Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-01-29
Mr.. A. Il. H. Stuart.

We pub ished as su advertiser mt, and, we believe,
all the papers 10 the State requested to copy, an
article purportng be from the Rockingham Register
covering the proceedings of Court of Inquiry The
effect of that publication exhibit Ar. Stuart
secret anonymous aud false sccussr Of honest public
functoaary The following letter from Col Bsdsin
gives the facts Of the case aud presents Mr. Stuart in
light in which no gentleman and patriot need be ashsm.
ed 70 appear We know nothing OF Colonel Harman's
Official conduct and the Court of Inquiry testaes with
fulness and swffoOtednssS to his perfect integrity
and Judgment have disposition to calm question
BIZ, when public officers on limited salaries, in very
short periods amiss unlimited fortunes-the fact will
excite surprise and comment. Everything may be
right-beundless wealth may be the legitimate reward
Of Quartermssersa Comm,saries Of All impoverished
Government We know nothing 10 the contrary.
The very unusual notOriety sought to be given to
this publication by its insertion in every paper in the
state, would seem to mean something that does not
meet the eve, but what it is we don't know
CORRESPONDENCE.
sT4USroN, January "a, 1863.
Colonel john Il. BALDWIN:
DEAR SIN: I observed in the ErOmipsr Of yesterday
among the advertisements uniounded and l-natured
assault me- purpOrtug TO be taken from editorial
of the Rockingham Register.
As YOU are personally cognizant of all the crcum-
having any relation to my connection with the
imputatou upon Col VI. @. Hartman will be obliged If
you viii give brief statement Of them for publication
ia the Era4uReF.
Very respectfully yours,
ALrx4NDEE II. II. STUART.
HousE or REPRESENTATIVES,
January 81, 1863 I
Hon ALEvISDER II. II. STUART:
DEAR Sir: have received yours of the 22d instant,
and have also the publication TO which you refer.
The idea that YOU made an anonymous attack upon
Col NJ G. Hartman is simply absurd that you assaied
him at all
At the last session Of Congress you sent me private
letter. in which you suggested the appointment of a
Congressional committee 10 overhaul the QuartermaSter
and Commissary Departments Of the army IL support
OF your suggestion you refer number of rumors at
ecng the administration of those departments in our
community, and express the opinion that investga
ton ought 10 be bad and the parties implicated either
acquitted or punished. You did not mention the name
OF any officer in connection with the minors reierrcdto
and you expressly stated that YOU had personal
tnoSetge Of the truth Of any of the charges
la conversation with the Quarternaster General on
the subject mentioned your views TO him. and showed
aim your letter. lie asked to leave the letter with
him | told him had no authority TO make any such
use Of it, and nat YOU had no personal knowledge
of the matters mentioned by you it would not be proper
TO Use YOUR name in connection with them. Colonel
Myers then asked TO give him extract containing
a statement OF the kind OF rmors prevailing in our
aud stated that he wished to it in way
which would make it unnecessary 10 use your name.
With that understanding, addressed him u note
tanning the extract desired. | greatly surprised
after returning Stanton, find that Col. Myers had
felt himself al liberty to send copy of nay note to each
one Of the Quartermasters in community
! was al once called upon for the name of my cores
pondeut and by your direction referred them to YOU
A correspondence between you aud Colonel NJ. g. Har
disclosed the fact that although you had not named
him in your LITTER he was, by rumor implicated in
5oe Of the transactions referred TO by YOU, and the
that Court Of Inquiry convened
TO investigate his Transaction l happened to know
that when called upon appear before tue Coart Of
Ioqury you referred them to the correspondence to
sboS that you had from the beginning discaimed any
personal knowledge on the subject aud you were not
examined as a witness.
This was, so far as / know, yous whole connection
With the matter.
Respectfully,
Yorr obedieat seETeat.
JOIN B. BALDWIN