The Republican journal., 1869-10-14

The "many towns" that employed Farwell
to interpose shield between them and the
draft, did not receive great benefit from his
exertions, if he got them only sixty OF seventy
men. That was but two-thirds the quota of
Belfast, and we send but one representative.
1t is an admirable comment on the possibility
OF accomplishing great results with small
means, that the patriot Farwell's party actual
| ly gained one representative from the previous
year! Surely such sacrifice and service ought
to earn the Spcakership.
But while the patriotic Colonel was at
Washington, things were not going right at
home. Somebody was cheating in the Adj
jutant Generals office. On this he touches
very lightly and tenderly, thus
I found to my surprise that many of the men en-
listed by me, had been assigned to the general credit
of the State or to towns of their original enlist
ments. called the attention of the State author-
ties to this fact, and they proposed and did make
good the loss to me. by giving me a number Of unas
signed and unclaimed credits sufficient to reimburse
me for my enlistments which had been thus wrong
! fully and by mistake assigned. By this arrange
ments the State suffered nothing, and aras only
| enabled to get back the money aUhich paid out.
never had to do directly or Indirectly with any of
the class which purported to be maine Corps or
paper credit men,"
Then it seems there were ''unassigned and
unclaimed credits lying around loose at the
State House, that the State authorities could
| dispose Of rs they choose. 1t also seems that
mistakes were made, which could be correct
ed in such a way as to put money in mems
| pockets. This is what we have always sup
posed, and this statement is streak Of light
that falls in the right place.
Next the Colonel proceeds to bolster HIM
self up by the ''solemn davies of patriots
like himself, who knew about these ''mis-
takes" such as Kinds, John l.. Hodsdon, &C.
Doubtless when these need a little bolstering,
they will each produce a certificate of charac
ter from A. B. Farwell, touching the rectifi-
cation of other ''mistakes." Probably they
have solved the problem of Falstaff,-'I
would to God thou and knew where a COM
modify of good names were to be bought
and are certifying each other.
As clincher to all the preceding matter of
his statement, Farwel introduces his heavi-
est affidavit as Napoleon brought up the Old
Guard at the crisis Of the battle. 1t is in the
Joint note from the chairmen Of the lnvesti-
eating Committee-that didn't investigate
and is as follows
AUGUSTA, Me-, Feb. "a. 1866.
A. B. FAHWELL, ESQ
Sir In answer to your inquiry, we state that the
evidence introduced before the Committee on the
Enlistment Investigation, did not i'll our opinion.
even tend TO prove any diShonOrable, illegal or inn
proper conduct on your part, in connection with
enlistments of naval credits
Respectfully,
GEORGE W. WooDMAN, }Chairmen OF
GEORGE +. SHEPLEl. >COmmittee.
Now if these gentleman were to make 4
statement, Jointly or severally, touching
matter Of business, Or pecuniary obligation
affecting themselves directly and only, or on
a question Of personal integ we should
receive it without question. They are up
right men. But they are also strong par
tizans, bound by the ideas, practices and use
ages of party, one of whose maxims has been
substantially that "the end justifes the
means.n The note is carefully wordcd that
.'the evidence intf0'luccd' did not prove i'm
proper conduct, &c. But did they try to hare
it introduced? There are very serious
doubts about it.
On the whole, this is Il very lame display.
1t don't help the case n bit. The tluttering
shows only that somebody has been hit in the
suits recently brought. And we hope the
towns sueing will go to the bottom of the bus
mess, and turn the whole matter inside out.
Let us see how it looks in good honest day
light.
While Col. Farwell had his hand in at vol
untecr statement, with a view of clearing his
reputation, he should have gone little fur
ther. II is not too late even now to make u
supplemental exhibit. Let him state how he
became SO suddenly and unaccountably rich,
so much so as to be classed among the wealth.
lest men of Augusta, to live in Il stately man.
sion, and fare sumptuously every day. If
he is anxious to clear his name Of all sus-
picions of unfair play, he can do it in that
way, and no other The same remark will ap-
ply to some others that held official position
or hung about the State Hou Sc during the
war.