Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-09-04
COL. BRANCH'S LETTER TO Mr.. SPEAKER
DORTCH.
OFFICE. OF QCARTERMAsTER AND
PAYMAsTER GENERAL:
Raleigh, Aug. %, 1861.

W. T. DoRTcH,
Speaker House Of Conn ions:
SIR: My attention has been drawn to a memorial
of Mr.. NJ. A. Woody Of Person county, presented
in the House Of Commons, on Saturday last, and
referred to the committee of claims.
am constrained to pronounce the statement that
he me about his claim. and that referred him
to Mr.. Guion, to be utterly false and destitute of
the slightest foundation in truth. Public policy
we'll as regard for my own character, constrains
me to expose such base attempt to destroy the
confidence of the people in the administration of
their military affairs
1t is the duty Of the Quartermaster's Department
to purchase horses for the military service on re-
QUESTIONS duly approved by the Governor The
first requisOn made on me for horses was for fifty
for the service of Ramscurs Battery, and is dated
on 2lSt june Previous to that day, had neither
purchased nor authorized the purchase of single
horse account Of the State; Cor had no author
ity to do so. As the memorial sets forth that Mr.
Woody's horse was purchased "somctime during
the month of May last" it is quite evident that it
could not have been done by my authority.
If Mr.. Woodys clam had been presented to me
before Maj. Ramseurs endorsement on it, las is
falsely alleged it was) would not have paid it
without proof that the purchase was made by au-
thority of the Governor.
But in point of fact, it was not presented to me,
and never heard of Mr.. Woody or his claim, until
about ten days ago, when it was presented to me by
his agent, Mr. James NJ Pool, with Maj. Ramseurs
endorsement on it. l 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, 10 take him and
cancel the transaction.
1t will be learned from the enclosed letter ad-
dressed to me, by Mr.. James NJ. Pool, the agent Of
Mr.. Woody since the foregoing part of this letter
not tho IN
Raleigh, ard that Mr.. Woody's signature to it was
forged after it was made known to the writer that
its most substantial statements were false
Mr. JAS H. Moore, Principal clerk of the House
of Commons, appears to have been the active agent
in this nefarious transaction. Having vindicated
my own character as public officer, it is for the
House of Commons to say what is due to its own
dignity when one of its confidential officers uses
his position and abuses the great and sacred right
of petition to destroy confidence in the government
in time of war; by introducing into your records
a paper known to him to contain false charges, and
not to be genuine petition.
Conscious of the rectitudc of my intentions, and
of the fidelity with which l have labored for the
glory of North Carolina and the welfare OF its army,
/ invite the strictest scrutiny into all my official
acts Ihaved my duty to the State and to the army
The cry of "crcumlocution Offices" has been
raised mainly by men whose claims could not be
paid on their merits and who sought by that means
to intimidate weak public officers into compliance
with their demands. 1t has not come from the
army but from spectators, traders and politicians,
who have contributed nothing to the public cause,
but are seeking to make their pecuniary or political
| fortunes.
In my office such enterprises have met with no
success The Treasury of the State has been guard
ed that it might be able to provide for the comfort
| and welfare of its soldiers.
am very respectfully, -'-...
Your obedent servant
(sipned) L. OBJ BRANCH,
@. NJ. and P. NJ. Genl.
COPY OF LETTER FROM MR.. JAMES M. POOL TO COL.
| L. OBJ BRANCH.
RALEIGH. August ~, 1851.
/ Co.. L. OBJ Branch:
| DEAR SIR: The memorial of Mr. NJ A. Woody Of
| Person, is not correct as to you.
am Mr.. Woody's agent here, and have made
several efforts to get payment for his horse but
never went to you but once, which was about ten
or fifteen days ago, and you then referred to the
Board of Claims stating that it was doubtful wheth
er could get payment at all in consequence of the
endorsement on the account by Maj. Ramseur, that
the horse was not suited for service. ~ ~
The memorial was drawn and Mr.. Woody's name
signed BY Mr. James II. Moore, Clerk of the House
Of Commons who volunteered to prepare it
| After it was written he read it to me and I tolt
him that SO much of it as represented that I hal
gone to you and that you had referred me to Mr.