Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-06-04
WASHINGTON, ID. G.
MONDAY. JUNE A, 1855.
vEsPASIAN ELLIS, Editor.
"A Card.

A Card.
My attention has just been called to COM
munication in the National Iatsltgeneer Of
Saturday, over the signature Of John Carroll
Brent, Esq, in which tho following sentence Is
fonnd:
"Tbe Clerk exhibited 10 them letter, which
had been addressed to him by vespasian Ellis,
Esq, claiming TO have been elected first Vice.
President Of the Society, In which letter the Clerk
was warned not to allow any use inspection Of
the books and papers Of the Office, iOithont an
order from tho pritsr, or those rhom he represent
cd Tho prsfsnsions Of the letter were also
urged" &c. &c.
The above Is intended to represent the con-
tents Of letter written by me to Mr.. Eckloff
on the day following the election Of the pres
emit Board Of Managers Of the Washington
Monument Society
II Is doubtless also intended to convey to
the public mind the idea, that 1t was attempted
to prevent the old Board from having an OPP
portunity to examine, on proper occasions, the
records Of their own acts. But 1t 80 hap pens
that both as it respects the language Of the
letter, and It's purposes, John Carroll Brent,
Esq, Is greatly at fault Mr.. Brent makes me
claim right to :" gipS an order, /" and say who
may, and who may not, examine the books
and papers, and no speaks of tho writer In
lorna Of rebuke as having set up "preten-
sions" In regard to the custody Of the books
and papers Of the Society, not consistent with
propriety. No such language as that imputed
to me is contained in the letter---nor is there
the shadow Of pretext. for the intimation,
that the old Board were to be deprived the priv
ilege Of examining the books and papers at
any proper time.
1t seems apparent that the object of Mr..
Brent is to prejudice the public mind on these
questions yet such an attempt must be
simply ridiculous in the face of all the facts
A brief statement Of the reasons why my let
tor to Mr.. Eckloff was written, and an exhibit
ton Of the letter itself, will dispe those chime
ras which have emanated from Mr.. Brents
oyerheated brain.
Tho election took place on Thursday, the
22d day of February. The old Board had ad-
journed on Tuesday, the goth, to meet on the
following Tuesday, the 9th February. On
Friday morning, the 28d, was notified that
the old Board had suddenly summoned its
members to meet at 10 o'clock on that day,
and tho idea was suggested to me that possibly
their object might be to take charge of the
books and papers.
The meeting was unusual-out Of order, and
of course it had some object. What 1t was
knew not Under this state of the case,
deemed 1t my duty to address the letter to Mr..
Ecklof, and also to notify tho now Board to
meet Immediately. The old Board may explain
for themselves the object of their meeting on
Friday, the Esd, when they stood adjourned to
meet on Tuesday, the 9th. am prepared TO
explain my course and to meet its RESPONSE
bilities. The following is copy Of the letter
referred to:
"WAsHIKoTos CIrY, February 2S, 1855.
"SIR: You will please keep the books, papers,
and vouchers of the Washington Monument Soci-
ETY. 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 80, 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
objects of the Society. The officers and managers
newly elected viii hold you responsible 70 them
for tho delivery of the books, &C., of the Society
10 them Whenever demanded. ! do not claim to
exercise any Individual control over the books and
papers, but, as Of the officers Of the Society,
have deemed Il my duty to caution you against
permitting any individual TO interfere with the
same" v. ELLIS
Twice President &C."
II win be observed, that instead Of setting
up any "protensions" Of my own, simply
performed an act of duty, under circumstances
which, in my Judgment warranted my course,
Ny letter was hastily written, but see no.
thing in 1t which would now change 1t
was not. proposed, or designed to prevent any
one who had desire 10 examine the papers
from doing 40, after the Inauguration Of the
new board on the following Tuesday. The
language was offensive 10 no one, and no one
was authorized to complain Of any stringency
on my part What have done, should do
again, under similar circumstances, without
fearing for moment any disapprovd Of my
acts by an enlightened public
The main object Of this card Is TO contradict
the statement Of Mr.. Brent, that in my letter
SssahAou sno iiBhs w V'to -" VuoT W any Vne
to see tho papers, and to prevent others from
seeing them on any appropriate occasions
claimed the right to require the books and pa
pors to be pressrred, until the meeting Of the
Board on the following Tuesday, and decmed
It prudent that they should remain under lock
and key until the following Tuesday, to which
day the old Board had adjourned, and on which
day the new Board would assemble. The
attempt therefore, of Mr.. Brent to misreprc-
sent the language Of my letter, and to create
the idea that I had set up arrogant "pretsn-
sions" therein, Is quito As unjust to himself as
10 me-
vESPASIAN ELLIS.
Absence Of the Editor.
The editor Of the american Organ will be