Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1864-05-07

collect his thoughts and frame his excuse.
Mr.. Chase then gave McGilvra copies of the
papers and requested him to make statement
Of the affair, which he has done in very
clear and lucid manner. Yesterday we had q
conference, all parties concerned being pres
ent-Field, Smith, Handy, McGilvra and
myself. Each made his statement Handy 9
coroborating mine, and McGilvra's corrobor-
atiug Handy's, for he had got his statement
two or three days after the dispatch was sent.
Smith had reduced his to writing. and it was
Smith al over beaming with cunning and
casuistry, lies of the most brazen description
and his usual quantity Of fparenthesis. 1t was
more Of defence than q statement Of occur
rences, as was desired from him., One page
was devoted to Capt. Pease's case, and al
though listened attentively, was unable to
gather anything from it bearing directly upon
the case in question. Mr.. Field requested
him to remember two or three remarks he
(Smith) had made to him when he brought
him the dispatches, but Smith did dnot remem-
Der. l do not know what conclusion Mr..
Field arrived at, but do know that no high
toned man OF gentleman could have witnessed
the rascal's (Smiths) manner, without con-
demning him at once as the veriest scoundrsl
unhung. One thing is certain, Smith is dam
aged with Mr.. Chase at last. This transac-
ton is so plain a piece Of deceit and false
hood, evil designing and rascality, that it
seems impossible to me that he can longer be
blind to the fact that Smith is d-d vii
lain. 1t is not yet known what conclusion
tho Secretary has arrived at. with all the evil
dence before him. It was submitted to him
yesterday. Senator Pomeroy Of Kansas, in.
forms me, however, that Mr.. Chase has lost
confidence in Mr.. Smith. Thank God for it,
If he has .... ....
Now a few words more in excuse for my
self in apparently charging you with fraud
and embexzlemsut. Had I persisted in my
refusal to give tho dispatch, and afterwards
accused Smith of attempting to make me the
instrument Of perpstrating an outrage upon
you, he would have denied sny such charge,
and being without any proofs. should have
been helpless to establish the facts. BY Civ
ing him the dispatch-for believed all the
time that it was at his Instance that Handy
approached mel clinched him in his viii
lainy. In giving it, disavowsd to Handy.
who reitsrates my disavowal, making any
charge against you. knew that it was i|le-
gal, and could never b. carried into execution.
That the dispatch was Of itself so much waste
paper in securing your arrest; or that even if
Seldom should see fit to attempt to execute it,
that you would be shielded by the Egis Of
the laws of tho U. s. aud the Territory. I
knew also that if it should be the means Of
tripping Smith, or unmasking him with Mr..
Chase. through whom he has welded immense
power here this winter, that none would re-
joics more than yourself. "' ..i
- - =
Believe me, as ever your friend,
J. H. MRRRvMAN.
p. S.-McGilvra leaves on the 18th inst.
and carries with him full copies Of his state
msnt to the Secretary, and Smiths letters,
dispatches, stc. .t
VIM. L. Chalmers. Esq, .,t ..,r...
Port Townsend, w. T.