Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-07-29
Letter from Mr.. Clingman.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
.JuLY II, 1864.

SIR i perceive from the papers IndI OoH' AoSN
ery is represented as having denied the truth OF
the statement made by Gen. Edney OF his having Of
fered money to him as an lnducement 70 enter the
canvass two years ago. AS Gen. Edneys statement
has been so long before the public it is singular that
the denial not sooner made. It looks as though
it had been kept back purposey till so late Gay as
to prevent the collecting of evidence to sustain the
charge 1t is due at least to Gen. Edney that sho1d
refer TO circumstances and evidence IN cohnr-
nation of his statement especially as the FACTS are
known to so many that their truth can be put nc
yond question hereafter, if those Interested shall de-
sire an investigation.
In the first place then the different statements in
Gen Ednev's letter to the President in relation to
the whole of that affair were made to me from time
to time by him. Immediately after the occurrence as
set out in his published letter. In other words, they
were communicated to me on the day of their occur
renee or that following, and at time when 1t could
not have been forcseen that any difficulty was to arise
that would ever cause them to be made Puehc Al
So several facts fell under my observation OF were
communicated by others in confirmation
For example one evening as was passing out OF
the National Hotel, where had been at tea, sa"
Gen Edney and Mr.. Warren sitting on SOFA IN
close conversation near the door on the right hand
as passed out An hour or two afterwards .'en.
Edney came to my room and in the course OF tine
conversation said that Warren had been just saying
to him that he had given Mr. Stanly cneck ior
S4OO, sealed up in letter directed to him, Gen.
Edney and that he Mr.. Stanly would hand It over
to him when he could find him. day or two after
this Gen. Edney came into my room where was
and with some appearance of excitement, " " nat
do YOU think Stany has just been saying to me!
On my inquiring whatt was, he went on 10 say 'hat
Mr. Stanly said that as he Gen. Edney would not nave
more than fifteen days to eectoneer aItef ne
ed home that $3.50 would be enough, and that II ne
Gen. Edney would agree to start home IN the morn
ing, he would the committee ana get them 10
raise that sum for him. Gen. Edney spoke IN strong
terms of Mr. Stanly &C. I asked him If he did not
tell Mr. Stanly what Warren had said about the
check. He answered "No, / did not tell him one
word about it, but only said that could not leave
the city until Mr.. Fillmore decided as TO my aPphca
ton" Some days or weeks afterwards he repeated
to me the latter conversation given in his lettes
in which Mr. S. represented as saying thar II ne
had gone home he could have had the check, &c
In confirmation of this statement my colleague the
Hen. VIM. S. Ashe says that one OF the gentlemen
referred to- after the matter became public told him
that the sum of $500 raised for Gen. Edney,
but that he himself thought it was too much and
was not willing to give him more than would pay
his expenses, &c. This member was not Gen. DOCK
cry, but another person.
I also remember that in the winter following AFTER
Gen. Edney's letter had been read In the CABINET
and was the subject of much conversation, went
into the Senate Chamber one day and MIR. Mangum
remarked to me, in the presence OF some one or TWO
Senators, whose names do notremember, that Gen.
Dockery had just been there, c!nVerslng win mem
about the matter. inquired if he denied the state
ment. Mr. Mangum replied, Not exactly, out ne
says they could have gotten him to go II they had
offered him money enough answered. TINS Is
that Gen. Edney had 6am5oozled and deceice6 them.
This declaration of his shows that he thought they
had come to terms What referred to then was
statement made to me by Gen. Dockery IN the sum
mer previous lust after the election. Understanding
that he was endeavoring to prevent zen. Edney
confirmation by the Senate, soug Mt to diSsuade
him, and to satisfy him that he had not suncient
reason. When l referred to the fact that he had
himself recommended Gen. Edney, he said Gen.
Edney bamboozled and deceived me and Morehead,
and got favors from us that he could not nave got
ten y" He said further that he had promised to take
part in the canvass and that he ought not to be con-
firmed by the Senate l urged upon him, but With
out effect that Gen. Edney could not have gone
home because he did not get the appointment until
the day of the election. Mr.. Morehead also about
the same time in reply to an inquiry of mine as to
election news from the State, said All is lost Kerr
is beaten and the legislature gone After a mo-
ment's pause he said, land the only man VINO mas
escaped in the general wreck is that man Edney and
he made us believe he would turn the world upside
down in that mountain district.
These conversations of Messrs. Dockery and More
head were Immediately mentioned by me to my 9TH
er colleagues the late Hon. Jos. P Caldwell and the
Hon. David Outlaw That the latter gentleman re-
collects the conversation still, know, because when
he in this city few weeks back he spoke OF 1t
himself
Mr.. Warren resides in this city, as is we'll known
and sncethe letter Of Gen. Edney has been month
before the public Why if the statement is untrue, 90
not these gentlemen call on Mr.. Warren to contra
dict it?
a
fess do not see that it helps him Gen. Dockery.
If Gen Edney, as he alledges, asked for $500, and
Gen. Dockery thought that sum too much why did
these gentlemen recommend Gen. Edney to the Pre-
sident for an Office of so high grade?
only regret that there is not time for investga-
ton From all the circumstances known to me ]
believe the result would be to confirm fully Gen.
Edney's statement He communicated these things
to me from time to time they occurred, when he
could have had no motive to misrepresent these
gentlemen. He said that though he invariably had
refused compensation he supposed that they believ
ed that he would in the end accept the morey when
it was actually raised. When first approached, he
told me in strong that he believed he ought to
resent the propositions. I dissuaded him, telling
him that difficulty would probably be the means
of defeating his application for the appointment and
therefore he hao better put them off quietly by tell
ing them that he did not want any money, but could
not go home until his appointment was decided on.
In conclusion will only say that all that know or
heard in connection with the whole transaction tends
to sustain Gen. Edneys statement.
have written this letter, SIR without being call
to do justice to any one, and make it point to
stand by my friends when they are improperly as
sailed. Respectfully,
MARCUS Erwin, Esq
P. S. The presentation of Gen. Edney's letter and
the decision of the cabinet were we'll known at the
time to all the parties. Its contents the subject
of much conversation not only among these gentle
men but with many other members Of both houses
of Congress If at that time there had been a de-
NAL of the facts while all the parties together
in this city, the nvestga ion could have been easily
carried out In all the conversations of that period