Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-03-04

Executive officers might be overwhelmed by the |
humane Isiderations which prevailed upon Mr..
Stuart in the case under consideration.
1t IS not necessary for us 10 recapitulate the cir
cumstances which appear in MI. Stuarrs letter.
They present case certainly in v hch the friends
of the young man supposed 10 be injured have no
reason for complaint, and in which there is no
possible ground for any mputation against Mr.. S.,
save that of an incapacity of remaining inexora-
BILE 10 the entreaties of restitution AMI distress.
The following are the letters OF MIR. Stuart and
MIR. Heath:
DEPARTMENT. TIE INTERIOR,
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 1858.
My Dear Sir: was surprised to learn last even
ing that had been assaulted in the House OF Rep
reSentatves yesterday, for wrong alleged to have
been committed by me in regard to youth NAM
ed Collins, who is clerk in the Pension Office.
As you were kind enough 10 contribute your aid in
my defence, ard as you are my immediate repre-
sentative, beg leave 10 furnish you with state
mcnt of the facts of the case in the hope that you
may be able TO find suitable opportunity TO pre-
sent them to the House of Representatives and the
country.
In the month of April, 1852, Mr.. Collins, a
clerk in the Pension Office, died suddenly, leav
ing widow and and number OF children, as
was informed, in n state OF great restitution. On
the day OF his DEATH and while his corpse Stlll
lay in the house, the Rev. F. S. Evans, who had
been miniserng to his wants during his illness,
came to the Department and with great feeling
represented the distressed condition of his family,
md begged me TO appoint son Of the deco as=d
clerk TO Till his fathers nace. lie represented him
to be boy about 10 years of age, and candidly
admitted that he not competent 10 fill the po-
Siton without assistance. But he informed me
tina to obviate the difficulty he, with the consent
nf the family of MIR. Collins, had spoken to .,r.
Kane, an able and experienced clerk, who was
friend ofthe late Mr. Collins, and that he had
scented to exercise iathery supervision over the
Goy-to instruct him i'll his duties. and 10 perform
such parts of them the boy could not discharge;
and that it was understood that Mr.. Kane, in
n unC n ctttto
BILE compensation cut of the salary oil the boy
Being thus assured that the public interests would
no: suffer by the arrangement, l agreed TO appoint
the boy his fathers office. In regard to the fur
ther details know nothing, rs the paitieS were all
strangers TO me, and up TO the present hour do
| not know that ever have seen one of them. |
heard no complaint from any quarter; and had
| battered myself that had done q commendable
| act in saving family from want, and putting
mertorious boy i'll the path of promotion. But in
the month of September last Colonel Gentry called
at the Department and made some complaint on
the subject 10 the chief clerk who addressed let
ter 10 the Commissioner of Pensions asking an ex-
plauaton of the facts.
| On the 1st of October last l enclosed copy OF
the report of the Commissioner of Pensions to Col.
Gentry with letter OF my own explanatory Of
the facts of the case which | regret that Colonel
Gentry did not think proper TO real TO the House.
now send you "a copy Of it.
Mr. Gentry has fallen into several errors OF fact.
The boy was not represented TO ME as l6 years OF
competent clerk, he could not perform the most
simple duties of the station without aid. had
! nothing 10 do with the negotiations OF the arrange
ment, and certainly did nothing to require that it
should be entered into. 1t was a family arrange
ment, voluntary agreed upon by the parties inter
ested, before was consulted. presume | should
have known nothing about il, but for the fact that
II was necessary to give me some satisfactory
son for appointing a boy of such tender years, and
who was acknowledged not 10 BE competent, with
out aid, to discharge the duties of the office.
Without some such satisfactory assurance as was
afforded by the engagement of Mr. Kane, | certain
lywould not have appointed young Collins, for |
would not have felt justified in following the die
tateS OF humanity at the expense of the public ser
vice. When Colonel Gentry called on me officially
to annul this private contract between these parties
declined TO do so. The family had procured the
appointment of young Collins consequence of
the arrangement withNlr. Kane, andl thought that
they had no right 10 call ON Inc to aid them in re
pudlating their contract. Kane had been their
benefactor. Through his aid the family had OBJ
tanned The means OF support and if they begrudged
the compensation which they themselves had agreed
TO allow HIM for his assistance and insrU ction 10
the boy, did not feel that it proper for HE TO
unite in carrying out such purpose.
herewith submit, also, statement from Rev.
f. S. Evans on the subject.
In conclusion, take the liberty of saying that
challenge the most rigid scrutiny into this and every
other official act. All that desire is that the facts
shall be fully and fairly investigated before judy
ment is pronounced.
have the honor to be, very respectfully, your
| friend and obedient servant,
ALEX. II. Ii. STUART.
Hon. JNo. LETcHER, House of Representatives.
accompanying the above were: letter from F
S. Evans to the Secretary; an explanation by the
Commissioner of Pensions to the same gentleman
and the letter which Mr.. Stuart addressed to Col.
Gentry on the LIST of October last; all of which
were read and confirmed the Secretary's statement
of facts.