Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1857-02-16
apmchbur1 1fiv1iaiau.
Monday Morning. rebr'y 10. 1897:
a Wonderful Cabinet Omecr

democratic craftsmanship comes Wheh sicuh
stances are favorable. We all remember no"
superblv he acquitted himself in the correspond
ence with Judge Bronson. That was not his
final nor his proudest achievement. Those who
imagined thar he had therein reached the ultl-
rate bound Of his capacity did him injustice
Quite recently he has out guihIied even that
aud Dogberry henceforth must cease to be the
synonyrne of official asininity. The case is this
4 he Secretary of the Treasury having address
ed a communication 10 the chairman of the Com
mittee of ways and means of the House of Rep
resentatives (Hon. l.. D. Campbeli), relative to
additional compensation to the employees If the
House, the latter functionary replied to him un-
der date January 9th, SAYING;
J-pon examination of yonr letter find that you
refer TO law Of July 90 1872; and by reiereaee to
the Statutes at Large volume J. there Dies not uppar
10 be public lac dgproped on thai day by The Presi-
dent.
Presenting that some clerical error has been made
in copying the same, will yo1 be pleased 10 inform
me TO what law you intended to refer
The Secretary. having taken a day 10 look into
the matter, writes back TO Mr. Campbell on the
7th
have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter of the 9th instant calling my attention TO
the date of the act Of Congress referred 10 IN the
communication of this Department OF the 9th inst,
to the honorable the Speaker of the House OF Repre-
sentatives relative TO the claim OF the employees Of
the House and to saw in reply, that clerical error
was committed in stating the act Au ted 10, which
should have been 26th august ls42, instead OF
july written.
Two days after, Mr.. Campbell again writes 10
Mr.. Guthrie, telling him.
Your letter of the 18th instant has been received.
Upon an examination OF the public Law approved by
the President the 18th August, isl2, an rnabe
10 ind lIw that contains saB language Sadr To That
quoted in your letter al the sh instant addressed 20
the House of Representative relative to tie extra
compensation of certain employees OF the lou5e.
Will you please refer me 10 the volume and pngc Of
the Statues at Large containing Tie language quoted
by you?
The Secretary having taken another day 10
brush up his ideas replies 10 his troublesome cor
respondent, on the 10th, saying:
have the honor TO acknowledge the receipt Of
your letter OF the 9th inst calling my Intention 10 the
provision Of law referred 10 IN my letters o the 9th
and 9th inst, and in reply have lo say ta The error
was caused by the clerk Ia trauScribu the original
draught OF the letter and that the law cited, nnd o
which attention called the Second scetion of
the act ePprored AagSst - ls42. lNrdntes AT LaIRe,
vol. 3, D. 5lo)
will thank YOU to cause the correction to bema3c
accordingly.
January 10Th Mr.. Campbell writes once more
to the befogged and hefuddled Secretary:
Your letter Of the 10Th inslautis received referring
to the second section OF the act ol August =. lsf'
the law You intended 10 quote IN your letter Il tlr
9th instant ADDRESSED to the speaker iuolo IN tire
report of the First Comptroller ot tIr It7zHf. 'p
examination OF the SECTION now feioi,.i r.. Is1 F.
docs not contain tie iaDgng6 as qnp,ci asaE ttt.
The 18th INST
Warming up as the thing prooeo L., the lumber
ing official quiokens his speed and replies imlnc-
diately to this last note Of the pertinaci rep
resentative. He loses time but snys:
! have received your letter ofhc l2ih instant rc-
ferring to my several letters transmilungaul relntiuS
to- the report of the Comptroller on the eNrra COM
pensation of the employees CT Tue House.
have referred 10 the pencil draft OF my lelter Of
the 9th instant,an find hat the t2l0Jfg1sa9.
Tas tf dct tntendel but which WIS copied sand tie
error escaped my attention. as 26th Of July, lel2.
Doubtless he felt happy utter this note wo-
dispatched, believing tint the thing had term
mated and he would be allosod To rest, hut Nj.
Campbell comes back at him with u note Of tho
same date saying:
Your letter of the l2th Inst referring me ~ t'lr
fourth section of the act approved July IL ls52. He
the act you intended to refer 10 in your communication
10 the House of Representative OF the 9TH inst las
been received.
Upon reference to the tenth volume Of the Stat
n'es at Large page9s, find that the provisions Of
lac fourth section of tie MT Of July u, ls52 eae
repealed in the act approved Aug a. 1857
This nut the unfortunate Sscretnrvto he'd
u
' '"p' nisn' oh IT. ana h'N' '"''H'"s "''''
pack to Mr. Campbell, as follows:
have had the honor 10 receive your letter Of the
18th inst.
You quite right To the 4th section of the
act OF the 2lst of July, 1852 as repealed. and
therefore con hare bearing upon he quest,oa hsai