Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-03-03

from want, and putting a meritofions boy ia tb'
path of promotion. But in the month OF SEP
TENDER last Col. Gentry called at the Depart.
ment and made some complaint on the subject
TO the chief clerk, who addressed q letter to the
Commissioner of Pensions, asking an e%xplana.
ton of the facts.
On the first day of October last I enclosed a
copy 1.-THE report of the Commissioned oil
Pensions to Col. Gentry with a letter Of my
own explanatory of the facts of the case. which
| regret that Col. Gentry did not think prop.
er 10 read to the House. ] now send you n
copy of it.
Mr.. Gentry has fallen into several errors OF
fact. The boy was not represented to me as
sixteen years of age, but about fifteen, and. so
fer from being a competent clerk. he could not
perform The most simple duties of the station
without aid. had nothing to do with the nego.
tialion of the arrangement, and certainly did
nothingt 10 require that II should be entered into.
1t was a family arrangement, voluntarily agreed
upon by the parties Interested, before | was
consulted. presume | should have known
nothing about II but for the fact TINT 1t was nee.
essary 10 give me some satisfactory reason tor
appointing n boy OF such tender years. and who
was acknowl lodged not to 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, | certainly would not have appointed
young Collins. for | would not have felt %justi-
fled in following the dictates Of humanity at
the expense Of the public service. When
Col. GeniIy called ON me officially to annul
The private contract between these parties ]
declined to do so. The family had procured
the appointment, Of young Collins in conse.
quenee OF the arrangement with Mr.. Kane,
add | thought that they had no right to call on
me 10 aid them in repudlating their contract.
Kane had been Their bencfactor. Through his
and the family had obtained the means Of sup
port, and iftley bpgrudged the compensation
which they had themselves agreed To allow
him for his assistance and instruction 10 the
boy.l did not feel that it was proper for ire TO
unite in carrying out such a purpose.
| herewith submit also n 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 | desire is,
that the facts shall be fully and fairly %investi-
gated before a Judgment is pronounced.
have the honor 10 be worry respectfully
Your friend and obeIiont ser want.
ALEX. II. II. STUART.
Hon. Jno. Lttcher. House of Representa-.
tiyes.
This letter accompanied, in is publication.
by the letter Of Mr.. Stuart % Col. Gentry, re.
ferred 10 in the remarks Of the latter, " hen he
first made the charge; by two from Jas. l..
Heath, COMMISSIONS of Pensions.i in whose Of
fee Collins held his appointment and, two 9TH
.. L.. IL I IL. -
chief clerk in the Department. All OF these
Confirm the statement made by Mr.. Stuart
Mr.. Evans says In order 10 afford means
ofsupport to the famil y, | proposed TO the Sec
rotary of the Interior 10 appoint young Collins
to the vacant place, at 500 per annum. and to
transfer the remaining $500 to other clerks
This understood not only met the views of
the famil y, but was gratefully received. In
deed, | regarded it as an act of kindness on
the part OF the Secretary. l would moreover
state that | have understood this division of
salaries has been.frequently done in the public
Offices
In another note Mr.. Evans says :-"In re.
gard to the qualifications of young Mr.. Collins
as a clerk, when he was appointed in the Pen
sion Office, | have 10 state that | was then chic
clerk, and although all my sympathies were
then and still are enlisted in his behalf, We
truth compels meto say that he was so unqual
fled to perform clerical duties, that after a tri
al he was employed in making envelopes 70
bounty land papers, and SO continued until
left the office in the autumn oflS51."
The Richmond Enquirer $ authorized Il
announce that John Echols, Esq, one of tn
delegates from the county of Monroe, will no
H., .,ol,lo,. n---I.