Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-06-11

quent acts. But they have sought 70 prejudice the
public mind BY sa Unnamed, exaggerated, and I'M
true sEaternent of them, aud It becomes US to ex-
pose them.
They would have you believe that they, like the
famous B@ssbones Parliament (it has Ia history a
dstinct speculative well suited 20 them,) being, as
they claim, once rightfully In office, could not be
removed without their own consent; and that we,
not unlike tho famous leader who expelled that
Parliament at the point OF the bayonet, sought
to expel them by predictions" of out-ofdoor vio-
ence II may be they were frightened, for il Is
said conscience makes terrible work with the
nerves, and, If we may judge them by their subse-
quent history, they had enough perilous stuff with
in them to make them fear such result.
And they say, "the clerk exhibited TO them q
letter from Mr.. Ellis In which he icas harmed not
10 ailoto any use or inspection Of the books and
papers Of the office, Without an order from the
Driter, or those rhom he represented" The pre-
tensions OF this letter were also urged by several
persons who came In claiming TO be officers and
managers under the proceedings of the 22d
Now for the facts. On the morning after the
election Mr. Ellis informed that the late Board
were TO meet al the Office on the 24th--a special
meeting They had adjourned from the goth to
the 9th February. He Immediately addressed a
letter to j. w. Ecklo, the clerk, Of which the fol-
lowing ID true copy:
''WAsHlsGTos CirY, Feb. rs, 1855.
|" Sin: You will please keep the books, papers,
and vouchers ofthe Washington Monument Socic-
ty safely under lock and key, and not permit any
person to examine them until the meeting OF the
newly elected officers on Tuesday next at which
time all persons who have occasion to see them
can do 30, under such directions as the Board may
give in the premises.
/" The object in giving you this caution is, to
have the books, &C.. preserved until the new Board
adopt the necessary measures to carry out the OBJ
Hxl III
newly elected will hold you responsible to them
for the delivery of the books &C., Of the Society
to them, whenever demanded. l do not claim to
exercise any individual control over the books
and papers, but, one ofthe officers Of the Soce-
ty, have deemed it my duty to caution you
agnst permitting any individual to Interfere with
the same. V. ELLIS,
"Vice President, &C."
This is the only letter he wrote to the clerk prior
to the meeting Of the Gath. This is the letter
exhibited to those members Of the late Board who
intruded themselves into our meeting. This is
the same letter, the pretensions Of which were
urged by those of us who were present. You are
asked to compare it with the distorted representa-
ton Of it given by our accusers.
Those members OF the lste Board who did thus
intrude themselves, land who must have had some
strong purpose In view in this special meeting, at
which we believe every member but two then in
-
conducted themselves towards the newly elected
officers in manner 30 arrogant and offensive as
to provoke angry words on both sides. If they
honestly believed at that time one-half of what
they now profess, they were right 80 to conduct
themselves, for it was meeting Of high-minded,
honorable men, known to fame in various ways,
assembled to guard the property and interests
committed to their care, into which parcel Of
fellows unknown to them had the impudence to
intrude, claiming, under false and fraudulent prac
tees, right 10 dispossess them Of their trust In
the course of those angry words, some OF our &C.
cusers protested TO understand that some such in
timation as is now charged was given by one OF
us. But it was instantly and promptly denied.
This is all, except that our meeting was duly or
ganiIed, and they were requested to leave the
room, which they refused to do.
A better spirit afterwards prevailed, and we gave
way--let them organize their meeting--stood aside
and Witnessed that extraordinary transaction about
the correcting of the journal of the goth, and en-
tered into formal agreement and understanding
with them, that either party should have full time
and ample opportunity to examine into the evi.
dcnce of their respective pretensons aud that
neither should, without the assent Of the other in
terfere with the subordinate officers, books, pa.
pers, or property of the Society and they adjourn
cd, peaceabiy went their way, and never, so far as
we have heard, have met in the office Of the Socie
~ since that day, the Oath of February last, ex.
cept once, when they met to adjourn. This could
not have been from fear of personal violence for
after the martyr spirit they showed on the memo
rable oath, they could have feared nothing
We met again on the 27th, when we received
from Mr. Secretary Brent the letter aud resolutions
published by our accusers. We refrain from all
comment on the tone, as well as the substance, Of
these resolutions. On the same day we respond
ed to them, they have stated, by letter, encos-
ing copy OF our resolutions. At our next meet.
ing, the committee appointed by US made their
port, as follows, viz
The undersigned, being majority Of the CON-
mittee appointed to confer with the committee on
the part Of the old Board, respectfully state
That they met, in this room, Gen. Jones and Col.
Peter Force representing the old Board and, after
the usual salutations, Gen. Jones remarked that
they regretted to see that our Board had rejected
their offer to submit the matters In controversy to
the decision Of the Circuit Court, as proposed Ia
the resolutions which had been submitted to us.
To this Mr.. Bradley replied, that no such question
had been acted upon by our Board; that their pro-
ceedngs were then lying on the table, and were
open TO inspection, and II would be seen that no
action was taken on that proposition. On the con.
trary, 1t was deemed too indefinite for any decided
action and for that reason your committee had
been appointed and before that question could be
intelligbly considered, Il was necessary to deter
mine two previous ones first How, and what
form Of action was proposed To this Gen. Jones
replied: He supposed, as the parties were very
numerous, the question Of right might be raised
in action Of trespass, which they or some OF them
could bring against us, or some Of us and the de-
PENDANT might justify. Mr.. Bradley replied, that
the form was not so material and suggested that Il
could perhaps be better brought out by action
on a wager but he said thai was of comparatively
little Importance uutil the other question set
tied, and that was, whether the judgment Of the
Circuit Court was to be final, or whether either
party would have the right of appeal. Aher mo
moments reflection, Gen. Jones replied: He sup
posed either party would have the right Of appeal;
for himself he was disposed TO make the judgment
final, but he had no authority to speak on that
subject for others Col. Force observed, "he had
nothing 70 do with the law matters; he submitted
them 70 others, but he supposed the case would be
like any other Mr.. Bradley replied, g II that Is
the case Is in vain for 10 treat in regard to that
proposition, we know the opinion Of our Board on
that question, and II either party Is to have the
right Of appeal the subject will not be entertained
by them for a moment In this Mr.. Craig ex-
pressed his full concurrence, and then proposed,
as II was said that the election had been carried by