Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-12-30


author, place it before our readers;
WASHINGTON. D. c., Dec. p. 1859.
EDIroRs OF THE NASHVILLE PATMcT--sirs "A
friend has enclosed me the following, taken from
your paper of a late date:
''SEROUs CHARGE.-The editor Of the Knoxville
Wing writes from New York TO his paper the fol-
lowing Mr. Smith is now filling an important Office
in Washington and he owes it 10 himself to meet SO
serious a charge promptly II true and unrefuted it
should blast him forever:
ITO learn that vainy is going on at home. it is
necessary to come as far North as this city !
now able state, without the fear If contradiction,
that on a former contract for the House printing
Wendell paid to Suml A. SHtihOt East Tennessee,
500 his part OF the profits and for services rem
dered in getting him the big fat job. This payment
was made in whole. in part, through the Ocoee
Bank at Cleveland through which, fiscal agent
Smith drew his drafts, every of which Wendell
honored. Great heavens. just to think of a mem
her of Congress becoming sharer Of the profit in
such frauds perpetrated on the National Urea
sury.''
4 movement has, for some time been going on in
Cleveland and elsewhere in the Third Congressional
District attack my character and official integrity
through the columns Of the Knoxville Wing While
il was confined that journal alone, did not
slider it necessary to notice it. As, however. you
have given the foregoing extract from the Wing a
place in your columns, with editorial comments,
must ask the favor of you TO publish my reply.
The men who instgate these charges too cOl1-
drdlu to show their hand and yet base enough to at
tempt to destroy mans character for political pur
poses. These calumnies cannot affect me where
and my pecuniary condition are known but justice
to myself and friends requires me to notice them.
They are false in letter and spirit from the begin
ming to the enc, and / defy my enemies to produce
a single fact TO sustain them.
l have never drawn but one draft on Mr.. Wendell
through the Ocoee Bank. or any other bank per-
son. That a draft for one thousand dollars
drawn about The last Of August, lsj7-was cashed
by the Ocoee Bank, and the amount was paid to
Wendell by the Sergeantat-Arms of the House of
Representatives out Of my own money, then in his
hands The object Of drawing this draft simply
to the risk of transmitting the money from this
city to Tennessee This draft drawn long after
the expiration of the thirty Congress to which
Mr.. Wendell was printer, and Is the only one ever
drawn on him by me for any purpose whatever.
There have been many drafts drawn on me through
the Ocoee Bank and many sent me by that bank for
collectiOn-all of which / either paid collected.
as the case might be, and placed the amount to its
credit in its corrCs spending bank in New DIRK city.
This did as an accommodation TO the bank and
ccived nothing for it. Inasmucl however, as many
charges had been made against Mr.. Wendell in ref
erence to the public printing. have doubt that
some one connected with the bank, or a 4anger-On
who had the privilege of going behind its counter,
obtained a knowledge Of the fact that had drawn
the draft referred Wendell, and used it with
view to injure me both personally and politically.
The late officers of the bank. to preserve their
own character for integrity and honorable dealing
IL
any completely with tie nstgaors of this foul cal
umny and to state the facts they appear upon the
books OF the bank
hope the present owners of the bank viii throw
open its books to my enemies and allow them rig
id examination of my affairs, wherher Of private
or of a prblic nature. All my business in the way
Of deposites. drawing drafts, accepting drafts, or
collecting drafts, has been done through the OcOee
Bank since its organization, 1t Is impossible that
should recollect ALL even onehalt, Of the trans
actions which from time to time have occurred.
Nor have ] any note Of them here knowing, how
ever that have never done any business with that
bank. any other, that was not honest proper and
legitimate / am willing that the books Of the bank
NAV spea!. for themselves and that my private
business may be paraded before the public If II will
be any satisfaction those infamous creatures who
instigated the charges against me.
MIR. Wendell was elected public printer to tht
House Of Representatives for the 34th Congress. He
had been recommended to me by leading TenncS-
see editors as an eminent practical printer. good
Democrat and an honest man. There were but st.
vcnty-four Democrats in the House of Representa-
tives at that time. Mr. Wemrell had opposition in
the democratic caucus. and was unanimously nomi-
mated. did not know him. even by sight, at the
time of his nomination, nor was introduced to HIM
until three weeks afterwards. had no idea OF his
election nor did any else, suppose in the Dem
ocratic caucus. l advocated his nomination upon
the recommendation of Tennesseans alone. as before
remarked without knowing him. When the eIcc-
ton came on. more than two months afterwards, TO
American voted with the Democratic party for Wen
dell. lie was supported by every Tenncssean in the
House of both parties 1 never asked a man. Dem
ocrat or American. to vote Tor Wendell and no
can be found who Will assert the contrary. 1t was
charged here at the time. and subsequently by the
correspondents of the New GOrk Herald and other
papers that there was a disreputabe combination
between Wendell and the South Americans to secure
his election No one suppose, believed it; certain
lv did not and no notice was taken of II IN Con-
Tlar oh W
bic than the against me- OF receiving compensa-
ton for voting for the nominee OF Democratic
caucus. who had opposition either in the caucus
CT in the House OF Representatives.
Moreover. during that Congress, the Journal
will show. ] voted against every proposition to
print extra copies of books which makes the prin-
ter's profits. except the President Message and "a,
companying documents. Since the first Congress !
served. have never voted to print single book,
cept the regular reports from the Departments and
the report of tine Regents of the Smithsonian lnstl
tutior and the Coast Survey. The abuses which
grew up in reference 10 the public printing, not
the fault of the printer the prices of printing
fixed by law. The fault was with Congress who or
dered the printing 70 be done.
While member of Congress. for period of six
years, discharged my duty honestly and faithfully
TO my constituents and to the country. can safely
say that during that tine d as much business in
this city Of 4 private and public character, as any
member from Tennessee: and | can appeal to every
one for whom have ever done business in this city.
for the evidence of the fact, that never directly or
iadiretly received ore cent. from any person, Tor
such business though offered me hundreds if not
thousands OF times for attending 10 claims before
the various departments of the Government
Very respectfully your obt servant.
.ASNm.