The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-12-14
MI parAsr's Letter to Hon. Th.ma. H. B.y,,



DKAa Sm: deem it alike due to myself and TO those
ifends who have SO generously sustained TO notice
briefly The letter OF J. w FoIney. esd addressed 10 The
ibis evening" Though The medium Of he STAT ewRs SI
by permission q he parties addressed or not, II does
appssr.)
You'd his eonirol,"" constrained that high funconary
so reluctantly to me from the office OF Libra
rian OF the House OF Representatives Whether that
uctance real Affected the members oil the House
can readily determine BY brief consideration OF the
character and nature OF those duties for the alleged
gleet OF which Colonel Forney says he removed me.
The public al distance may not be aware oil the TACT,
so iamiasiy known TO every member OF the House oil
Representatives, that The Library lately under my charge
is collection OF the public documents and other political
matter, designed exclusively Tor the OF the members
OF The House, and rarely II ever resoed 70 except while
Congress in session. Durinx that period IL necessary
that The Libaraa OF his ASSISTANTS should be always a.
his post, ready attend promptly such calls may be
made by any OF he members But an tbe recess II Is
wholly different. Tor the only legitimate duty then re-
quired OF The Librarian is simply 10 receive and 6c away
in their appropriate places such documents ~ may per
chance be printed during that petiod and therefore, ~
ean from undoubed authority OF my predecessors,
even before they had assistant were ever required TO
be in Washington during The recess; and further that
though had assistant constantly at his post, yet
have spent larger portion OF the recess IN the Library
than OF those who preceded me IN that ONCE. did
not because il necessary, but because wished
to be in place Being here occasion Tor more than
month"; With nothing requiring my attention IN the IA
brdry, voluntarily asked Tor employment in some other
branch Of The Office, but there. too, could get nothing
TO do.
AS to the manner in which discharged my duties
while Congress session, il does not become to
speak That question refer TO such OF the members
belonging 10 The last Congress- had official intercourse
with me and will only add that always endeay0red to
perform duties faithfully, TO the utmost exeat oil
my ability.
Shorty after the adjournment Of the last Congress,
having gone Virginia with my family. wrote TO Mr..
Messner my assistant inqniring whether there any
thing io to do in the Library. that Il requisite
might return az once Instead Of responding himseif.
Mr. al t,,p atfa In (NpV vhNn AZ
in his person, replied 10 substance that there
necessity for 10 feluTn there being nothing here for
me TO do That Letter ~ among my papers IN Virginia.
and can be found whenever desired.
WAS here from lime 10 time during the recess, ever
ready TO perform any duty that might be assigned me- and
absent for month =, any time. as Col For
ney well kno ". or 0outd hsue knoirn VI he had been
higstT at his post These facts am prepared 1t any
lime prove before any committee the House OF Repre-
seniatves may think proper 10 charge with their invess
CATION.
am utterly al loss 10 conceive, upon any honorable
hypothesis, what Col Forney means BY the charge Of
"caving the Library in state OF such utter confusion
and neg ect must have brought down upon him the
just censufe Of House Of had be
employed others TO put It IN proper condition Tor the
The truth is simply this Immediately after the receipt
OF Colonel Forneys letter OF The goth October. which.
from Cause other. did not reach early ~ it
ought to have done by nearly week, repaired 70 this
city add arrived here on the 3oh. then arranged all
the books and documents well as the nature Of the
woald allow, and had the carpets put down This
all that could be done either by myself "oaers "
rand il there was any .confusion il resulted from the
want OF space for a better arrangement, and not from
any neglect OF official duty my part, as COL F0rney
might have known If he had not been absent from his
post himself is not true that Colonel Foney had
70 employ Others as stated in his letter. to put the Ii
bray proper condition for the meeting OF Congress
No Others besides myself and assistant employed,
as AN prepared to prove. Il.
| It's a little remarkable that ColoAel Forney should
have been particular 10 preserve copy OF that note
OF The 2oh October; for al that time he processes 10
have been still my friend. "mos anxious for me 10 vim
dictate his choice OF me Librarian. Whistler he had
then determined apon my removal and only delayed it
until asr his own reelection leave the public 10 de.
termine
Ga The 7h OF November, having nothing more 10 re-
quire my attention here, returned to Virginia. al the
ques, OF my wife, then deeply afflicted by the death Of
near relative is true did not ask for Leave Of ab-
away from his post My intention 10 be absent but
few days, and return TO my posi- week or two before
ready 10 answer any official calls that might be made BY
members coming in before the day OF meeting But on
reaching home was me, by that kcenes OF all Attic.
tons to parents observation-disclosures OF iha death, in q
distant Safe. OF my eldest son who. though very young,
had 20 far the respect OF the citizens OF bis adopt
ed State. and the confidence OF the President as 10 be
clothed by him with the important and responsible once
OF collector OF the port oil Iavaca in the State OF Texas
This crushing affection delayed my return. felt ~.
sured then do now, ha. each and every member Of
the House OF Representatives was too deeply imhued
with The generous sympahics OF humanity 10 deny me
The melancholy privilege Of giving three short weeks to
the sacredness oil sorrow for such loss and the tender
Offices OF seeking TO sooh and strengthen the Angushed
feelings OF bereaved mother and slater. That have
done Them but simple justice is fully evinced by the
fact that not OF the members has yet uttered the
slightest whisper OF complaint nor, up TO the reading
OF Col Forncys letter the Enquirer, had any right to
suppose that be, loo did not possess The same generous
sympaihiek
Ills due 10 myself TO say that took no part either BY
writing for The press or by conversation with members
whatever in relation 10 the late election OF Clerk Of the
d,dsle for reelection by those whom he had already
served in that capacity. OF his htness OF unfneas for
the station, they fully competent 10 decide, and be-
evsd and still believe tina, any attempt my part TO
advise OF influence them in q matter vitality affecting
their own rights and duties might have been Justly re-
garded as impairment presumption.
Ii is NOT true, stated by Colonel Forney that nearly
every member of the Virginia delegation opposed 10
my original appointment 1t IL true that most OF them,
before they knew that effort would be made by my
friends elsewhere 10 put in tina, Office, bad recon
time would have changed their views not, il quite i'm
material 10 the present issue Having been in Office for
nearly TWO years. II il gratifying 10 know that st this
time the Virginia delegation have endorsed my fidelity
By almost unanimous vote in favor OF my restora-
!, ton.
II Colonel Foraey had been co1ten,ed with my simple
removal from Office, and had sought TO injurs my
character Tor official fidelity by statement Of reasons for
my removal wholly unfonnded in fact should, without
writing line, have left my friends IN the House to
have made whatever disposition Of my they thought
when borne down by domestic af ction is more than
can bear without al least effort TO put myse right be-
fore my ffends and the country
As my immediate representative and friend, have
thought it proper address this communication you,
and through you. 10 the members II the House Of Rep