Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-09-04
COL. BRANCHS LETTER TO MR.. SPEAKER
DORTCH.
OFFICE OF QUARTERNAsTER AND
PAYMAsTER GENERAL
Raleigh, Aug. %, 1861.


W. T. DoRTcH
Speaker House of Commons:
SIR: Ny 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 saw 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 as
well as a regard for my own character, constrans
me to expose such base attempt to destroy the
confidence Of the peOlc i'll the administration Of
their military affairs.
1t is the duty of the Quartermasters Department
to purchase horses for the military service on re
QUESTIONS duly approved by the Governor. The
first requisi:on made for horses was for fifty,
for the service of RamSeur'S Battery, and is dated
on 2lst June. Previous to that day, had neither
purchased nor authorized the purchase of single
horse on account of the State; Cor had no author
ity to do so. As the memorial sets forth that Mr..
Woody's horse purchased "sometime during
the month of May last" it is quite evident that it
could not have been done by my authority.
If Mr. Woody's clam had been presented to me
before Maj Ramseur's 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 presented to me by
his agent, Mr.. James NJ. Pool, with Maj Ramseur's
endorsement on it. l told Mr.. Pool could not or
would not pay it-tbat 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.
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
was written, that the memorial prepared in
=, II Nl,nNh -
forged after it was made known tosthe writer that
its most substantial statements were false.
Mr.. Jas. Ii. Moore Principal clerk of the House
OF Commons, appears to have been the active agent
in this nearious transaction. Having vindcatcd
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
paper known to him to contain false charges and
not to be genuine petition.
Conscious Of the rectitude of my intentions, and
of the fidelity with which | have labored for the
glory Of North Carolina, and the welfare OF its army
| invite the strictcst scrutiny into all my official
acts lhave done my duty to the State and the army
The cry, of decentralization 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 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 obedient servant
(Signed) L. OBJ. BRANCH,
Q. NJ. and P NJ. Gcn'l.