Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1872-08-01

! formed me that he could buy up the
claims cheap |; that the men were still
doubtful as to getting their claims paid,
and that if he had any guarantee that they
would be paid, he could purchase them
at a heavy discount. Ireplied that the
claims would certainly be paid, and that
it was legitimate to purchase them, and
to prove that believed the claims would
be settled, proposed to him that I would
take an interest in the transaction of one
third, THAT was in the purchase and
profts.) | so understood it at the time,
and as Strohmier repeatedly stated the
agreement over and over again. both verb
ally and in writing. 1 returned to
Washington the first of December follow
ing met Strohmier there, who informed
me the War Department had not accept
ed the rolls. | then called to look after
the matter, when Gen. Dunn. the As
sistant Judge Advocate General called
my attention to the discrepancy between
the old and new rolls, a difference of some
twenty names. This I reported to the
agent, ~.(Strohmier.) who informed me
that he had sent to Fentress county, Ten
nessee, and procured afidavits from Beatty
and others. which gave satisfaction at the
War Department; at least 1 heard no
more complaint on that account. Next,
the Secretary of War decided that the
three officers must swear to the correct
ness of the rolls, as that was provided for
in the Act of Congress. Thereupon Gen.
Dunn wrote out an affidavit, handed it
and the rolls to Strohmier, who went to
Fentress County and had the same sworn
to by the three officers. On his return to
Washington, the rolls again fled in the
War Department. and the same accepted
by the Secretary of War as correct, and
referred them to the Second Auditor.
During the tendency in the war Depart
ment Mr.. Maynard met me there several
times, simply as a member of Congress,
tn aid in the settlement of the claims, as
was customary for members of Congress
to do. The Second Auditor no doubt
caused the rolls and applications to be
closely scrutinized, as was his practice
and duty to do. I never examined the
applications, but was informed by Stroh-
mier that they were all sworn to and
was right. In fact it was not my business
to examine claims, but was the duty of
the Government officers. The Second
Auditor declared the whole thing cor
rect, and t%hereupon issued the certificates
for pay. Then the matter was referred
to the Second Comptroller, who caused
the same to be closely examined. and de-
clared it all right by his written approval.
Then the Paymasters at Louisville and
Washington acknowledged the same to
be correct. and thereupon paid the money
to the officers and agents. 1 introduced
the officers and agents to Gen. Brice, the
paymaster at Washington. The officers
after receiving their money came to my
room voluntarily tie evening follow ing,
and stated hat they desired to make me
a donation of some money for my SER
vices rendered during recess. expense and
sickness. and enqnired what amount would
satisfy me. 1 replied that that was a
matter for them to decide. as they knew
what trouble and expense | had incurred,
and that | came near dosing my life on
their account. After a few moments
conversation between themselves, they
handed me twenty-five bundi ed dollars,
to which I replied, that the amount was
perfectly satisfactory. This wasth first
time that money Or a gift was ever men,
toned. or even intimated. This was In
March, 1871, nearly a year after the law
now, that it was perfectly right and le-
gitirnate fer these officers to refund to me
the expense money advanced item, for
loss of tine during recess, and in consid-
Grafton of expense and suffering with a
severe spell of sickness. The amount
paid NE after my term in Congress ex-
pired BY the agents was part of the profits
arising out of the purchase of the claims.
Ny conduct and assistance IL the passage
of the bill and the prosecution of the
claims before the departments was moth
ing more than is iona by members Of
Congress every day. | hayc had many
bills passed for the benefit of parties,
and prosecuted themto layment In the
departments. Claimants have often offer
ed me compensation, lut l never took or
received one cent for any services render
ed while in discharge of my dity as a
member of Congress.
The agents, after receiving the money,
went to Fertress county to settle with and
pay off the men. They returned to WASH
the last of March, 1871. Then,
for the first timc, I learned that fraud had
been perpetrated upon the Government
in milking up the rolls, and from their
conversation was satisfied that they had
hand, or deposited in some of the banks
in Washington, the rise of sixty thousand
dollars, and had failed to settle with the
men. 1 went at once, and reported tue
matter to the District Attorney, Judge
Fishery who, after talking the matter
over, inquired if the act provided for the
payment of n~inety-nine men and three
officers for three years, and ifthe men had
employed Strohmier and Hatfield as their
agents, and had they executed to them
powers of attorney, and were they recog-
nized as such agents by the heads of de-
partment? which was answered in the
affirmative. He then said the Government
could 30 nothing with them: that the
agents were paid the money as such;
therefore the men must look to the agents
for their pay, and the agents were re-
.sponsible to the men, and to them alone.
In a word, I understood him to say that It
was a matter between the agents and the
members of the company that the Govern
ment, on its part. having complied with
the law, had nothing furtherto do with it.
Thereupon I retired, and let the matter
drop. In July following,tM ajor Glapp was
sent cut by the WA Department to make
an investigation into the matter; he called
at my Office in Nashville, and requested
me to give him all the information |
possessed in regard to the Beatty claims,
which I did freely, and without reserve,
asI never had any concealment to make