New-York tribune., 1872-05-24
MR.. COBURN'S REVENGE.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MILITARY COMMITTEE
GETTING EVEN ON CINCINNATI-HE FINDS
ONE VICTIM.

GETTING EVEN ON CINCINNATI-HE FINDS
ONE VICTIM.
GBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.I
WASHINGTON, May 23.-Mr. Coburn, Chairman
of the House Committee Military Affairs, after keep
ing silence three weeks made attack to-day upon Mr.
y. " smaey, late clerk OF that Committee. He
charged HIM with being "hired slanderer az TRTB
correspondent, and worthless clerk OF the COM
mttee." Gen. Garfield spoke in favorable terms from
his own knowledge. of Mr.. Smaeys conduct az clerk
for many years before Mr. Coburn was appointed
upon the Committee, and Mr.. Hay, now on
the Committee, bore testimony to his efficiency
and fidelity up the time Of his dismissal So expana
ton or reply TO Mr. COburns unjust attack s hardly
necessary. The only specification which Mr.. Coburn
made support of his charge OF malicious falsehood
was that THE TRIBUNE had reported In its Washington
dispatches that he had opposed I'm his Committee mo-
tion to summon Mr.. Ben Pitman as a witness. The
report given absolute fact but as credible
rumor all the reports Of dongs Of Committees which
hold secret meetings have to be. The accuracy Of the
reports of the Buell. investigation, which haveappearedn in
THE TRIBUNE, has never been questioned by any mem
OF the Committee, and had they been untrue wOud
have been promptly corrected at the request OF any
member OF the Committee. Mr. Coburn did not say,
today that he had voted In fayOr0 calling MT Plnan
support Of his other charges he said that MI snaey
had employed a young to do the work OF the Com
mttee paying him s. day, and receiving Sc himself;
and further that the proper DOCKS ana fec9fds Oh ne
Committee had not been Kept ne uIu,, alisr itL
full understanding with Mr.. CobuIn, ana win
his approval, employ ana pay Mt. III: H. St blhlr
an gent Young gentlemen assist in doing the
writing OF the Committee and to direct the CharInans
documents and remain III the room at al times wnen Ine
Committee was not in session. This arrangement was
made in order that Mr.. Smaey might nd time to give
attention TO his duties journalist He attended every
meeting OF the Committee except one while ne was IT'S
clerk and was then absent on account OF sickness He
spent considerable portion OF each day In the
Committee room, and was as familiar wlth
the Committees business the chairman He kept the
records of the Committee in the way that they had
been kept for four years previous. Mr. Coburn knew all
along how these records kept and suggested
any change or made any complaint, until he had deter
mined upOn Mr. Smaey's removal, and then he assigned
only political reasOns Mr.. COburn was much dlscon-
certed when Mr.. Brooks repeatedly asked him why he
did not discover all OF this until the day OF the Cne
natl Convention
The Committee Military Affairs are still hunting for
the lost Buell. records. Most of the clerks and messen
gers in the War Department have been examined, and
Adiutant- Gen. Townsend recalled to-day for exam
nation 1t is reported, TO the general condition Of
other records particularly 10 the alleged mutlla
ton OF the Headquarters letter books OF the Army OF the
Potomac. The Committee expect to complete the IN
vesgation in time to make written report Delorethe
aeseiOn closes