Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1865-10-31
Pierpont- Clarke EmbriogIio.

| "DisLeYAL SENTIMENT PROMPTLY Re-
BUKED. The Hon. freeman Clarke peremp-
torlly ordered Governor Pierpont of Virgin
al, to leave his Office at the Treasury on ac-
count of uttering disloyal sentiments. The
language used in part was eve people of
the South never will submit to being taxed
| to pay the Union War debt. We never will
stand it, SIR &C.
| The above appeared in the New York Tri-
Dunes special Washington despatch of the
| 18th inst. Freeman Clarke, by subordi-
nate In his Office, procured the above state
ment to be made 1t contains two gross
falsehoods. LIST. Freeman Clarke did not or
der Governor Pierpont, Of Virginia, to leave
his office. I'd Governor Pierpont did not
SAY, ave people of the South never will sub
NIT to being taxed to pay the Union War
debt. We never will stand it, sir.
Both statements are grossly .talse, aud Free
man Clarke knew them to be false when be
procured them to be published
+. H. PEIRPONT.
Washington, D. c., Oct 20, 1865.
The difference Of opinion between Cover
nor Pie:pont aud Mr.. Freeman Clarke, of the
Treasury Department at Washington, prom
ises to assume serious proportions. Mr..
Clarke has published the following rejoinder
to Gov. Pierpont's card:
A CARD FROM COMPTROLLER CLARKE
+. H. Pierpont, Governor of Virginia, in
card published in the New York Tribune, of
the 23d instant, denies having stated to me
that the people of Virginia would not consent
to be taxed to pay the Government debt, and
also denies that | directed him to leave my
Office.
In answer to the denial I state unqualified
ly that Governor Pierpont did express the
sentiments imputed to him, not, however, In
the precise words as stated in the despatch
to which he allules, but in more objectiona-
Bile and offensive language, and I also affirm
that did direct him to leave my Office.
A highly respectable gentleman, Mr.. Chas
D. Smith, brother of TIE lIon James c.
Smith, one of the Justices of the Supreme
Court of the State of New York, was present
and heard the whole conversation. | enclose
herewith his affidavit in reference to it.
will state further, that / had nothing
whatever to d. directly or indirectly, in pro-
curing the publication of the despatch to
which Governor Pierpont alludes, and do not
know from whom your careful and reliable
reporter procured his information.
1t will be noticed that Gov Perpont does
not deny that be entertains the views ex-,
pressed to me-
FREEMAN CLARKE.
Washington, d. c., October "a, 1865.
AFFIDAVIT.
|, Charles D. Smith, being duly sworn,
doth depose and say that | was in the office
of the Comptroller of the Currency on the
afternoon of Monday, the 10th instant, and
heard the conversation between Governor
Pierpont, of Virginia, and the Comptroller
Mr.. Clarke, to which allusion is made in a.
special despatch published in the New York
Tribune of the 18th instant, and that Gov
ernor Pierpont did express the views as
stated in the despatch in reference to the
people of Virginia being taxed to pay the
public debt, and also that Mr.. Clarke directed
him to leave the Office.
CHAs. D. SMITH.
Sworn and subscribed before me this oath
day Of October, 1865.
CHAs. P. WANNEL, J. z.
The following, which is probably the cor
rect version of the affair, and corresponds
with what is said to be the facts, is given in
the Washington correspondence of the New
York Mercury:
Governor Pierpont called upon Mr.. Clarke
for the purpose of talking about the charter
ing of National Banks in Va, as the Cover
nor is DESTROYS Of getting the citizens of his
State to invest in government securities, etc
SO as to make them pecuniarily attached to
the government, if nothing more. The Gov
erno1 remarked to Mr. Clarke that the bank !
ing facilities Of Virginia were small, aud that