Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1853-12-16
M.sn,snrns n..os,nhs. 10 1919

briefly the letter OF j. W. Poruey Esq addressed to the
Editors Of the Richmond Enquirer and given to the pub.
lie this evening, through the medium the STAR wheth.
er by Per1"ssion Of hs parties addressed not does
not appear.)
That letter processes give the reasons which, "be-
youd his CONTROL Constrained that high fnctiouary SO
Reluctantly from the office Of Librarian of
the House Of Representatives Whether that reluctance
was real or affected the members of the House rcad-
~ determine ny brief consideration Of the and
nature oil those duties for the alleged neglect Of which Col
Foruey says he removed me.
The public at distance NAV be aware Of the fact
80 iamay known TO every member Of the House OF Rep.
resentatves that the Library lately under charge
collection of the public documents other political
matter designed exclusively for the of the members
OF the House, and rarely rcsored except VII
congress Is In session During that period IL is necessary
that the Librarian his assistants should ALWAYS
post ready to attend promptly to such calls may be
made nv any OF the members. But in the recess il
u wholly different for the only legitimate duty then he
qurcd of the Librarian is simply receive and file awav
IN their appropriate places such documents as NAV pcr
chance hc printed during that period; and therefore,
learn from undoubed authority of predecessors
even before they had assistant were ever required To
be in Washington during the recess aud further that
though had an assistant constantly at his post
have spent larger portion of the in the Library
than any of those who preceded me in that Office did
not because necessary but because wished To
he IA place. Being here occasion for more than
month, with nothing requiring attention the ibra-
! ~, voluntarily asked for employment in some other
branch OF the Office, but there too could get nothing
As to the manner in which discharged INV duties while
Congress was in session IL does become speak
That question refer such of the members "a belonging
To the last Congress had official intercourse With me aud
will only add that always cndcavored perform those
duties faithfully To the utmost extent Of my ability
Shortly after the adjournment of the last Congress
having gone TO Virginia with INV family, wrote Mr..
MeSmer, my assistant, iuqurug whether there any
ing Tor me to do IN the library, that II requisite
might return at Instead of responding himself Mr.
NJ. handed my letter tn Col Forncy who at once in hi,
person, replied in substance that there was no necc-
sy for me to RETURN there being nothing here for me to
| be found whenever desired.
| was here from time To time, during the recess ever
ready TO perform duty that might be assigned me-
never absent for month any time Col Forncy
well knows, ohi hare ktoir ifLe had been LitasiJ
at has post. These facts prepared at any time 10
prove before any scommittec the House of Representa-.
ve may think proper 10 charge with their investigation
a'n utterly at loss TO conceive, upon any honorable
hypothesis, what Col Focy by the charge OF INV
eavng the library in state of such and
neglect, must have brought down upon him the lust
censure OF the House of Representatives had he not en-.
poyed DINERS to put in proper condition for the meet
| ing of Congress"
The truh 10 simply this Immediately after the receipt
OF Col Forneys letter OF the goth October which, from
other did reach me carly a. It ought
to have done, by nearly week. repaired this city and
arrived here the 3Uh. then arranged all the book,
and documents, well the nature of the rooms would
allow aud had the carpets put down This all that
could be done either by myself "oeTS and there
any confusion, resulted from the space
ior better arrangement, and not from any neglect" Of
official duty part Col Forncy might have known
II he had not been absent from his post himself IL
Is not true that Col Forney had to employ Others" a.
stated IN his letter. TO put the Library in proper condi-
ion r the meeting o Congress. No Others besides my
self aud assistant Ncge SO employed as prepared
prove.
! 1t is little remarkable that Col Forney should bav,
been particular preserve copy of that note of
the Goth October. For that time he Processes 10 have
been still friend 'nt 81 anxious for me TO yndica, nj.
cho.cl o. me Librarian. Whether he had then deter
mined upon ~, read Al and only DELAYED il until after his
own reelection leave the pablo 20 determine.
On the 9Th 81 November having nothing more to re-
qure my attention here, returned to Virginia the
quest of my wife, then deeply afflicted by the death of
gea.i-c 1t Is true did ask for leave OF absence
and for the only gOo that Col Forney was away
from his post My intention be absent hut few
days and return to post week before the com
mencemcnt Of the present session. to be ready To-
any official calls that might made by members
coming in beIOro the day of meeting. But reaching
home by that kccncSt Of all Affections Ia pa
rents observation-disclosures of the death in distant State
Ey eldest SON. who though very young had so far won ill.,
respect OF the citizens of his adopted State and the con
idencc Of the President be clothed by him with the
important and responsible OF Collector Of the Port
! OF Layaoa in the State VI Texas
THIS crushing affection delayed my return felt "a
surct then A. do ROY that each and every member Of
the House Of Representatives too deeply inbucd with
ancLOy privi &c of giving three bort weeks To the 81
crcdnss OF for such O-. and the tender Offices of
seeking to sooth and srenshc the angui,hed feelings OF
a bereavei mother and si>tc. That | have done thcu
simple justice fully cvnccl 10y the fact that not one
Of the las yet uttered the slightest whisper at
complaint No up he reading Of Col. Forney's letter
tn the Enquirer had any tIgu, pp0Sc that lac too
did not possess the same generous symplthic-.
IL is due myself To say that took part either by
wiring for the press or hy conversation with ncmbers
whatever III E"laton To the late election of clerk of the
House at Representative Col. Eoncy was a candidate
for reelection 10y those whom lie la! already served it,
that capacity az his fitness for the station
they fully competent TO decide aud believe aud
still believe that any attempt my part advise or in.
huence them ia vitality affecting their own
rights and duties might had been Justly regarded i'm
pertinent presumption.
Ii il true As stated by Col Forncy that nelr,
every member OF the Virginia delegation we're opposed to
NV original appointment. u j. ru. that most OF them
before they knew that cfDI would be made by my
friends elsewhere 10 pot me in that o:ce, bad
mended others. Whether knoSledgc OF this fact IL
time would have changed their views not is guite i'm
material the present is-ue Having been in Office for
nearly years it gratifying know that a this time
the Virginia delegation have endorsed my fidelity by an
almost unanimous vote in fivOr Of INV restoration.
II Col Foncy bad been cnntcnted with my simple rc.
nova from oicc and had sought irurc my chr.
actcr for official liciy by statement Of reasons for NV
removal, wholly un!oundcd in fact, ! should without
writing line have let my ri ,nls IN the House 10 have
made whatever disposition Of ny case they thought pro-
per. But the attempt blast nv reputation al a time
when borne down toy domestic affection j. more than
bear without least effort to put myself rirbt be-
fore my friends and the country
A my immediate representative and friend have
thought proper address this communication to YOU
lnd through TO tue members Of the House of Rep
resenttiUes generally.
With grateful appreciation Of your kind efforts to have
Justice done in this matter,
have the honor to be- respectfully your
obcdient servant, JOHN A. PARKER.
Hon. I. ii. BAyLY, House of Representatives.
NAvAL-The U. :. steam propeller Massachusetts,
which has been undergoing repairs at the Navy Yard
into the dry dock yesterday for the purpose of re-
ceving her propeller and shaft The propeller j.
made Of composition and il beautiful casting with 8
blades, 10 feet inches in diameter and l6 feet