Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-07-18

lated no doubt by nine tentns OF tne
members of CONGRESS- since its passage, YET
not one of them, save myself, nave ever
been prosecuted or even rebaked. Why TINS
unprecedented AMI unheardl OF course To-
ward,sine leave for others to judge mat
wrote some indisc Greet letters Is true, but
during .e whole time never dreamed that
fraud upon the Government was being prac-
ticed. The letters were in relation TO the
purchase of the claims, and were written
after the act was passed and the claims al
lowed in the Departmental, and the certln-
Gates issued for pay, and the same were ID
the possession of the agents. Never for once
doubling the truth and correctness OF the
rolls as sworn TO by Beatty and his two sons
until the agents returned to Washington
the last of March, 1871, WhenI promptly re-
ported the matter to the District Attorney.
In conclusion, | will state that | was tried
for a violation of the act of 1858, an act
which has slumbered since its passage, and
been openly violated Ritilout rebuke from
any source by probably lline-tenths OF the
members of Congress who have filed seats in /.
the national council since its passage. Ora,
vercharges we're preferred against ms, involv-
ing conspiracy to defraud the government,
but these were soon abandoned, being utterly
uRtenable, and serving only TO disclose the
bitterness and rancor of my prosecutors.
Its utter failure, after not only exhausting the
proper source of proof but resorting to the
dockets OF Criminal Courts, and bartering
pardon from crime for settlement, is my tri-
umphant vindication against any criminal
intent or guilty knowledge from the begin
ming to the end did receive twenty-five
hundred dollars Of Capt. Beatty and bis
associate officers, under the circumstances
and in the manner stated by me, which /
have never denied and do not now ceBsure.
That was my offense, and for which | was
tried. convicted and fined. Taking into
view all the circumstances, the money ad-
vanced to and paid by me for those gentle
men, the trip In vacation, the severe Illness,
suffering, loss of time and expense conse-
quent upon it, am willing that any honest
man shall sit in judgment on the morality
or immortality of my act In receiving the
recompense rendered me, and be can answer
for himself what he would have done If SIM
ilarly situated. well know that during the
war and since, have been opposed in poll
tics to many of your readers, but political
bias should never control the estimate of in
dividual character, aud do not doubt the
verdict of an honest people when the facts
are submitted to them.
l was honored with a seat in your Legis-
lature for six years-was three years .
Colonel in the Federal army, and eight
years member Of Congress, and unhesi-
tatingly say that my private character had
never been assaiIed, however bitter politi-
cal warfare waged, until this malicious
prosecution in which truth was perverted
and untruths uttered to the public, until
the facts Of the case were lost in sea of
falsehood. / might account for this course
toward me, and disclose reason why l
have been thus pursued, slandered and
illuminated, but perhaps it is better that,
upon a simple statement of the facts as they
existed, unaided by conclusion of my own,
the public should base their Judgment. L
am happy to submit the facts to them, and
confidently believe their impartial verdict
will vindicate me as an honest man, against
the calumnies heaped upon me.
Respectfully, W. B. STOKES.
duly 16, 1872.