratefully re-
ceived. Indeed, | regarded it as an act of kind
nets on the part of the Secretary. would more
over state that have understood this division of
salaries has been frequently done in the public Of
fees. regarded it as an act Of pure charity.
And so will every benevolent, right-thnking
man regard it. Instead Of doing anything discred-
table or blame worthy, it thus appears from sat
isiactory evidence that Mr.. STUART consented to
an arrangement which entities him to high praise
In the language of Mr.. SrANLY, he has ''come out
brighter after passing the ordeal"
Putnam's Monthly.
We haze received from the publishers Through
r. CowAN. Bookscller) the March number Of this
new, but already popular, magazine, tits i'm
possible to speak too highly of itas work of gen
eral interest. The London Despa.ch speaks
of it as among the best magazines of the
day for :svaried ability, critical acumen, orgnali-