The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-28

The government al great cost 10 acquire certain
era which are worked up into shape for the benefit
those whose duty il have guarded the publc inter
est and delivered 30 the government intact that for which
the government had paid through them, the constituted
agents Of the government Now, then after deriving
the advantages Of using this property Mr. Bartlett comes
forward and proposes TO surrender 10 the government
Of M Saseq and ~ WEBB snS bs as Ct M4
Pratt but says nothing about bis As | think the
government is not the loser by the failure Of Mr. Bartlett
turn his and sketches no remark 4
make them But in this connexion, desire TO state
distinctly that the idea conveyed in Mr. Bartlets letter
that he directed aided advised suggested the magn
cent collections and sketches made by me or by mr. party
in the least contributed by himself or his friends and as
sisans 10 this collection wholly without foundation
They were commenced by me the boundary in Caor-
mia before Mr. Bartlett named the commission
before il entered the wit of be would be on
The only person who has contributed at all TO this coec
ton in any way connected with Mr. Bartlett DR. Bige-
low lie was the physician TO the boundary survey, and
made his collections amateur and what he contrib
ued was turned and forwarded DR. Torey before
Mr.. Bartlett returned To the scene Of operations.
The collections OF pr Webb and Mr. Thurber have been
mainly anticipated by those Of the assistants under
charge On finding that Mr. Bartlett had turned over
OF the sketches of the regulay-apponed artist in
tended to illustrate the physical geography Of the country,
took early steps TO supply the deficiency Ii the
habit OF myself and all assistants take views sketches
and notes Of prominent objects in scenery and natural his
tory and with these material we have set to work at
expense 10 the government and by the aid OF distin
guished friend and artist have supplied the deficiency
caused by withholding Mr. Pratt sketches in full
and satisfactory The materials therefore, proner-
ed by Mr. Bartlett this late hour called for by
the wants OF the government the boundary survey.
They have been anticipated; and if they had been
advantage interest which the government could
have in the second use of property of this kind.
If therefore, it is deemed advisable receive Mr. Bart
let's proered sketches and collections allowing him
them for his own private interest and then to re
burse him for the expenses incurred in their collection it
viii be matter purely of executive clemency but the
same time one fnught with dangerous example. IT.
after this Is done our own faithful and able assistants
should claim the privilege Of publishing their
account the magnificent sketches and memoirs now in the
archives Of the boundary commission how could the claim
be resisted2
Having disposed Of the public consideration con-
neced with this subject may be pardoned for devotng
few lines TO the personal nsnuaons against myself
tanned in Mr. Barett letter i did hope after my letter
OF the 9TH December 1853 to the Secretary of the Interior
Ia copy Of which is herewith sent in which
PEELED 10 sten upon Mr. Bartlett charge of msrepresen
alton intended to benefit himself and iniure me that
should not be troubled again by him But it he pre-
tends to think that control the honorable Secretary
of the Interior the Auditor and the Comptroller and your
self regard TO the settlement of his accounts with which
have nothing TO do. win not insult you them by
repelng this insnuation and if this letter should be
deemed an interference he may truly attribute il TO his
own prior interference with my affairs. The shallow de-
vice by which Mr. Bartlett attempts whip the Secretary
and yourself shoulders may be pardoned when it
to be understood that you hold the pursestrngs
and the Secretary the control his accounts might
perhaps be excused for standing aside and letting the blow
fall those for whom it intended but after the facts
above and others well known but not recorded
here II is matter of indifference whom the blow falls
from that quarter
viii not undertake to follow Mr. Bartlett through nll
his in regard is sufficient TO say
he states in substance that he constituted the chief of
the scientific corps, and that neglected
ofmy collections that placed them the hands of
various persons without his knowledge consent he
thus dsregardng the positive order of the Secre
Of the Interior He also the order Of the Secre
ary Of the Interior of March IL prompted by personal
and not the public interest Official documents show first
that returned 10 the boundary under the orders
Colonel Graham head Of the scientific corps second
that after went there Mr. Bartlett by
nf enria he rI
the orders modified did reach till all the arrange
ments were made by head of the scientific corps,
which arrangements held TO the end of the work and
much the those established by before Mr..
Bartlett known the work fourth, that from the
time went the work until ended Mr. Bartlett
made his appearance on the work that whilst myself
and assistants encounerng every variety Of danger
and difficulty in conducting the work struggling against
money dissatisfaction and even mutny
stoned BY the neglect of Mr. Bartlett either furnish
portion of the funds voted by Congress show him
self on the work he making excursions TO Quay
mas TO San Francisco and through the northern part
OF Mexico Indeed, ! never him until the work was
suspended al Ringgod Barracks During the whole time
he visited but one party and that small engaged at
distant point the CHA in completing small survey OF
seventy miles left unfinished by Lieut. Whipple. If his
views Of the Secretarys orders correct which deny
and had been disposed yield TO Mr. Bartlett and not
To the government the fruits of abor and those
Of sty assistants he in place receive them
As fast they collected they sent by every OPP
portunty to the of the country to colate and dis
that the government might have al early period
the fruits of our labors
The magnificent results possession Of the govern
ment and which reflect credit well the scientific
knowledge the artistic proficiency in the country both
of which have excited the admiration Of distinguished
scientific at home and from abroad absolute
reputation Of the fsehood that the Seereiarys order OF
March TO Mr. Bartlett, prompted by PERSONAL and not
the public interest
Finally the wisdom and foresight Of The Secretary in
issuing his order OF this 2h Of March, shown by the
following facts;
BY refusing TO let Mr. Bartlett take any than he
already had he secured the collection in the hands Of per-
sons who understood them better than Mr. Bartlett
2 That 70 have Withdrawn the collections from the
hands Of pcminent in the knowledge Of the subjects
to which they devoted place them in the hands Of
who neither protested possessed the requisite know
edge would have been unjust individuals and injurious
TO the public service
That this order cffecuay secured these results
for the Of the government IL made than probable
BY the made by Mr. Bartlett OF what left under his
control what that is from the above adver-
tisement in the New York Times and certificate here APP
pended.
That the collections disposed OF under the order Of
the Secretary, have never In any form, been
used for private advantage but have been faithfully
counted for 10 the government
tits moreover evident that whoever Mr. Bartlett referred
TO when he states that the order Of the Secretary Of the In
terror Of March ~ prompted by personal and not the
public interest he is the only who has disposed Of his
own work and that Of his assistants for his benefit
have the honor TO be your obedient servant
W. II. EMORY
Gen. ROBERT b C.sPByt,
United States Commission
BOUNDARY commissioner csiled AT my in relation 10
the settlement OF his accounts During conversation
the sketches and views taken by Mr.. Pratt who en-
poycd on the survey artist were alluded 10. Mr.