The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-11-21


.opg. but heTs its length will not
deter the puLiis from a full and
careful reading, I first ask attention
to the
WITH MAYOR OF
HENDERSON.
EVANSVILLE, Ind, Sept. %, 1868.
Hon.,E. L. Starting, Jr.,
DEAR SIR Il am Informed that
rumors and vague charges are In cir
culation in your city and the adjoin-
ing counties Of Kentucky affecting my
integrity as a citizen and as a military
officer of the Governments. learn
that it is alleged that the money levies
made and collected by my orders in
Western Kentucky, during the late
war. from persons carrying ON armed
warfare against the Government, their
aiders and sympathizers, were not
faithfully and honestly disbursed, but
that large portion of the said levies
were appropriated to my own private
use and benefit, and that | have en-
rIched myself from your citizens and
those Of the adjoining counties.
While these charges have not as
yet been put in any definite. tangible
or responsible shape, 1 feel that they
are doing me great injury and lnJus-
tice. and [ am anxious, in any reason
able and proper method, to submit my
conduct In Kentucky to full, fair
and impartial investigation. L am not
only conscious of my innocence, but l
am able clearly to establish it to the
satisfaction of every unprejudiced In
dividual. During my military admin
istration of affairs In Western Ken
lucky [ acted under the orders of my
superior officers and my oath of duty
to my country, both of which l en-
deavored faithfully to observe. | am
aware that the wisdom and justice of
my conduct in these regards are seri-
ously called in question by the mass
of the people of your region. The
time has probably not yet arrive d
when these can be calmly an d
fairly considered on either side.
But the question of my honesty can
be readily separated from these
political questions. During the period
Of my military service, extending over
more than three years, no MAJ can
truthfully establish against me a
single dishonest act. never received
one cent Of personal gain from my
army position beyond my regular pay
/ came out of the army as poor al
when l entered it, except the portion
received from my fathers estate.
These facts | can establish to the sat
isfaction of every candid man.
have no responsible accuser, and
yet am suffering on account of tht
indefinite rumors charging me viii
having appropriated the numerous
levies made in Kentucky to my own
personal benefit. I am anxious, il
some way, to vindicate myself from
such unjust charges. | would b.
greatly obliged to you if you woult
designate an unprecedented citizen o
Kentucky and one from Indiana
neither of whom should agree witt
me politically, who would undertak
to make an investigation of al
the money levies made by m
or by my order In Kentucky
and ascertain whether or not the
were honestly disbursed, and wheth
er | in any way, shape or manner, de
rived any personal profit therefrom
In order to make the examination
more satisfactory to the people o
Kentucky, | would be glad if yol
would select as member of that com
nittee, some person, who, during tn
late war, was known and recognize
as a decided secessionist, and as hav
ing no sympathy with my military ad
ministration. or with the Government
In the war.
To these gentlemen, selected b
you, all the written evidences of none
collected by me or by officers under m
command, of which | had or shout,
have had knowledge, may be present
ed, together with any charges o
whatever character affecting my in
tegrity, during my service in Ken
lucky. L. desire these gentlemen t
make full aud complete examina
ton OF my conduct. am willing
abide by the result of their investiga
tiOns. LII do not convince them tina
l never received any personal prof
from these levies or that they wer
not honestly disbursed as far as | ex
ercised any control or responsibiht
therefor, / will submit to the judg
ment they shall render.
[ feel that in this matter / hav
been previously wronged, aud an
anxious to satisfy all good citizens Q
my integrity. l trust you will in tn
manner | indicate, afford me the OF
portunity to vindicate myself.
Very truly, JOHN W. FOSTER.