The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-01-14
N he Editors Of Ae Union

I'D ne f4laoTs " me Chson
ask the favor Of insertion Of the following letter
from the Hon Drlzon Smith, United States senator elect
ton Oregon.
1t will be recoIlected by all who have examined the
printed documents and evidence in my case set up by
the then Lieutenant now Commander J. Missron a
1Jer II tie late Aaydi Board that Of the
charges against that Of degrading The ward room
Of the Portsmouth by introducing library into the ship
although the captain consented, and has sustained
in it'll to be paid for by subscription Of officers aud
ships company-although, in reality. seaman ever
paid cent into the flndand for selling goods to
lis brother officers " and that she knew it by remarks
Mr.. Delazon Smith, public funconary of the Uni
ted States that he r Smth) had purchased shirts and
other articles Of Mr.. Bartlett
Missroon named DR. Chase, United States navy, and
Lieut.. Richard Forrest his witnesses also Forrest
testified that at his solicitation, parted with few cigars
TO him personal favor that ne paid me for them, as
is usual among officers. DIR. Chase testified that, ut his
request partedwth five six yards of linen, and
that he insisted upon giving me its value Hear, now
what the Hon Deazon Smith says. He not availa-
bic to me as witness when the Ad1u' CoDnhe or the
Court Of Inquiry took testimony.
AS to the LIBRARY-so obnoxious to this great ,aual
ozor--Mssroon follows '.In the of solicit
ing subscriptions to his library heard it stated by the
individuals themselves to whom he apped--among
others Mr. Drazon Smith and DR. Chase stated that he
asked for So for the pesal OF his books, and it
torous that both these gentlemen were merely passen
gers to the Pacific =
| only add that the books were never mine in any
sense but library 300 volumes put up by Har-
per Brothers. and received board by consent of the
apain to he paid for by voluntary subscription that
the subscription among the officers only aud Mr. Smith S
contribution having fallen short nearly 500 of the
amount, puid Ae balance myself rather than have it
4eead that sought the money OF the for 80
audable purpose AS Capt Montgomery has fully tes-
tilted that the library in the hands of the antre
the whole cruise, need not say more.
Yours, truly, w. A. BARTLETT
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. ., 1859.
the first time, to the fact that my used by the
late Naval Boadby which you exec aded from the
navyn connexion with certain charges preferred
against you.
deem it but simple act OF justice TO you to say that
passenger board the Portsmouth for period of
three four months in the year iS45, had the honor
of your acquaintance and association officer board
said ship; that during that period never heard of or
witnessed ary upon your part which deemed dero@
story you either officer gentlemen but,
the contrary, always esteemed you efficient and
accomplished officer courteous gentleman, and an hon
orabe man have at this time no very distinct reco
lection upon the subject but very certain that
contributed anything towards the library used by
the sailors, 1t voluntarily contributed for der bene
fit and not at your solicitation for yorr personal ad
vantage.
do recol.ect that when was i'll ia Rio de Janeo my
servant the OF my going on board ship accident
ally wet bundle of my linen in the water OF the bay
aud that at my request you kindly furnished me with
iewssy some four fveshrts and that afterwards
prevailed upon you accept the cash value Of said shirts
in money, in lieu Of the return of the This is all
the knowledge ever had Of your selling goods.
have also imperfect recollection Of having, when
shore both loaned to aud borrowed of you small
OF money of these transactions mat
ters of mutual accommodation, and not specuiaoa
such transactions frequent between myself and
different officers of the Portsmouth Ny mind was i'm
pressed with the conviction the time above alluded
that Lieutenant MSsroon and one other officers
of tho ship were prejudoad against you but never
supposed that ay accused yoH Of improper, uno
cer-like, or nngentemanly conduct
Expressing my uneigned regret that my name should
have been used ~ conneSon with any charges preferred
against you far my personal knowledge extends
subscribe myself my dear sir,
Very respectfully and Truly, your obcllent servant,
DELAzoN SMITH
Lieut. W. A. BARTLETT
/ Washington ID @.