Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-09-11
Mr.. M0ORES REPLY TO COL. BRANCH'S
LETTER

Editor of the Standard:
SIR: Allow me brief space to notice the remark
able letter of COL Branch to Mr.. Speaker Doyteh,
published IN the Standard of the 4th instant 1t
claims my attention only because of the low attempt
which that functonary makes to assaii my Teputa-
tcn, IN order to affect my official position My per-
so1al or political character could not suffer in CON-
parison with that of the Qnarermaster and Paymas-
ter General OF North Carolina
How the lofty and naughty Quartermaster could
bend his knee or his back so low as 10 condescend
to notice the petition of an humble citizen who
sought TO get the just but paltry SUN of $50 for
horse sold 10 the State will surprise his most ad-
miring friends. But why he should have gone be-
hind the statements of the petition and the action of
the House upon it. to asSail one who had never it,
tentionaly harmed him. and who had only been the
innocent assistant of an honest citizen to obtain the
just sum due him by the State for horse which
he had yalnly strven for weeks to obtain will as
tonsh nobody. Such mode of warfare the lofty
Quartermaster doubtless learned we'll in his gadia
torIa encounters IN the political arena in the oil 4h
Congressional DiStrict-an alas in which he
Will no more break a lance with any chivalrous
knight because of his unfortunate complications
with the notorious decentralization offices about
Raleigh.
| come briefly to explain my connection with the
petition, the horse and the Quarternaster. Of the
character the mode Of doing business and the COM
heard much !; for these things were not done in
corner, but in the city of Raleigh. received with
others, many dolefu complaints from Mr. James NJ.
Pool, the Agent of Mr.. Woody, about the horse or
rather about the $50 which he had failed to collect
from the State, for his principal, after many tosome
Efforts The question arose. not how Mr.. Pool
should get his horse back but how he should get
Mr. Woody's money from the State. 1t was useless
to advise Mr. Pool to take another round with the
"cIrcumlocution Offices" lie bad tried that until
the poor man seemed weary and faint. 1t was
agreed that as last resort, an appeal should be
made to the Legislature. But who should write the
petition ? was mooted; and 1 being man of ordi-
nary SympathieS for the wrongcd and the oppressed
and Wlthal having been an editOr-a species Of man.
kind ready to work for the public agreed to write
the petition GbOut the horse OF rather abont the $50
due Mr.. Woody
In performing this labor of love and work of mer-
cy, designed to act AZ Mr. Pools aHanueRsis SIM
ply. hastily wrote out the particulars as Mr. Pool
suggested them, and supposed | had strictly con-
formed the petition to the facts he named them,
intending however to employ such language as
would certainly get the money for Mr.. Woody, and
at the same time produce little amusement Cor
that grave body, the Legislature, without for a mo-
ment snPposing that any of the gentlemen connect
ed with the circumlocuton Offices " would feel that
had attempted to dsparage them in the least, or
designed TO call in question their personal or official
integrity. This, the entire dnimus of the petition
clearly exhibits to every reader. Its publication
you know, Mr. Editor, without my knowledge.
As to the forgery, will not allow myself to be in
suited by such charge coming from man who
could make the insinuation or charge, after knowing
the facts he must have known them | only
warn him not to repeat it soberly to my face. The
truth Is as Mr.. Branch must have known when he
Penned it, wrote Mr. Woody's name to the petition
at the request of Mr.. Pool his Agent, simply to
show uniformity in the chirography of the document.
So conscious was of having done no any in
tonal wrong, that when my attention called to
1t IN the House, | felt sure there disparity
between the statements of the petition and those of
Mr. BranchS Mr.. Pools letters but on cpnpar-
ing them since, am free to say that must have
misunderstood Mr.. Pool while writing it. as 70 the
number of times Mr.. Branch was applied to- Not
surprising that any one would attach any serious
Importance to that particular, if Mr.. Pool says
he called my attention it. which do not recollect
hence remarked it would only cause little ner-
riment. So much for my agency in the matter.
There are points in the Quartcrmaster's letter
which tempt me strongly to animadvert upon Sc
verely but as hear it ntimated that he has resign
ed, will barely touch upon | hope for the honor
of the State, that other occupant of her public
offices, adhereS to the principles Of ethics which Mr..
Branch says, guided his action while in office lie
says, If Mr.. WOody's claim had been presented to
me before Maj. RamSeurs endorsement it. (as is
falsely alledged it waS,D would not have paid it
without proof that the purchase was made by au
thority Of the Governor" Just before he had said
at is the duty Of the Quartcrmaster's Department
to purchase horses for the military service
QUESTIONS duly approved by the Governor" Now,
| take it for granted if | understand Mr. Branch,
that he considered Maj. RamStur'S endorsement on
the note priDa Tdcie evidence that the Governor
had authorized the purchase. 1t was therefore
plainly Mr.. Branchs duty to pay the debt when he
saw Maj RamSeurS endorsement on it. Why did
ha nntn 40 hon IL ,foJ
to me by his Agent, Mr.. James NJ. Pool, with Maj.
RamSeurs endorsement on it. | told Mr. Pool could
not or would not pay It-that his only chance was
before the Board Of Claims, but that did not think
he could get pay at all; and | advised him if Mr.
Woody could identify his horse to take him and
cancel the transaction" Lack-a-day blush for
the glory of North Carolina and the welfare of its
army" if secured by such Labor such "rectI-
tude Of my intentions" and such fidelity" Why
send him to the Board of Claims, if Mr. Branch
could not and would not pay it, even with Mai
Ramseur's endorsement? Did Mr. Branch prefer
that the honorable gentlemen who compose the
Board of Claims, should pay debt that he would
not pagan unjust debt did he expect them to
find legal bubble by which Mr.. Woody would be
choused out of the debt altogether? hope not
But, Mr.. Editor, you and your readers must recol
lect, that Maj RanSeur did not endorse on the note
that the purchase was unauthorizcd-or that it was
an unjust clam-or that the horse was unsound-
or mat MT. oouy mad deceived the States Agent
in the trade-no nothing Of that sort But he SIM
ply stated that 1.-THE horse is worth the money but
does not suit the service or words to that effect
The fault then not in Mr.. Woody, but in the
judgement of the States Agent. And yet the
Quartermaster who challenges the strictest scrutiny
INTO his conduct refuses to pay this just debt-re-
pudiates it utterly and thinks the Board of Claims
will repudiate it; and urges that if Mr.. Woody can
identify his horse-aftcr he has been out of the use
of him for three months during the busy season of
the year-he had better take him and cancel the
transaction" Did ever any one hear of such rec
titude" before? How must the "glory of North
Carolina" eliminate and radate under the operation